Installing Electric power steering without a working speedometer

[captainneo]

So i'm about to take on the project of installing Dgo's power steering unit. I'm reading in the paperwork that the steering adjusts power based upon speed. My speedometer is broken, but not only that, but when it was working, someone changed it out, for one that goes up to 140 MPH. so it's not a stock one anyway. How is this going to effect how my power steering works when I put it in?

[Josh]

Did you email them to ask?
It is a large purchase they should be able to provide support.

I believe the speed pulse generator replaces the lambda counter. So you must have a working angle drive and lower speedometer cable.

[captainneo]

I think the lower angle drive is why my speedometer took a crap. Least on my first one, that's why it would bind and break all the time.

[Josh]

the angle drive is a very high failure item. The reproductions are very poor quality on a design that is not that great to start out with. Rebuild original angle drives seem to give the most success.

[Helirich]

While I'm intrigued by electric power steering, the Delorean is one of the few cars that I wouldn't consider it. Even with the car stopped, it's easy to turn the wheels. But to each his own.

If you want to trade your speedometer for a stock one, that can be arranged.

[Josh]

While I'm intrigued by electric power steering, the Delorean is one of the few cars that I wouldn't consider it. Even with the car stopped, it's easy to turn the wheels. But to each his own.

If you want to trade your speedometer for a stock one, that can be arranged.

the speedometer itself has nothing to do with this.

I have EPS on my car, I made it with parts from a nissan versa. It really transforms how the car drives. Less vibration in the wheel at speed as well. Makes parking lot maneuvers effortless.

It seems when people bring up PS it results in insults of strength. This is hardly the point.

[Helirich]

the speedometer itself has nothing to do with this.

I have EPS on my car, I made it with parts from a nissan versa. It really transforms how the car drives. Less vibration in the wheel at speed as well. Makes parking lot maneuvers effortless.

It seems when people bring up PS it results in insults of strength. This is hardly the point.

I believe it trans forms how the car drives, just not in a good way. Normally, the complaint of power steering is it removes the "feel of the road" or feedback. Of course, with many vehicals, it's required because they are too hard to steer at slow speed. In the case of a Rear engine Delorean, slow speed operation is not really an isssue. I have a VW Beetle that is a joy to drive because of no power steering and rear engine. Now I have sexy, more powerful version with that same feel.

I also have a C7 with triple the power and power steering, but it can't compare with the feel of the Big D!

But I guess, differnt strokes for different folks.

[81dmc]

the speedometer itself has nothing to do with this.

I have EPS on my car, I made it with parts from a nissan versa. It really transforms how the car drives. Less vibration in the wheel at speed as well. Makes parking lot maneuvers effortless.

It seems when people bring up PS it results in insults of strength. This is hardly the point.

Sorry to intrude the thread, but does the versa EPS dampen the dangerous, touchy feel of the DeLorean at higher speeds?

Can’t use the vendors power steering as a speedo cable doesn’t exist anymore on my car...

[Josh]

Sorry to intrude the thread, but does the versa EPS dampen the dangerous, touchy feel of the DeLorean at higher speeds?

Can’t use the vendors power steering as a speedo cable doesn’t exist anymore on my car...

When it is in "failsafe" mode like I have it it operates at something like 60% assist all the time.
I found this to be too much at highway speeds. I took the reverse lockout solenoid output on my ecu and set it to 70kmh. So it shuts the power steering off above that speed and turns it on below.
Ideally I would reverse engineer the CAN input and have it fade out over a certain speed range and even at 0% assist the control unit would still be on. Having the unit turn on and off can be somewhat harsh if you are taking a high speed corner. I set it at 70 as it is a middle ground between city and highway driving. When it was full assist at highway speeds it was very twitchy. I did not like it at all. Even with it off at highway speed the extra resistance of the motor smooths out any vibration I once had in the steering.

I cannot complain too much It was about $80 in parts and a weekend of work.
Not as polished as the vendor offerings but they are much, much more money.

[Helirich]

Sorry to intrude the thread, but does the versa EPS dampen the dangerous, touchy feel of the DeLorean at higher speeds?

Can’t use the vendors power steering as a speedo cable doesn’t exist anymore on my car...

If you don't like the touchy feel, have you considered a steering damper? They are more in use in the 4wheel drive world, but basically it's a shock on your steering. You can't move it fast (or the wheels can't move it fast when you hit a bump) but you can still turn the wheel. It would be an easy install.

The other possibility would be a slower ratio steering. You would have more power at slow speeds and less touchy feel at high speeds. I'm just Not sure about the availability for our car.

[81dmc]

If you don't like the touchy feel, have you considered a steering damper? They are more in use in the 4wheel drive world, but basically it's a shock on your steering. You can't move it fast (or the wheels can't move it fast when you hit a bump) but you can still turn the wheel. It would be an easy install.

The other possibility would be a slower ratio steering. You would have more power at slow speeds and less touchy feel at high speeds. I'm just Not sure about the availability for our car.
I've only ever used a steering damper on steering box vehicles.


I like the idea for a lower ratio steering rack, but I wonder what the hell would actually fit. Additionally, the lower ratio rack would actually make a power steering system more complete in the DeLorean as it doesn’t need to be turned off...

