[BigRay]

Hi all,

I am wondering if anyone has converted their P/S Jimny to non P/S. My 99 Jimny has a 60mm lift with ALL new suspension bushes except for sway bar bushes and has new 215/75/15 mud tyres. It has a tendency to wander above 60km/h and things can get interesting at 100km/h. A while ago the P/S belt shredded and I had to drive it with no power steering for a day and the difference was amazing! Navigating carparks and 3 point turns are challenging but once driving it is very very stable and the steering is light.
60 - 100km/h cruising is so easy and it barely wanders at all, handles like my Dad's Subaru. Its almost as if the P/S is too powerful, hard to explain. The car has no castor correction so that may be a factor but I don't think so. Anyways, is there a difference in gearing between the boxes, meaning a proper non P/S box will make the steering lighter than a P/S box that isn't working?

Thanks,
Ray

[Scrawny]

Get the castor correction sorted before you do anything else. 60mm lift has probably given you positive castor

[Jezza86]

Nope. Non ps has bolts where the ps hoses connect to. Same box. Fix your castor.

[Tonner]

Jezza86 are you saying its the same box without the hydraulic connections for the lines from the pump? with the ports blocked off for a non power steering application.

[Jezza86]

looks like it for the VVT atleast. just went through the FSM and it looks like my steering box on my JX is the same as a JLX with power steering.

[mrw82]

I have a jimny armstrong steering box in my sierra. Don't remember seeing any blanked off ports on it. (Will be having a look tonight though!!!)

[Zook_Fan]

The sierra box should bolt up. When you do it dibs on your power steering set up.

[Gwagensteve]

Fix your caster.

[Marko_SJ]

Zook_Fan wrote:

The sierra box should bolt up. When you do it dibs on your power steering set up.

More people need to convert Jimnys.

[BigRay]

Thanks for the replies everyone

I've been looking at the Jimnybits Superpro poly castor bushes now that I know that the castor may be an issue. If the castor was a problem I would think that I would be able to feel the affects of it even without the power steering. Without it the car handles better than it ever did when it was stock!

Jezza, whats it like driving your Jimny?

[Zook_Fan]

The reason it drives better without the powered steering is because of the extra weight in the steering. It's the same as installing a steering dampener and calling the problem fixed. It's still there it's just been masked. If you return to a standard steering box that isn't powered you might get the same problem back again.

Fix your caster.


And sell me your power steering.

[Jezza86]

mine is fine, i don't see any need for power steering. my castor is corrected with JB front arms. the car doesnot wander unless its windy.

also if your wheels have incorrect toe, that could be responsible

"Front toe-out will introduce a bit of oversteer (looser)
Front toe-in will produce the opposite - understeer (tighter)
Steering response will be improved with front toe-out
Straight-line stability will be improved with front toe-in" ripped straight from iracer

[BigRay]

Ah now I understand. Castor correction and a wheel alignment is the next job then.
Thanks again