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R32 Power Steering Modifications?

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clip14 Rising Star

clip14

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I would like to increase the strength of my power steering in my r32 coupe.

Anyone have any ideas on how I might do this? Anyone done this?

It would be nice to be able to more easily control the wheel with one hand while the other is on the shifter while course correcting etc. My daily lancer has great power steering!

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clip14 Rising Star

clip14

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I've locked out the HICAS, looped the power steering lines to the rear solenoid which greatly improved the power steering feel, but was wondering if there was more I could do to improve the feel.

Or .. maybe I have an electrical problem .. any ideas on how to diagnose where the issue might be?

Moodles2 Grand Master

Moodles2

Posted
Posted

Out of all the cars I've owned or driven, my R32 GTR's powersteering is the lightest, infact so light I could control it with my thumb and index finger. There is definitely a problem with your PS.

List of things to check: Low fluid levels, slipping or missing PS belt, underdriven PS pulley, steering wheel taken off (aftermarket or standard) and not aligned dead centre when put back on etc

StevenCJR31 Veteran

StevenCJR31

Posted
Posted

I've locked out the HICAS, looped the power steering lines to the rear solenoid which greatly improved the power steering feel, but was wondering if there was more I could do to improve the feel.

Or .. maybe I have an electrical problem .. any ideas on how to diagnose where the issue might be?

locking out the hicas wouldnt of made a difference except for maybe a placebo effect, i got my 32 with the hicas removed, i refitted it and the front steering felt no different

clip14 Rising Star

clip14

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Out of all the cars I've owned or driven, my R32 GTR's powersteering is the lightest, infact so light I could control it with my thumb and index finger. There is definitely a problem with your PS.

List of things to check: Low fluid levels, slipping or missing PS belt, underdriven PS pulley, steering wheel taken off (aftermarket or standard) and not aligned dead centre when put back on etc

Thanks everyone for the responses

fluid levels are fine

PS belt is there, but squeaks sometimes

stock steering wheel - no mods

would getting a larger PS pulley (and overdriving it) damage anything at all?

Should I install a non-hicas PS pump instead?

Thanks everyone

GTSBoy Grand Master

GTSBoy

Posted
Posted

Larger pulley will underdrive the pump.

Non HICAS pump only differs in not having a rear pump stage. I would try to find an R33 one anyway, just to get rid of the annoying loop. Oh, and fit a proper PS cooler in place of the original cooling loop.

But I wouldn't expect any of that to help your problem.

Initialdennis Collaborator

Initialdennis

Posted
Posted

would running wide rims with stretched tyres cause the steering to be heavier? i.e. 9.5" all round? i have the hicas removed also and find the steering a tad heavy but then again i don't mind an extra workout and the steering feedback is always welcome I wouldn't describe it as light though compared to my MY11 Rexy

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 10 months later...
ae86 boy Enthusiast

ae86 boy

Posted
Posted

old topic but incase anyone else is after the solition in the future.
the problem is the solenoid on the front steering rack. this is controlled by the hicas computer to make the steering really easy at low speed and a bit harder at hi speed 80km+ (when you wouldnt notice the harder steering) When people muck around with the hicas + the 32s getting old these days the hicas computer (located under the rear pacel shelf btw) tells the solenoid to make the steering harder by bypassing power steering flud in the rack sometimes when the car is below 80km which gives it a heavy feel, but not as heavy as no power steering, which is why people often get confused what the hell is going on.

the solution! take the solenoid off the front steering rack (3 bolts maybe?), trace the shape out on bit of metal plate, cut out the same shape and simply bolt on a metal plate in its place. Light power steering all the time!

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clip14 Rising Star

clip14

Posted
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old topic but incase anyone else is after the solition in the future.

the problem is the solenoid on the front steering rack. this is controlled by the hicas computer to make the steering really easy at low speed and a bit harder at hi speed 80km+ (when you wouldnt notice the harder steering) When people muck around with the hicas + the 32s getting old these days the hicas computer (located under the rear pacel shelf btw) tells the solenoid to make the steering harder by bypassing power steering flud in the rack sometimes when the car is below 80km which gives it a heavy feel, but not as heavy as no power steering, which is why people often get confused what the hell is going on.

the solution! take the solenoid off the front steering rack (3 bolts maybe?), trace the shape out on bit of metal plate, cut out the same shape and simply bolt on a metal plate in its place. Light power steering all the time!

Does anyone have any photos of which solenoid needs to removed? Thanks! - also why would a metal plate need to be installed to replace said solenoid once removed?

GTSBoy Grand Master

GTSBoy

Posted
Posted

Photos? Really? Open bonnet. Look at steering rack (follow steering column down under plenum). See solenoid. Has wires.

Plate is to stop the PS fluid pissing out when you remove the solenoid.

Mod is a bit unpleasant. R32 could use less assistance, not more. Would not do.

ae86 boy Enthusiast

ae86 boy

Posted
Posted

bit more info:
http://forum.r31skylineclub.com/index.php?topic=66472.0

gtsboy your power sterring is obiously working correctly. see so many 32 owners myself included winge about heavy power steering and this is the reason. trust me when the solenoid is active the steering is that hard to the point of believeing you have no power steering at all.

your right though... ghetto as mod

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