[Josh]

If you don't like the touchy feel, have you considered a steering damper? They are more in use in the 4wheel drive world, but basically it's a shock on your steering. You can't move it fast (or the wheels can't move it fast when you hit a bump) but you can still turn the wheel. It would be an easy install.

The other possibility would be a slower ratio steering. You would have more power at slow speeds and less touchy feel at high speeds. I'm just Not sure about the availability for our car.

Another thread you are sticking your nose into, offering opinions with absolutely no expertise of the matter.

[Helirich]

Another thread you are sticking your nose into, offering opinions with absolutely no expertise of the matter.

I'm not sticking my nose in. This is a forum. I have just as much right to comment as you. People come to a forum to get answers from the community. Actually, I have quite a bit expertise in the matter. I have built a complete full hydro steering system in a custom truck.

What exactly is your problem, Josh?

[Helirich]

I've only ever used a steering damper on steering box vehicles.


I like the idea for a lower ratio steering rack, but I wonder what the hell would actually fit. Additionally, the lower ratio rack would actually make a power steering system more complete in the DeLorean as it doesn’t need to be turned off...

There's no reason a damper wouldn't work on a rack. But the ratio would probably be the better solution. Since you want less touchy, it would increase your "power", so maybe you wouldn't want power steering. I have to say, for your complaint, power steering would make it worse. (More touchy)

[Josh]

When I was growing up, my parents would call what you have "verbal diarrhea"

I comment because I am asking a question, have something to show or feel I can help someone solve a problem.

You comment because you treat this forum as your personal diary, or you ask a question in the hopes that everyone will agree with you. If that is not the case you argue with them.
In this instance you are just spitballing ideas with no basis or knowledge of the car. Sure you have worked on other vehicles but it is clear you have more learning and observing to do in the delorean community.
It says you registered in 2018, I miss those two years prior that you made little to no comments. One would think you were just observing and listening but that is obviously not the case. Not sure what started the latest "wave of idiocy" that are your posts, but that is my problem.

[Helirich]

When I was growing up,.....

There's your problem, I don't think you did yet.

[81dmc]

https://media2.giphy.com/media/8vIFoKU8s4m4CBqCao/200.gif

[DMCMW Dave]

I found this to be too much at highway speeds.

Even with it off at highway speed the extra resistance of the motor smooths out any vibration I once had in the steering.



I wasn't a fan for the same reasons. My own installation was a lot simpler (call it a science experiment), I wired a switch to turn it on and off manually. On, it was overassisted and the car was twitchy at highway speeds. Off, the internal friction was so high the steering wouldn't self center. You don't realize how important that is until you don't have it. The car was very tiring to drive.

This was an early version of a European steering vendor's offering. I tried two separate installations and didn't care for either of them. Converted the car back to stock.

It was very nice at parking lot speeds but I really didn't like it at any other speeds. I have owned a couple of modern cars with electric power steering (Chevy Volt, BMW F31) and neither has had the issue, so it seems the modern vendors have figured this out. The BMW is still a bit overassisted but the road feel and self centering is very good. I actually thought the Volt was about perfect.

[Josh]

I wasn't a fan for the same reasons. My own installation was a lot simpler (call it a science experiment), I wired a switch to turn it on and off manually. On, it was overassisted and the car was twitchy at highway speeds. Off, the internal friction was so high the steering wouldn't self center. You don't realize how important that is until you don't have it. The car was very tiring to drive.

This was an early version of a European steering vendor's offering. I tried two separate installations and didn't care for either of them. Converted the car back to stock.

It was very nice at parking lot speeds but I really didn't like it at any other speeds. I have owned a couple of modern cars with electric power steering (Chevy Volt, BMW F31) and neither has had the issue, so it seems the modern vendors have figured this out. The BMW is still a bit overassisted but the road feel and self centering is very good. I actually thought the Volt was about perfect.

Interesting, thanks for sharing your experiences.
I found the steering to still correct even with the EPS off. However I have custom UCAs, which allowed me to give the front suspension some more caster angle. I believe I have it set at 5.5deg of caster angle, which is 2 deg more than the stock spec but inline with modern cars. Caster helps with self centering as I understand it.

[artisticent]

I believe it trans forms how the car drives, just not in a good way. Normally, the complaint of power steering is it removes the "feel of the road" or feedback. Of course, with many vehicals, it's required because they are too hard to steer at slow speed. In the case of a Rear engine Delorean, slow speed operation is not really an isssue. I have a VW Beetle that is a joy to drive because of no power steering and rear engine. Now I have sexy, more powerful version with that same feel.

I also have a C7 with triple the power and power steering, but it can't compare with the feel of the Big D!

But I guess, differnt strokes for different folks.

I have the same. 83 Delorean and a 79 CJ7. Great minds

[artisticent]

So i'm about to take on the project of installing Dgo's power steering unit. I'm reading in the paperwork that the steering adjusts power based upon speed. My speedometer is broken, but not only that, but when it was working, someone changed it out, for one that goes up to 140 MPH. so it's not a stock one anyway. How is this going to effect how my power steering works when I put it in?

The speedo itself wouldnt affect anything however I think it might be a good idea to get an original one just to have in your possession. Im seeing certain parts becoming hard to come by and stock in certain instances is the value. my 2c

[Josh]

I have the same. 83 Delorean and a 79 CJ7. Great minds

hes referring to a C7 corvette, not a Jeep. He brings it up fairly often.