Power steering

[Thrumbleux]

I was once lent a very early LHD car as a courtesy car. Needless to say it snowed over night. I can't thiink that I've ever been in a car so uncontrolable as that car. Very short wheel base meant that as soon as you realised it was spinning .... it'd spun. Lack of assistance made no difference at all.

Extreme conditions....and without the appropriate tyres.

No idea how you suggest that, as it knocks off above parking speeds

Not on an A-Class - which is the car I was commenting on.

[EmilysDad]

Not on an A-Class - which is the car I was commenting on.

The last car I had that did NOT have speed sensitive steering was an 83 Carlton ..... I don't believe the A Class's steering wasn't speed sensitive, especially if it was electric

[Thrumbleux]

It wasn't sensitive to anything. Certainly not the level of grip at the the tyres!
An early iteration of electric PAS, I think newer systems have improved but it is notable that some manufacturers in the pursuit of 'feel' employ a hybrid electro-hydraulic system, the electrics merely driving the hydraulic pump.

[137699]

Wider? Surely more rubber on the ground will weight the steering ...... ???

You would think so wouldn't you, but i can confirm, fitting wider roadster wheels to a 450 does indeed make the steering noticeably lighter. My other half previously had a Passion with no-PAS and as she has a back injury sustained in 2009 (in our Roadster FWIW) she struggled with the non-PAS steering. Then I fit her a set of Roadster spinlines and she was mightily impressed with the difference. To the point that her current PAS-equipped 450 Brabus does not actually feel significantly lighter in comparison.

[10:45PM]

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[Thrumbleux]

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Only in your head!

[10:45PM]

I was being tongue in cheek ... it's just debate ;-)

[Thrumbleux]

I know that!
Me tongue in cheek too!!

[EmilysDad]

.....
but it is notable that some manufacturers in the pursuit of 'feel' employ a hybrid electro-hydraulic system, the electrics merely driving the hydraulic pump.

That's what my Astra G had

[EmilysDad]

You would think so wouldn't you, but i can confirm, fitting wider roadster wheels to a 450 does indeed make the steering noticeably lighter. ....

I wounder if a difference in offset made a difference :-?

[Thrumbleux]

Slightly different steering geometry will be the reason.




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..

[Thrumbleux]

And talking of differences....
Wider rubber on resized front wheels works on a fortwo. I don't know if the same works on a 451 (now I realise it's a 451 that is sought).
I know many changed front wheels for the standard rear fitment but without comparing the offset differences with the change in offset from (450) Jetline to Roadster steel I don't know if comparable. The 451 also has slightly different suspension.
Perhaps someone who has done this can advise (for the benefit of forum knowledge if nothing else).

[Denis O]

I spent ages looking for a model with PAS and gave up in the end. I test drove both and the power version was much easier at parking speeds.

Ended up with a limited 2 which has wider wheels than standard. It came with Contis which were changed to Yoko's and the steering lightened significantly as a consequence.

[EmilysDad]

I spent ages looking for a model with PAS and gave up in the end. I test drove both and the power version was much easier at parking speeds.

Ended up with a limited 2 which has wider wheels than standard. It came with Contis which were changed to Yoko's and the steering lightened significantly as a consequence.

I've a might be/possible to look at. The dealer has looked but still not sure ....... so a knowledgeable friend that lives locally is going to view it for me.