Yogie Moderator Custom Title Time!
1,608 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·
Has anyone put power steering in to an S bug? Is it even possible?
Power steering
helbus Administrator Mad fabricator, paint and body
7,386 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·
I have never heard of it. Anything is possible. There are electric units that can be retrofitted to the steering column with a lot of custom work. They make the steering about 30% lighter. We have fitted them at work to heavy 2 tonne 1960's cars, and the 30% is definitely needed. I think the last one ended up costing the owner about $6K fitted
RISKY4LIFE Officially Full-On Dubber
308 posts · joined Jul 2010 ·
yeah lots of 60s and 70/s need power steering now as people are used to moden cons
my sbug feels great with no power steering not heavy nore super light
so i see no need 👍
my sbug feels great with no power steering not heavy nore super light
so i see no need 👍
waveman1500 Also rides a Honda
1,346 posts · joined Dec 2009 ·
It could be done but it would be very expensive and largely pointless. The steering in them is definitely not heavy. If you had a sports steering wheel and wanted lighter steering then I would recommend changing to a bigger steering wheel, most likely the stock one. If that was still too heavy for you then I would suggest doing a few arm exercises, as any healthy adult should have no troubles with it!
STIDUB Over it.
1,497 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·
^ untill you start thinking wider tyres & alot of corners maybe?
Volkswagen Drivers Club of Queensland - member 🙂
STIDUB - yep its still a work in progress
Vwdcq club car racing/ and crashing while my bug isn't finished.
The above are personal views, no more, no less
STIDUB - yep its still a work in progress
Vwdcq club car racing/ and crashing while my bug isn't finished.
The above are personal views, no more, no less
Yogie Moderator Custom Title Time!
1,608 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·
The problem we have is, this is an S bug with a standard steering wheel, 165 tyres on 15" rims and all new ball joints, bushings and even steering box (all only 5,000 kms use). I want to go down the path of a german look car with 17 x 7" rims but my wife will not drive this because it is so heavy now. It would be worse with larger wheels/tyres.
By comparison, our 68 standard beetle is great to drive. It seems like power steering in the 68 when comparing it to the 72 S bug and I just can't believe there should be that much difference. The problem is, I have never driven another S bug to have a comparison with mine so I don't know if that is how it should feel or not.
Yogie
By comparison, our 68 standard beetle is great to drive. It seems like power steering in the 68 when comparing it to the 72 S bug and I just can't believe there should be that much difference. The problem is, I have never driven another S bug to have a comparison with mine so I don't know if that is how it should feel or not.
Yogie
Yogie Moderator Custom Title Time!
1,608 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·
I was even thinking about putting one of these in to see if that would help. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1076832
Any ideas of whether this would pass engineering here in Qld?
Yogie
Any ideas of whether this would pass engineering here in Qld?
Yogie
STIDUB Over it.
1,497 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·
Yogie, a few headaches involved getting that approved, however... A workshop. In qld was going to be bringing both front & rear kits in & possibly go thru the approval process, don't know if anything further has been done about it at this stage though 🙁
Volkswagen Drivers Club of Queensland - member 🙂
STIDUB - yep its still a work in progress
Vwdcq club car racing/ and crashing while my bug isn't finished.
The above are personal views, no more, no less
STIDUB - yep its still a work in progress
Vwdcq club car racing/ and crashing while my bug isn't finished.
The above are personal views, no more, no less
Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang
9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
Might wanna check your idler arm assembly and steering damper, the fact your standard beetle steers easier is indication something is wrong.Yogie wrote:By comparison, our 68 standard beetle is great to drive. It seems like power steering in the 68 when comparing it to the 72 S bug and I just can't believe there should be that much difference.
enThe early strut bugs 71-72 had a crap design idler arm with a bush that fails alot.
Supers with steering boxes have a symmetrical steering layout - all the tie rods and link rod are equal length vs the standard which has one long and one short tie rod which frigs with geometry.
Supers steer beautifully if everythings up to scratch, I've got the 17x7s and a small steering wheel on mine and it's no effort to park.
As helbus mentioned the electric power steering is the easiest way to go.
alot of watercooled VWs use that system.
There's abit of work involved in fitting it but nothing too crazy
helbus Administrator Mad fabricator, paint and body
7,386 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·
I didn't notice any difference in steering between our 70 standard, and 71 super. The super is so light, I use 1 hand like power steering when turning anyway.
Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang
9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
It's not a real dramatic difference between the 2,
It would take driving 2 as new bugs to compare before you would really notice the difference as most daily driver standards and supers have pretty sad steering boxes after the elebenty million miles the vast majority of them have travelled.
it's not till you steer a rack and pinion bug that it's a whole new ball game, they really are like power steering but a mendola front end is farking expensive way of going about it.
It would take driving 2 as new bugs to compare before you would really notice the difference as most daily driver standards and supers have pretty sad steering boxes after the elebenty million miles the vast majority of them have travelled.
it's not till you steer a rack and pinion bug that it's a whole new ball game, they really are like power steering but a mendola front end is farking expensive way of going about it.
HoneyAbba Commited Dubber
66 posts · joined Aug 2011 ·
I have a complete T3 powersteering kit available
PM if you want it
PM if you want it
vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk
2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 ·
I have spoken to the automotive engineer that i use for approval's in Brisbane and had a good look at the A arm front end that you asked about, i spoke to them in the states about the front end and found out about there welding process so i could let the engineer know how it is made, the engineer stated that he would not approve it as it has welded spindles and other issue's with the welding, i have driven your model before and do remember it having heavy steering.
Yogie Moderator Custom Title Time!
1,608 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·
Thanks guys. I would have thought they should be similar in weight like Joel and Hellbus have said. The box is new so it shouldn't be that but may check the idler arm. The damper is also new.
VW060, can you PM me if you don't want it on public show what other problems your engineer had other than the spindles?
I am not sure yet that I want to go down the power steering road as I really think there is something wrong in my setup so I need to make sure that is right first.
Thanks for you help everyone.
Yogie
VW060, can you PM me if you don't want it on public show what other problems your engineer had other than the spindles?
I am not sure yet that I want to go down the power steering road as I really think there is something wrong in my setup so I need to make sure that is right first.
Thanks for you help everyone.
Yogie