Removing Hicas On R32 Gtr

[Sydneykid]

Gary with your system you must run a cooler is this correct?? On the 3 or so  GTRs i intitially removed the hicas from I was simply blocking up the rear chamber, and the pumps would die I think due to over heating so I simply make sure I do a 2ws pump conversion at the same time, obviously its not needed if you run the pump the way you suggest!! Plus the 4ws pump is a mammout compared to the r33 pumps running a 2ws pumps looks better in the engine bay I think!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree, the R33 power steering pump is smaller, lighter and simpler. In an ideal world, it would be worth changing. But, in my opinion, the cost in both time and money is excessive for the benefit gained. Plus it makes it a far more complicated upgrade than simply swapping one hose around.

Most of the guys doing HICAS removal want a simple and quick elimination of the rear steering. Having to change the power steering pump, pulley, hoses and reservoir is a complication that might stop them from doing what is really necessary. ie; removing the HICAS itself.

Later on they can swap the pump etc over if they want, but it isn't necessary for them to get 99% of the benefit. The 1% from swapping the pump can be done later.

cheers

[blind_elk]

is it a straight swap? or do you need a little bit of manufacturing to get it to fit?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You will need it's mounting bracket. The banjo fittings are at a different orientation to the 32's. And the pully is a 3-rib (the R32 is a 4-rib)

Anyone wants one, I have one from a Stagea. PM if you are interested.

[PHATR32]

R32GTR's and R32GTST's have a cooler on the power steering standard.  It is a simple loop of aluminium pipe, but it works.  On the race R32GTST I have used a standard Stagea auto transmission cooler as the power steering cooler.  Works a little better.

cheers

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

isnt that cooler (tube loop with fins) part of the hicas plumming? so it would cool the fluid running through the hicas. I know they share the same resevouir, but now that the hicas is gone, a lot of the heat will also be gone. So the ps wouldnt get that hot?

I too have a auto trans cooler which i might use instead of the stock cooler, only cause it looks nicer!

thanks

steve

[Sydneykid]

isnt that cooler (tube loop with fins) part of the hicas plumming? so it would cool the fluid running through the hicas. I know they share the same resevouir, but now that the hicas is gone, a lot of the heat will also be gone. So the ps wouldnt get that hot?

I too have a auto trans cooler which i might use instead of the stock cooler, only cause it looks nicer!

thanks

steve

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi Steve, I don't know how much total heat the HICAS adds. I reckon maybe none, as what heat it adds would be dissipated by the long run underneath the car in the steel pipework.

All I know is, the first GTR I removed the HICAS on, boiled its power steering fluid at a track day as it had no cooler. Ever since then I have run a cooler on all R32's and not had one problem.

Cheers

[PHATR32]

cool, sounds like something that might be needed.

i suppose a cooler would extend the life of the fluid etc

thanks

steve

[SlowGTS-t]

with that being the case am i right then in saying that for a 32 GTR a tomei hicas lock kit is an easier/neater option?

I was going to go the lock bar route and like the idea of the weight saving, but i don't particularly want to fark around with the power steering too much. The tomei kit is a just 2 shims and a little module to cure the warning light/heavy steering problem.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I just used some metal washers to lock the rear rack on my R32 and then the sydneykid power steering mod to make sure the pump didnt poo itself. Worked a treat and cost like 50 cents.

Not sure why people go out and get Hicas lock bars when the factory bar with washers seems to work just fine.

[Josh]

SK - I'm pretty thick so sorry for asking this - which you have probably been asked a million times.. by looping the two lines that WERE going into my HICAS unit - is this running the fluid through the cooler? Cos I really have no idea where this cooler is... and this is how my current setup is going... just looping the lines..

[Sydneykid]

SK - I'm pretty thick so sorry for asking this - which you have probably been asked a million times.. by looping the two lines that WERE going into my HICAS unit - is this running the fluid through the cooler? Cos I really have no idea where this cooler is... and this is how my current setup is going... just looping the lines..

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Looping the lines is fine, the rear stage of the pump is just pumping the power steering fluid all the way down to the back solenoid, then back to the front solenoids and through the cooler.

The cooler itself is a simple loop of aluminium pipe, just in front of the radiator on the drivers side.

I just used some metal washers to lock the rear rack on my R32 and then the sydneykid power steering mod to make sure the pump didnt poo itself. Worked a treat and cost like 50 cents.

Not sure why people go out and get Hicas lock bars when the factory bar with washers seems to work just fine.

