waid1017

It has been a while since I posted on this forum. I am not making or selling anything. I have posted this on couple of other forums and this is not for everyone.

Some of you have manual steering and I though you might like to see how added electric assisted power steering in my 1964 Falcon. Some of you may have come across the Saturn Vue conversions but I think I have found even cheaper and better alternative with no caster issues!

My testing shows that most Japanese branded cars and SUV with electric steering works in Fail-Safe mode if the control unit (ECU) dis disconnected from CAN BUS. The effort in Fail-Safe mode feed just right like my 2013 Honda Civic.

The biggest advantage of using EPS from Toyota, Nissan and Kia/Hyundai is that the EPS works in Fail-Safe and also have the ECU that is mounted remotely and able to be disconnected and removed. The EPS from Saturn Vue and Chevy Cobalt has the ECU that cannot be disconnected and must be de-soldered for remote mount. More importantly there is no Fail-Safe and a 3rd party eBay module is needed in order for it to work. No power steering pump and no leaks!

Below is the list of Car that I know of that has Fail-Safe Electric Steering. Only 3 wire connection. Ignition On, Power and Ground to the Steering ECU. That's it !

2004-2009 Toyota Prius
2009-2013 Toyota Corolla
2006-2011 Toyota Yaris - (With ABS)
2007-2009 Nissan Versa
2009-2012 Nissan Cube
2012-2014 Kia Soul
2008-2011 Scion XD

ECU Part Numbers:

2004-2009 Toyota Prius 89650-47102
2009-2013 Toyota Corolla 89650-02300
2006-2011 Toyota Yaris - (With ABS) 89650-52120 / 52050
2007-2009 Nissan Versa 28500-EM30A / 991-30303
2009-2012 Nissan Cube 28500-1FC0B / JL501-000932
2012-2014 Kia Soul B2563-99500 / 4PSG1312 / FPSG1312
2008-2011 Scion XD 89650-52A10

The output shaft on Toyota is little larger than the rest and therefore the Borgeson 312500, 11/16 36 X 3/4 smooth bore weldable coupling should fits nicely. This couple fits the others as well. The Kia EPS is the biggest and appears to be most heavy duty. I picked up these EPS for testing for $35 each at my local pic-a-part

Note: As with any modification, there are risks. This post is intended to show how I did my modification. Use it at your own risk!

Waid

waid1017

General Info.

waid1017

Pics of upper steering shaft and steering column

waid1017

My first setup was with Steeringbox. Later I converted to Rack and Pinion.

waid1017

This is how did the bottom shaft for Rack and Pinion setup

waid1017

For cars with rag joint.

waid1017

Wiring Diagrams

Save the picture and you will see the model of the car for wiring diagram.


.

waid1017

Here are my YouTube Videos:

DIY Electric Power Steering 1 - EPS with Fail Safe

DIY Electric Power Steering 2 - Bench Test

DIY Electric Power Steering 3 - Mounting Options

DIY Electric Power Steering 4 - In Car Test

waid1017

In order to use the Electric Steering with power steering box, the steering box has to be converted to manual by tack welding the input shaft to worm shaft. This is how I welded my input shaft to the pinion shaft in my rack and pinion. I removed the valve sleeve.

shok

Nice, wish I knew this when I had my 66 c10, the lack of power steering always bugged me and too much parts hunting was needed to convert it the traditional way.

waid1017

If you bleed Chevy only, a 08-12 Chevy Malibu may be an option. Will be going back to my local pic-a-part and will put it and tested there to see if it has Fail-Safe. Not as plentiful as Prius or Corolla. Below is the picture of the Malibu Column.

By the way, all of Saturn Ion, Vue, Chevy Equinox and Cobalt have electric steering columns made by Koyo of Japan but without Fail-Safe for some reason.

Waid

pws69

VERY nice job - extremely informative! Thanks!

shok

Not just Chevy for me, I might revisit this thread when work resumes on my Baja bug or my 84 Daytona.

theandies

The only problem I see with this setup on a Vette is there is no room under the driver side dash for it to fit.

7T1vette

If my car had electric steering, I would not be wasting my time with a steering wheel, column, etc. I would just install a joystick on top of the e-brake housing and either passenger could easily steer the car.

waid1017

It's actually electric assisted steering instead of hydraulic assisted. The assist is in column and not in the rack. Below is the picture of C-7 2014-2016 Corvette Rack and Pinion which is technically electric assisted rack.

Waid

White Out

get off my lawn!!



in other news:

7T1vette

Anyone who thinks the steering wheel will still be in cars 10 years from now is not yet in the 21st century...

Ken Sungela

Thanks for your contribution Waid. Very well done. I was looking into using the ebay control module and a Vue Power unit for an LT1 build. Yours looks like a better option.

waid1017

The EPS from Saturn Vue does not have Fail-Safe. The guy on eBay figured out how to communicate with it. However, people have complained that the Saturn Vue EPS with eBay box does not have steering return ability no matter how much caster is added. The eBay module may be hold the electric motor preventing the steering to self center coming out of a turn or make constant corrections. Also if the eBay module ever fails, you will lose electric assist. A friend of mine has the Saturn Vue EPS in 1965 Ranchero and I seen this issue first hand.

It seems that all other EPS, except Saturn & Chevy, has Fail-Safe with one setting for electric power assist fixed at a happy level.

Waid