retro fit power steering?

[JoeChasse]

My '84s does not have power steering and that is a real pain in the arms!  I put a suicide knob on it which helps a little.  I have a Haynes repair book that doesn't show much on '84's.  Would an 84 have had a gear drive PS pump mounted into the block or a belt drive?   This LOOKS like it might be a real big project for an old guy...Has anyone done this swap?

[idosubaru]

do you think your rack is failing?
or maybe a power steering rack was installed but never powered?  a power steering rack without assist is harder to turn than a manual rack.

 

if you want power steering, an easier option might be to install an XT6 electric power steering pump.  then you don't have to fix it to the engine or worry with any pulleys or belts.  They work identical to any other pump and are easy to install.  they're generally $35-$75 to buy one and you're done - just have to figure out wiring/powering it which people have done before, though i'm not familiar with how. 

 

the XT6 electric powre steering pump mounts to the firewall inside the engine bay, on the shelf under/in front of windshield but in the engine bay - above the engine pitch stopper/dogbone and slightly to the passengers side:

http://subaruxt.com/old/images/power%20steering%20fix/PS%20pump.jpg

 

but of course it wouldn't be hard to shift it around some as needed.

 

i fitted an XT6 electric power steering lines to another EA82 Subaru rack one time, same exact fitting sizes/threads.  threaded right in.  so with a pump and the lines you can use any EA82 rack.

Edited April 7, 2014 by grossgary

[jono]

Stuff I have found out - EA82 racks with their rack ends and tie rods are longer than EA81 rack assemblies. The gender of the different rack ends differs between the two models so EA81 rack ends won't fit EA82 racks. Not sure if some thread can be cut off EA82 rack ends at tie rod end to make same length? Will EA82 tie rod clear all EA81 brake, steering and suspension components ?

 

EA81 power steering pump  brackets need threaded holes in the cast bosses on dizzy side head. EA81 uses a longer snout on its power steering thermostat housing.

 

New ball joints and attention to top bushing of strut may lighten up steering of manual steering

[ruparts]

 the 84 vehicle, we refer to them as ea81 because that series of cars had ea81 engines.  the power steering racks for this series of cars, IS NOT the same rack as the 85-90 or so ea82 cars, the ea81 racks bolt on directly to one end of the crossmember, and have a bushing with a clamp on the other end.  the later ea82 racks have a bushing and clamp on both ends of the rack.  the original pumps were belt driven but as mentioned anything is possible.   the simple way is to get everything from a doner car so you have all the complete setup,   some folks have said the p/s racks will only fit p/s crossmembers,  but i tend to think it will fit but the non p/s crossmember will not have the holes in it for the lines.

 it's not a really difficult conversion but thats if you have all of the stuff needed,  also the flexible connector from steering column to rack is different on the p/s setup from the manual setup.

[JoeChasse]

Thanks to all of you guys, especially ruparts for cluing me to the fact that I have an E81 and the 84 is not like an 85 or newer.  and thanks to jono for the heads up on the rack differeces.  Also to grossgary for the electric XT pump idea. I have printed this page because there's a lot of info here, and my forgetter has gotten better than my rememberer.

[Adam N.D.J.]

You can purchase a new rack from Oreillys if you can not find one used any where, they do run a few hundred though if you go that route. But you do get the piece of mind that it is in good condition.  As far as the pump goes, really you are only limited by what you or anyone you know can fab up.  I like to use early 90s GM power steering pumps as they use two bolts on a flat plane to mount, and you can get just about any pulley type you want for them.  As far as hoses, I have had a local hydraulic company make them up for me, I bring in a sample of the threads I need, and the length. It is usually less than a 50 spot for a pair.  Lotsa luck, let us know how it goes.

[BobWin]

I have a 90 Loyale, I've heard it's possible to modify your power steering rack to manual steering with a simple hardline connecting the left and right sides of the rack---something like that.  Plus plugging the fluid valves?  How easy is this and where can I find a step-by-step?

[skishop69]

Why on God's green Earth would you want to go power to manual!? I mean even if you are having issues, there's snake oil for that. Yes, you can bypass it, but as previously stated, it's still going to be harder to turn than manual.

