60 replies to this topic

[Midas Mk1]

Larger Diameter Steering wheel perhaps??

[joshspragg]

i large diameter steering wheel works wonders, i drove my old mk 850 and that was so light because the steering wheel was huge.

[Mini_Magic]

why

Why not? If people want/need to fit power steering to their car then what's the problem?

Not all of us are 20-somethings with plenty of fitness to steer a Mini at low speeds.

[AVV IT]

I think that fitting power steering would rather ruin the experience and feel of driving a classic mini, but I do understand that for those less physically able, it may well be necessary in order for them to still experience some of the minis other great attributes.

Not all of us are 20-somethings with plenty of fitness to steer a Mini at low speeds.

Oh get a hold of yourself man!!! Those of us who are no longer part of the younger generation are made of tougher stuff than that!! Or has the modern world and all it's labour saving devices made you go soft??

A few decades ago every day cars didn't have power steering and pensioners still managed to drive them!! My 4'11 grandmother never owned a car with power steering in her entire life and was still driving around in a classic mini when she was eighty!!

Edited by AVV IT, 14 December 2011 - 07:43 PM.

[joshspragg]

thank you avv it! on the same wave length as me!

[tommy boy]

Opened up a can of worms here!
I am not unfit, nor am I lazy, (bit fat maybe) just wanted to see if it could be done is all.
It may work out crap and have to be taken out and put back to standard, but I would like to find out.
Mini`s are fine with standard steering, got no problem with that, been driving one for years. My work is a project, just like a v-tec convertion or race suspenion.
Proberbly not a good thing to tell others your intentions on here at times.

[Black.Ghost]

I wasn't aware that fitness was ever a part of driving a car?

While I understand the need for a disabled person to have lighter steering, I'm not sure a Mini would be the best car for them anyway? Small, relatively cramped entry/exit, etc. For the guy whose wife has arthritis, fitting it with power steering makes perfect sense!

Aside from disability, if someone wants power steering then go for it. Its always interesting to see new projects. We all like minis because they are so easy to make your own, and I see fitting power steering as just that. I'd rather see that than someone cut up a Mini and make a mini shaped car with it.

I'm a little surprised that one of the major mini suppliers has not developed a kit for it.

[oliver122]

there are these steering arms , abit pricey , and do limit turning circle by 30% but do get 30% lighter

http://www.minitastic.co.uk/home1.htm

oh and power steering http://www.minitastic.co.uk/home1.htm

Edited by oliver122, 15 December 2011 - 09:41 AM.

[Mini_Magic]

Not all of us are 20-somethings with plenty of fitness to steer a Mini at low speeds.

Oh get a hold of yourself man!!! Those of us who are no longer part of the younger generation are made of tougher stuff than that!! Or has the modern world and all it's labour saving devices made you go soft??

Ey? I was making the point that some people need power steering to drive a car comfortably. Wasn't having a go at older people, just that not everyone is fit enough to steer a Mini at low speeds.

Still don't understand why fitting a different engine or chopping the roof off is okay but not power steering...

[Beej123]

Minis converted for disabled drivers by Motability were fitted with power steering.

Whilst Minis are easy to steer and park, not everyone is as fit and able as each other. And some people who fit massive wheels, change the geometry and change the steering wheel and rack do end up with a car that is very heavy to steer at low speed.

ye but fat and unfit people have new cars. when have you ever seen a really unfit or fat person drive a classic? no one buys a classic and gets disapointed that there is no power steering. the one thing i really like about old cars is there is no power steering. feels like i'm doing all the work.

Does 6ft1 and 14st make me fat and unfit? Or the perfect size to tell narrow minded people to do one????

[newnham500]

my two pence worth is i like non power steering, you can feel the road better, and its part of the charm of the car struggling to dry steer yourself out of a tight space.

[mab01uk]

Many of the modern power steering systems do vary the asistance, feedback and feel at the wheel dependent on speed, road conditions, etc. For instance if you read the story told by Rover engineers when they developed the New MINI Mk1 steering feel was a priority and it took several attempts to get it right eventually using a Electro-Hydraulic power steering system (with the distictive whine!) as full electric ps could not achieve this at the time (2001). Further development means good fully electric ps can now achieve a sporting feel and is fitted to many modern 'drivers cars' including the Mk2 MINI.

I agree classic Mini's with standard size wheels (except the Sportpack Mpi) and especially the early Mini's with 5.20 or 145 tyres and the large 'bus' style steering wheels have light steering even when parking. However........as soon as you fit wide tyres and especially low profile 175/13's the parking effort is quite high for many drivers especially women who were once the main buyers of the classic Mini! I removed the 13" wheels from my own classic Mini recently in favour of 10's, partly for improved looks and handling but also because of the heavy steering which spoilt the driving experience.

[joshspragg]

Not all of us are 20-somethings with plenty of fitness to steer a Mini at low speeds.

Oh get a hold of yourself man!!! Those of us who are no longer part of the younger generation are made of tougher stuff than that!! Or has the modern world and all it's labour saving devices made you go soft??

Ey? I was making the point that some people need power steering to drive a car comfortably. Wasn't having a go at older people, just that not everyone is fit enough to steer a Mini at low speeds.

Still don't understand why fitting a different engine or chopping the roof off is okay but not power steering...

if it makes it any better i think changing the engine and chopping the roof off is wrong aswell. partly because convertable minis look stupid.

[Dan]

While I understand the need for a disabled person to have lighter steering,

Disability does not always = wheelchair user. Minis were a very popular choice from Motability.

Oh and Jack Knight make a fully electric bolt-in kit, I forgot about that earlier.

[mab01uk]

Jack Knight EPAS column Drive Unit:
http://www.jackknigh..._jkdpr_epas.pdf