By doing that you are disconnecting the HICAS OK, but you are not saving the 20kgs or so of weight. That's the only additional advantage of removing the complete system.

cheers

[RellikZephyr]

i have a question if hicas is there to help cornering why is it so many people want to remove it

about the only thing i have heard is the when taking tight lines the car tries to correct you, then you correct the car, then the car corrects .....

but what ever happened to slightly adjusting your driving style to work with hicas??

tell me if im wrong cause i dont really get it

i own a GTR and will look at doing some club level track days

so why is it better to remove hicas?

RellikZephyr

[Sydneykid]

i have a question    if hicas is there to help cornering    why is it  so many people want to remove it

about the only thing i have heard is the  when taking tight lines the car tries to correct you, then you correct the car, then the car corrects .....

but what ever happened to slightly adjusting your driving style to work with hicas??

tell me if im wrong  cause i dont really get it

i own a GTR and will look at doing some club level track days

so why is it better to remove hicas?

RellikZephyr

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Firsrly HICAS is not there to "help your cornering", HICAS is there to try and make the casr understeer at all times when sdriving at 9/10ths. Nissan designed it that way as it is safer for the Wallies. When they get into trouble the HICAS is supposed to make the car understeer, so instead of spinning off backwards they plough straight ahead. The ploughing action itself reduces the speed, so if they do go off they hit things at a slower speed and the front airbags/seatbelts work. If you spin off backwars/sideways, the airbags and seat belts have less chance of saving the Wally's ass.

Back to your question, you have got it......."when taking lines the car tries to correct you, then you correct the car, then the car corrects........." So instead of a nice smooth line around a corner at 10/10ths, it ends up being a sequence of jerks and corrections. If you are already at max G force, the jerks will cause the car to loose traction completely. So you have slide, correct, slide, correct, this is both detremental to lap times and confidence sapping.

Adjusting your driving style doesn't help, all it means is you have to go slower or suffer the momentary losses of traction. You can't control the car accurately with the throttle or the steering wheel when this sort of stuff is going on.

I have never ever seen a Skyline race car with functioning HICAS, once you have tried it you will understand why.

Hope that clarifies

cheers

[RellikZephyr]

hmmm ok thanks

and damn <_< looks like i will eventually be like everyone else and remove hicas

RellikZephyr

[Josh]

You will be better off for it..

[Ronin 09]

Gary - mind if you post a couple of pics of this looping you speak of?

Thanks

[Sydneykid]

Gary - mind if you post a couple of pics of this looping you speak of?

Thanks

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Which looping? There are three possiblities;

1. The loop of aluminium pipe that serves as the standard cooler?

2. The loop where the front solenoids used to be, to feed the fluid through the standard cooler?

3. The loop at the rear to bypass the rack?

I will have to take some pictures of my own car, I don't actually have any, either before or after HICAS removal.

cheers

[Ronin 09]

As far as I can tell, the loop at the rear is just a bit of U shaped pipe - I can figure how that goes,

Moreso, when you pull out all the associated rear piping, where to hook the remaining rear stage piping up to the aluminium pipe.

So 2, and 3, above

Thanks again

[yogi000]

what do people think of this solution???

its the tomei kit, but does it cause any problems with the pump in the long run?

http://www.tomei-p.co.jp/_2003web-catalogu...thers_rset.html

[Beer Baron]

i dunno but i am going to grab one when i'm in japan.

[djr81]

what do people think of this solution???

its the tomei kit, but does it cause any problems with the pump in the long run?

http://www.tomei-p.co.jp/_2003web-catalogu...thers_rset.html

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As part of the Tomei kit install you disconnect a plug under the bonnet. This in addition to fitting the washers & the small electrical unit. Unfortunately I don't understand all the instructions (They are in Japanese) so don't know exactly what it is you are disconnecting...

Can anyone help?

[Ronin 09]

i want to lose the 25kgs, so lock bar it is for me!

[Sydneykid]

what do people think of this solution???

its the tomei kit, but does it cause any problems with the pump in the long run?

http://www.tomei-p.co.jp/_2003web-catalogu...thers_rset.html

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Used to be very popular, locks the rams on the rear rack in their outwards position. So there is still power steering fluid circulation, but no steering action. The box plugs into the HICAS ECU and stops the dash light from coming on.

Quite effective, no long terms issues, they are just expensive for what they are. Plus they leave all the hardware in place (and even add a little bit) so no weight saving.

cheers

PS; make sure you get English instructions as they are tricky to fit, particularly the washers.

Edited December 20, 2005 by Sydneykid