[Henpecked]

 

Power steering into an EA81 from a donor EA81 Oz Style - Strip all the parts from a donor vehicle and install to yours.Everything bolts on..

1) Except the non-power steering car may/will have a "skid" plate attached to the engine cross member with 2 bolts and two welds, instead of the four bolts and four non-captive nuts that are used on the power steering car. On power steering EA81s the skid plate  is removable for installation of the rack as it would be impossible otherwise. This is because while you can sometimes (just barely) remove the manual rack with the plate 1/2 attached, its really difficult, Accordingly the general experience has been that on the non-power cross members the entire cross-member must be removed and the manual rack slid out from one side. This is both not possible due to the dimensions of the power rack as at is too thick to insert or remove unless that plate is totally removed, People over here either change the cross member or drill out the welds totally, giving two more holes in the cross member to allow all 4 bolts and nuts to be used to reattach the plate.

2) The 84 and newer motors should have the bolts/ threaded holes on the head to mount up the power steering pump- some have been known not to.

 

To strip all the parts from a donor vehicle and install to yours. 

 

1. get the steering rack from a ea81 bodied vehicle
2. There's a smaller universal joint, that connects the rack to the steering column
3. Different thermostat housing that's longer to clear the rear of the P/S pump, get the water hose as well as a guide for a new one. 
4. get the P/S pulley
5. you'll need to have the triple pulley for the crankshaft which will also involve (I believe) getting rid of the crank fan if you still have it and
6. Install a slimline electric fan instead (I could be wrong on that point).
7. Get all the P/S pump/brackets and lines.
8. and I would also grab the linkage from the rack up to the steering column shaft.
9. get the cross-member as well and the skid late if you DO still want to swap cross members.

 

Note: people have switched out cross-members without removing engines - by jacking the engine up (using a block of wood to spread the load)....

 

 

Edited February 15, 2015 by Henpecked

[Crazyeights]

Pretty good write-up "Henpecked", Thanks!   It looks to be pretty much spot on from what I remember.

[Gloyale]

 

 

 

Note: people have switched out cross-members without removing engines - by jacking the engine up (using a block of wood to spread the load)....

 

I did this recently to use an 83 Power rack on my 84 sedan.  Both werepower from the start. 

But the 84 was leaking.....and it's lines are different from the earlier ones.  The 83 lines go through holes in the

crossmember, near the front of the drivers side. 

 

The 84 lines come up with the steering column piece form underneath...so to use the 83 rack

on the 84 member would have meant detaching lots of lines and drilling holes and fishing through.

 

So instead I supported engine with a craddle from above......detached exhaust, lower arms, steering, and outer tierods and lines from pump and switched out the whole rack with the engine and suspension still in car.

[Henpecked]

Got a PM question in my inbox

 

"I have an 82' BRAT that's had a EJ 2.2 with 5spd conversion and would to install power steering on it. Do you know what other parts I would need because of the motor and tranny swap, if any."

 

 

I'm not across the exact differences but have researched for you, so I can add to this thread.

 

if you have only cut and welded your engine cross-member to fit the EJ -  then I assume you have the standard EA81 cross-member and manual rack. So all the advice re fitting the rack and steering connections apply, but I have no idea if the powersteering pump and brackets from a EA81 would fit onto a EL2.2 engine block - I doubt it.

 

I assume that getting a power steering pump/pulley set-up out of a EJ 2.2 powered car would be best, and I think I have read about EJ power-sterring rack going into a Brat/Brumby - but I personally don't know the details.

 

So three options are posted up around the place

 

1) all EJ conversion

1. Get a full power steering set-up from a EJ2.2 including rack.
2. To fit the EJ rack you need to modify the cross member hole so the steering shaft will fit through.
3. Then you get a 14mm die nut and use it to shorten the EJ rack ends,
4. andyou may need to cut holes in the cross-member for the lines
5. And/or you need to add nolthane cylinder/spacers between the inner tie rod and the rack on each side to limit the steering travel . The inner tie rods screw off the rack to fit the spacers.

