27 replies to this topic

[Alex_B]

why would you want to do that most of the pleasure of driving the mini is the direct feel from hands to wheels the rack makes you feel more like a driver?

How is that helpful? If someone wants to fit power steering to their Mini then they can. Perhaps they have a medical condition or just don't want to have achey arms every time they park.

achey arms? noo thats muscle building that! everyone has to have a morning workout ;) especially it seems on a monday morning when its so cold you cant lean back in the seat because you fitted vinyl seats which are like ice in the morning, the cars already fogging up and some asshat has parked so close to you that you have to shuffle the car forward and back for 2 minutes just to get out the parking space!

Ok I see the point of power steering

And heated seats for that matter!

Edited by Alex_B, 20 October 2012 - 05:00 PM.

[mike.]

My minis fitted with 13x7's and its a killer during low speed parking etc.

I've got a corsa too with the electric steering and its quite good, super easy for moving lock to lock with one hand at low speed, but at motorway speeds you can feel much more resistance to it.

It think it'd work well in a mini if it could be turned off at 15-20mph.

[Black.Ghost]

I quite like the idea of going all out on a mini. PS, electric windows, central locking, heated seats and anything else you can think of. Anyone can be uncomfortable. What's wrong with making things better for yourself?

Before you do it though, research it fully. Like someone said, try and drive a PS mini first and look at the work needed. The last thing you want is to start it and have your mini off the road for too long because of problems etc.

[Alex_B]

A modern day radford mini then, all the modern luxuries in a mini, you will struggle for space and keeping the classic mini feel, but part of that "mini feel" envolves being too cold/too hot/ the bumpyness/ the smell etc

[Black.Ghost]

I think you could do a few things without losing too much of the Mini feel. A few little mod cons could certainly make it more fun as an everyday car.

[Alex_B]

Yeah defo! I have been thinking about it but cost is just not justifyable for me at the moment, but leccy windows, and a more ergonomically deisnged cabin would make it a bit special, I was looking at a Radford mini at goodwood this yeah and some of the mods they did were lovely!

[panelbeaterpeter]

Try and find a mini with the kit fitted and see if you like it, a well designed PS system is good, but system off a corsa, fitted to a car that isn't designed to have it, would probably be another matter. Totally pointless IMO, but try it if you see the need..

Edited by panelbeaterpeter, 20 October 2012 - 05:41 PM.

[Black.Ghost]

Alex yeah the cabin area is what I want to improve the most. I'm finally starting (well someone on here is ) my restoration and after much to and froing, I want some luxury in it. Alcantara covered SPi seats, a redesigned dash and centre console that make use of the original dials and incorporate speakers etc. The centre console will house the switches for the electric windows and possibly air con vents. I also want a heated front screen.

I think I will still keep the mini feel with these changes. But I apologise for hijacking the thread.

[ReggieBoy]

Just incase you havent noticed, this is on ebay!
http://www.ebay.co.u...=item3ccb9f15f5

[pickuptruck1994]

thanks to everyone for their thoughts. ill have a speak to my collage teacher when im back there. as he has a track day car with it built in and thinks its amazing so might see if he can take some pictures.
i was only thinking of this as my girlfriends mini is nearly ready and she isn't that strong so she might find it hard at slow speeds when parking. and if its any good might do it on mine mini too as its going to be a daily when its done
if you want to know what my teachers looks like click on the link below

one of a kind!!!!!

cheers again
jordan

[camp freddy]

i must admit Ratty is quite heavy on the steering at low speed , sometimes i think of p/s

[tiger99]

Just to clarify one thing, turning any kind of power steering off completely above a certain speed is a very bad idea. It is a necessary feature of almost all such systems, whether hydraulic or electric, that there is either backlash or elasticity built in between the drivers input and the rack, so that the force applied by the driver can be sensed. Turn off the power and you are typically left steering the car through a rather thin torsion bar, or a serious amount of backlash.

[charie t]

Just to clarify one thing, turning any kind of power steering off completely above a certain speed is a very bad idea. It is a necessary feature of almost all such systems, whether hydraulic or electric, that there is either backlash or elasticity built in between the drivers input and the rack, so that the force applied by the driver can be sensed. Turn off the power and you are typically left steering the car through a rather thin torsion bar, or a serious amount of backlash.

The corsa column is not a direct power steering, it is a power assist. The column is still the same direct fitment. As is the fiat system but is less reliable