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Power assisted steering for an RV8
Peter Garton (Woodcote Green 1238) from Germany has had a PAS
system fitted to his RV8 and explains how the process went. (Dec
05)
The steering on the RV8 is really quite heavy and is really
noticeable when one is manoeuvring in a car park or at the kerbside
trying to get in to a parking bay. Older drivers like me really have
to struggle with the wheel and deal with the large turning circle.
Thus the idea of having the PAS fitted was one I considered. Although
PAS was not a factory fitting, the idea of PAS for the RV8 had been
considered by Rover Cars at Cowley back in 1994 when Steering Developments
in Hemel Hempstead were engaged to research PAS systems for the model.
The idea
of PAS had been considered by Rover during the development of the
RV8, but had been dropped on cost grounds

Engine
bay is packed. (Photo: Peter Garton)
The first major problem Steering Developments encountered was the
serious lack of space available under the RV8 bonnet for both
the PAS unit and steering rack installation with the mounting bracket.
This is particularly the case with the model exported to Japan which
had the additional air conditioning equipment fitted as standard.
Having been to Japan I can readily confirm that without air conditioning,
you die!! So Steering Developments had to find a power steering rack
which had an identical pinion angle to the manual rack. They researched
several alternatives from the BMW 325, Volvo 360 and the Ford Escort
and Fiesta. They opted for the Ford version because of its simplicity
of mounting and the optimum orientation of the hydraulic porting.
It was necessary to use a left hand drive unit which they turned over
to achieve the correct relationship of pinion to rack! With that unit
they managed to position the PAS rack within 10mm of the manual rack.
The turning circle was increased to 12.6m from the standard 10.95m
with 2.75 steering wheel turns rather than the original 3.
They
chose the Saginaw TC power steering pump which was driven by
the standard pulley used by the air-conditioner. The oil temperature
was controlled by a "trombone" type cooler located in front
of the radiator. There were other modifications necessary such as
re-routing a cooler hose, the removal of the rack mounting feet to
permit the fixing of the PAS rack mounting bracket, the removal of
the lower steering column pinion and lastly the removal of part of
the radiator plastic cowling. The technical readers of this initial
summary of the development work on a PAS system for the RV8 will recognise
the whole system had to be belt driven. As we now know, this work
was all for nothing because Rover came to the business decision that
the additional costs when added to what was already a hefty sales
price for the model, were beyond the limits set by the marketing team.
Deciding where to get the PAS conversion done and getting
everything organised
There had been several notes from RV8 members around the World who
had a retrofit PAS installed utilising PAS units varying from those
fitted to an Opel to the EPAS unit fitted to the MGF. In my case I
decided to go for the MGOC hydraulic type which does not require a
belt drive. An additional factor in my decision was their people at
the workshop in Cambridgeshire had already gained valuable experience
with installing PAS units on RV8s as well as MGBs.
As my wife
had never been to Cambridge before - we live in Germany - it would
also be a convenient opportunity to see the sights there while the
works were in progress on the RV8. After confirming that all the parts
were available, we booked an appointment with workshop and were advised
the job would take around two and a half to three days all in. So
we drove down to Calais from Koblenz with an overnight stop on a chateau
run by Best Western and set off via the ferry to Dover the next morning
nice and early. We arrived at the workshop around two in the afternoon.
Work commenced on the RV8 straightway!

Close gap between the ball joint and the
wheel rim needs care. (Photo: Peter
Garton) |
Doris
Garton with Will Maskell who
installed the PAS system. (Photo: Peter Garton)
The steering rack and pump used for the conversion originate
from Peugeot/Citroen (PSSA Group) and was one of the small selection
of alternatives readily available on the market for the reasons
outlined above. All the other units examined were too wide for the
relatively narrow RV8 track! The mounting assembly for the steering
rack is extremely critical and can only be achieved by using a jig
which lines everything up accurately. The old rack is literally
cut off and the new one welded on via three brackets. The pump is
mounted up on the wing on the driver's side and is jacketed in a
special material that reflects heat and also insulates the pump.
A word of warning at this point - as mentioned, the track and
new rack measurements are critical which means in practical terms
that the outer ball joints are very close to the inner wheel edge.
We are talking of about 2 to 4 mm! If the front wheels have been
balanced using the standard "knock on" weight clips, there
is a serious danger that these could hit the end of the ball joint
on rotation and literally rip them off thereby damaging the ball
joints. These conventional balance weights should be replaced by
the self adhesive type which is positioned further inside the wheel
rim. Note also the EPAS unit is not adjustable as it is not necessary.
After the job was done, everything had to be perfect because
we faced a long drive back to Koblenz in Germany - around 550km
in fact. Initially we had sufficient time in hand to visit Ely which
is quite close to the workshops so we were not too nervous of trying
everything out for the first time. The steering has certainly been
transformed and is a much lighter but not too light. The pump has
a light whine to it but this is not disturbing. At an extreme lock
position the PAS makes itself heard, but there again so does the
PAS on my Mercedes! Also the turning circle has been reduced in
the sense the turning circle is now greater. The parts and installation
used in the PAS conversion have a 12 month warranty which is in
fact a standard guarantee for engineering components.
We were extremely well looked after by the staff at the workshop
who kindly transported my wife and I to and from our hotel in Cambridge.
I am mentioning a few of the names of the people involved simply
because we are not all mechanics or technicians and welcome the
opportunity of talking with someone who can explain things clearly
and simply to the layman. Our visit and the organisation of our
booking were coordinated by Roger Parker who went to enormous lengths
to see that everything would fall neatly into place. Roger is not
always there, as many people already know, but he is supported by
Jonathan Kimber. Ian Wallman is the workshop manager who is supported
by Rod Wells. Our conversion was undertaken by Will Maskell. They
were polite, obliging and informative, and nothing was too much
trouble. The time taken was two and a half days all in and the total
cost including VAT was around £2,620. The EPAS unit was £702
and the PAS kit for the RV8 was £1,442.
How
RV8 owners can remove their air-conditioning from reimported RV8s
is a puzzle to me
For our return to Germany, we drove off early on the Friday
morning heading down the M11 to our overnight stop in Canterbury.
It was very hot and we landed fair and square in the middle of a
long tail back just before Junction 9. We let the RV8 tick over
for quite a while anticipating a stop and go trip to the M25. The
actual stop part turned out to be 2½ hot and sweaty hours
without moving! We later left Canterbury via Dover and Calais and
in blazing sunshine drove virtually non stop back to German - some
5½ hours with the air-conditioning going full blast all the
way. How RV8 owners can remove their air-conditioning from reimported
RV8s is a puzzle to me. My wife says there is really no serious
problem with leg room on the passenger side - she is not a midget
by the way! With the roof up, the inside of the RV8 becomes a furnace
so long distances on the Autobahn without the air-conditioning would
become a nightmare. The was not the slightest sign of anything associated
with the PAS conversion getting too hot which hopefully will put
members' minds at rest on that potentially scary point.
Footnote
For members travelling via Calais who for one reason or another
find it necessary to overnight around the Calais area, will find
at exit 2 on the A26 to Arras road, there is the Chateau de Cocove.
It is a Best Western hotel which is located in its own quiet grounds
with an excellent restaurant.
Members visiting Ely who have looked around its wonderful
cathedral, can then stroll down the hill - Ely was once an island
surrounded by tidal waters and was also an important port. At the
bottom of the hill on the left hand side, there is the Peacock
tea house which is brilliant. They serve real tea - not those
horrible tea bags, I am old fashioned - and scones with clotted
cream, crumpets and other tasties such as toasted muffins!!
See also David Driver's experience with PAS on his RV8. More
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