| Author | Topic |
|---|
Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
March 2003
|
|
Power Steering Conversion
|
Wed, 30 April 2003 12:44
|
 |
|
Has anyone put power steering into an RA40 or similar celica? I'm sick of fighting with the wheel and i wanted to know if there was possibly another toyota such as an MA70 that i could just take it out of and bolt in easily... And while we're on the subject of upgrading, brakes as well? I know the RA60 has larger discs that would bolt straight on for example...
|
|
|
Location:
Montrose, VIC
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: Power Steering Conversion
|
Wed, 30 April 2003 12:48
|
|
Well, if you could convert it to RA60 rack+peanut, you could add the brakes, power steering, etc.
Don't know how hard that would be though! (RA40s didnt have rack and peanut... did they??)
|
|
|
Toymods Social Secretary
Location:
Sydney
Registered:
July 2002
|
|
|
Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: Power Steering Conversion
|
Thu, 01 May 2003 01:18
|
|
First of all, you might try getting a wheel alignment and making sure your front end suspension/steering components are in good working order. You shouldn't have to "fight" with the steering in an RA40; my RA23 has much the same front end and similar weight, and I have no problems whatsoever even with 205 tyres and a small steering wheel. I reckon power steering would make it way too light!
As for a P/S upgrade, it can be done but it won't be easy. You can get a power-assisted steering box from an MA47 Supra and possibly some other Toyota (can't remember right now but I read it somewhere), but these aren't easy to find.
Rack-and-pinion is a great idea but very hard to do. Both the RA60 and the AE70 have rack and pinion, but they're attached to the crossmember which curves backwards. Your crossmember curves forwards so it would position the rack in the wrong place. Even if you solved that problem (possibly with a TA23 crossmember if it will fit), you still have to worry about things like bump steer and whether the steering column will line up. I put a lot of thought into this a while ago because I wanted rack and pinion in my RA23, but after a lot of research I decided there's no easy way to do it, so it's in the "too hard" basket for the time being.
As for the brake upgrade, RA60 brakes will bolt on to the RA40 struts provided you use the RA60 hubs as well. The hard part is making the calipers fit as they're quite different to the RA40 items. If you make a simple bracket out of 4mm steel you can get around that problem (see my web site for details), but I guess it depends what your metal fabrication skills are like.
[Updated on: Thu, 01 May 2003 01:22]
|
|
|
Location:
c'town, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: Power Steering Conversion
|
Thu, 01 May 2003 02:31
|
|
ive researched this, i was going to this exact thing on mine.
grab a steering box from -
MA45 supra or
MX32 - MX62 cressida
possibly some crowns.
it should bolt in no troubles but there is one fundamental thing u have to check out, the arm comming out of the bottom of the steering box is slightly different to the RA40 one, it is much thicker and has a slight curl in it, you will have to talk to the guy whos doing your wheel alignment after youve done the swap if its posing as a problem..
also what engine do u run?, if its anything that didnt come with power steer then you will have to fabricate a bracket and organise the pulley, pump and belt.
all else there is to say has already been covered by Karl and Norbie etc
|
|
|
Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
March 2003
|
|
Re: Power Steering Conversion
|
Thu, 01 May 2003 12:49
|
|
Thanx for all the help guyz... I think ur right Norbie it might have to go in the too hard basket for the time being anyway.
Are u both talking about the same "power assisted boxes"? How hard are these to find?
Instead of bolting up RA60 brakes, how about whole struts? would this still put camber way out? and what way does it put it out coz i don't mind a bit of negative camber...
|
|
|
Location:
Montrose, VIC
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: Power Steering Conversion
|
Thu, 01 May 2003 13:28
|
|
Changing the rotors ain't gonna affect the camber - it'd be a REAL worry if it did!
It's changing the whole strut that'll change the camber - and it changes it the wrong way, sorry! 
On this topic, does anyone know of MA61 lower arms are a touch longer than RA60 ones?
|
|
|
Location:
c'town, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: Power Steering Conversion
|
Thu, 01 May 2003 22:13
|
|
MA45 = hard to find
MX32 = easy to find
MX62 = easy to find
|
|
|
Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
March 2003
|
|
Re: Power Steering Conversion
|
Tue, 13 May 2003 22:39
|
|
|
What modifications would i need to carry out to put MA70 coilovers into my RA40???
|
|
|
Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: Power Steering Conversion
|
Wed, 14 May 2003 00:03
|
|
You'd first need to convert your RA40 into an MA70, which involves a process called a "trade in".
Seriously though, MA70's have double wishbone suspension front and rear, which is not compatible with the suspension in your Celica (McPherson strut front and live axle rear).
|
|
|
Location:
Brisbane QLD
Registered:
March 2003
|
|
Re: Power Steering Conversion
|
Wed, 14 May 2003 10:03
|
|
|
that's somthing i want to eventually do to my celica too, but mostly because the steering has quite a bit of play which would be handy to get rid of.
|
|
|
Location:
brisbane
Registered:
March 2003
|
|
Re: Power Steering Conversion
|
Wed, 14 May 2003 11:50
|
|
|
my steering is up to shit as well on my ra40.... but thats cause it has shit casters and the z bar nuts has been welded on which is gay... i have been thinking maybe a hilux p/s box might fit with some minor mods as they look very similar but im not really to sure on it if you change to p/s you gotta change the caster right up so it is not floaty and is drivable probably ahveta bring it up to around 3-3.5 dagrees one ach side but it is easy enuff to do
|
|
|
Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
March 2003
|
|
Re: Power Steering Conversion
|
Thu, 22 May 2003 12:46
|
|
|
Well i now have a RA60 in the shop with power steering so i can have a play around with it and see how diferent the set up is and if a conversion is possible... If i do go ahead with it, I will let u know how i went...
|
|
|
Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: Power Steering Conversion
|
Thu, 22 May 2003 12:51
|
|
I can tell you right now it's very different! You'll see for yourself though.
|
|
|
Location:
townsville NQLD
Registered:
February 2004
|
|
Re: Power Steering Conversion
|
Sun, 01 August 2004 12:05
|
|
hi peoples,
i was just reading this old topic and im letting yous know that ive put power steering into my ra40. i got the whole setup for FREE!! out of a 82' (i think) cressida. the only major mod is that u have to machine off bout 7mm at the top of the steering shaft to allow the steering lock bearing to slide down to its origional pos. also if u want the steering lock to work that 7mm will need to be milled past the existing grove. the reason the shaft sits up so high is because the shaft in the steering box sits out 7mm furthur than wot the ra40 one would. another issue, no really problem is the idler arm thing that bolts onto the steering box. all that has to be done i remove the cressida one which has a curve shape to it and bolt on ure existing ra40 arm.
then all that has to be done is p/s pump bracket have to be made which is no problem to somebody with a welder.
jus thought ide let yas all kno.
brett
|
|
|
Registered:
September 2004
|
|
Re: Power Steering Conversion
|
Mon, 27 September 2004 13:30
|
|
|
im after power steering for my ra40 but im really not familiary with these cars. Does anyone know of a person or place in perth that would be able to do that for me. Would any place that does power steering be able to fit it to my car? Thanks in advance
|
|
|
Location:
townsville NQLD
Registered:
February 2004
|
|
|
