Fitting power steering

[fraser]

I am looking for a Smart Fortwo for my wife. I know that some come with power steering. Is it possible to fit power steering to a non power steering smart - ie. is it a do-able job in terms of cost and difficulty? I'm asking this because due to surgery my wife lacks some strength in her arm and I think power steering is a must. If its possible to do this it would give us a wider choice of vehicle. We are talking second hand here - new is not an option.

[10:45PM]

Re: Fitting power steering

No, it's not really practical to retrofit PAS imho (it's electric by the way, not conventional fluid filled)

you'd need a new rack and an electronics box and some other bits and pieces which will no doubt make it uneconomical anyway.

Pretty sure you'll only see ones with it factory fitted on post ~2005ish cars

Have you actually tried one without , they aren't that bad , especially if you start turning only when the car is rolling

[Messerschmitt Owner]

Re: Fitting power steering

she should perhaps try a test drive of one without - few had it fitted as standard.

Retrofitting a new power steering rack is probably easy - but will the car have the wiring for a power steering motor?

The power steering is electrically operated and I would reckon that a 700cc car (G2) will be easier to retro-fit but what do I know anyway!

have a look at www.fq101.co.uk, it may have an answer

[Thrumbleux]

Re: Fitting power steering

Wider front tyres lighten the steering at low speeds.

[MrPoo]

Re: Fitting power steering

Definitely test drive one first, you'll soon see that it's fine without it, just don't try and turn the wheels whilst the car's stationary.

[Thrumbleux]

Re: Fitting power steering

Definitely test drive one first, you'll soon see that it's fine without it, just don't try and turn the wheels whilst the car's stationary.

Wrong.

A standard fortwo on standard 145 front tyres at parking speed is unacceptably heavy for the type of car it is and especially so for anyone lacking full limb strength.

Fraser, do you or your wife intend using the car on motorways or on roads where crosswind stability could be an issue?

[MrPoo]

Re: Fitting power steering

A standard fortwo on standard 145 front tyres at parking speed is unacceptably heavy for the type of car it is and especially so for anyone lacking full limb strength.

Well I managed it post surgery!

And the phrase you were looking for was 'I disagree'

[putzie]

Re: Fitting power steering

is it the same power steering as the roadster as i think its better without if its the case !

[Thrumbleux]

Re: Fitting power steering

Well I managed it post surgery!

And the phrase you were looking for was 'I disagree'

But it isn't for you that Fraser intends buying a car.

I'll decide which phrase I want to use. Got that?

[fraser]

Re: Fitting power steering

No, it's not really practical to retrofit PAS imho (it's electric by the way, not conventional fluid filled)

you'd need a new rack and an electronics box and some other bits and pieces which will no doubt make it uneconomical anyway.

Pretty sure you'll only see ones with it factory fitted on post ~2005ish cars

Have you actually tried one without , they aren't that bad , especially if you start turning only when the car is rolling

Haven't tried one - at present running a seicento which is HEAVY at low speed. Will try and try on first
thanks

[fraser]

Re: Fitting power steering

she should perhaps try a test drive of one without - few had it fitted as standard.

Retrofitting a new power steering rack is probably easy - but will the car have the wiring for a power steering motor?

The power steering is electrically operated and I would reckon that a 700cc car (G2) will be easier to retro-fit but what do I know anyway!

have a look at www.fq101.co.uk, it may have an answer

Will do
thanks

[fraser]

Re: Fitting power steering

Wrong.

A standard fortwo on standard 145 front tyres at parking speed is unacceptably heavy for the type of car it is and especially so for anyone lacking full limb strength.

Fraser, do you or your wife intend using the car on motorways or on roads where crosswind stability could be an issue?

probably not - mostly local town and non- motorway. Not many motorways in scotland.

[MrPoo]

Re: Fitting power steering

Haven't tried one - at present running a seicento which is HEAVY at low speed. Will try and try on first
thanks

Has the seicento got power steering??

The reason I ask is that the last owner of my current smart, came from a seicento with power steering to my smart without. She said she found it heavier but the power steering on the seicento was extremely light.

[Messerschmitt Owner]

Re: Fitting power steering

Lol and there was me thinking the m876 and the m9 were just round the corner

[smartsparky]

Re: Fitting power steering

Erm... I don't know much about electric power steering (EPS) on the smart but I always thought that my fortwo didn't have it and Helen's fortwo did.

HOWEVER

My fortwo has the wiring for EPS (not to be confused with ESP) connected to the SAM. If your fortwo has three wires connected to N11-7 then so do you!

http://www.fq101.co.uk/how-to-guides/fortwo-450/interior/579-sam-wiring.html

My investigations are yet to see where the wiring leads...