 

NOTE: I can't find any advice re the linkage between the EA81 steering shaft and the EJ rack. It would be a good idea to at least get the uni attachment between the EJ steering shaft and the rack

 

This advice above mostly posed by a bloke running a EJ power steering rack out of a '95 WRX

 

 

2) Frankenstein EA81/ EJ conversion

1. Get the pump , pulleys, brackets and lines from a EJ 2.2 donor that will fit onto your EJ  engine,
2. get the power rack and lines and steering shaft connections from a donor EA81
3. Allegedly you can use the EJ lines almost completely. The two EJ screw-in fittings that need to screw into the MY rack just don't fit - wrong thread. All you need to do is cut them off and solder on the correct ones from the MY lines and everything works.

 

3) Frankenstein EJ2.2/EA81/EA82 ( same as 2 above but using more common EA82 power rack)

 

1. EJ lines fit most EA82 series power racks.
2. EA82 series rack fits brat/brumby cross member.
3. Brat/ Brumby power steer tie rod ends fit L series rack.

I have NO personal experience on the above 3 methods - hope this helps

 

pic and discussion here as well http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/102564-steering-rack-swap-ea2ej/

Edited February 16, 2015 by Henpecked

[Gloyale]

Got a PM question in my inbox

 

"I have an 82' BRAT that's had a EJ 2.2 with 5spd conversion and would to install power steering on it. Do you know what other parts I would need because of the motor and tranny swap, if any."

 

 

I'm not across the exact differences but have researched for you, so I can add to this thread.

 

if you have only cut and welded your engine cross-member to fit the EJ -  then I assume you have the standard EA81 cross-member and manual rack. So all the advice re fitting the rack and steering connections apply, but I have no idea if the powersteering pump and brackets from a EA81 would fit onto a EL2.2 engine block - I doubt it.

 

I assume that getting a power steering pump/pulley set-up out of a EJ 2.2 powered car would be best, and I think I have read about EJ power-sterring rack going into a Brat/Brumby - but I personally don't know the details.

 

So three options are posted up around the place

 

1) all EJ conversion

1. Get a full power steering set-up from a EJ2.2 including rack.
2. To fit the EJ rack you need to modify the cross member hole so the steering shaft will fit through.
3. Then you get a 14mm die nut and use it to shorten the EJ rack ends,
4. andyou may need to cut holes in the cross-member for the lines
5. And/or you need to add nolthane cylinder/spacers between the inner tie rod and the rack on each side to limit the steering travel . The inner tie rods screw off the rack to fit the spacers.

 

NOTE: I can't find any advice re the linkage between the EA81 steering shaft and the EJ rack. It would be a good idea to at least get the uni attachment between the EJ steering shaft and the rack

 

This advice above mostly posed by a bloke running a EJ power steering rack out of a '95 WRX

 

 

2) Frankenstein EA81/ EJ conversion

1. Get the pump , pulleys, brackets and lines from a EJ 2.2 donor that will fit onto your EJ  engine,
2. get the power rack and lines and steering shaft connections from a donor EA81
3. Allegedly you can use the EJ lines almost completely. The two EJ screw-in fittings that need to screw into the MY rack just don't fit - wrong thread. All you need to do is cut them off and solder on the correct ones from the MY lines and everything works.

 

3) Frankenstein EJ2.2/EA81/EA82 ( same as 2 above but using more common EA82 power rack)

 

1. EJ lines fit most EA82 series power racks.
2. EA82 series rack fits brat/brumby cross member.
3. Brat/ Brumby power steer tie rod ends fit L series rack.

 

 

I have NO personal experience on the above 3 methods - hope this helps

 

pic and discussion here as well http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/102564-steering-rack-swap-ea2ej/

 

Methods 1 and 3 will result in terrible toe issues during cornering per following

 

distance between inner tie-rod pivots = distance between A-arm pivots + (difference of balljoint to tierod in horizontal plane)

 

If otherwise the toe changes during turning.

 

I can say this because I know.  I did a write up installing EJ steering into EA82 car.....it works....kinduv......but the car eats tires and corners weird.......you can measure the toe change wheels Striaght vs. Turned