Hey great article. I own an 88 VL SL, withOUT power steering. My steering isnt too bad, until you have to park, or pull out from the side of the road with a car up your *** and one right in front. I am converting to power assisted steering very soon, and can get the system for $150. I am only getting it fitted because I hate to think what the steering will be like with 235's or 245's, opposed to the 205's i currently have on my 15" interceptors. Anyway, great article, and it has inspired me to get my car fitted with power steering. Cheers... Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

I read earlier in the posts that the approximate cost of getting the gear installed is around the $600 mark, is this correct? (As a rough estimate of course).

Quote: Originally Posted by Sik88SL I read earlier in the posts that the approximate cost of getting the gear installed is around the $600 mark, is this correct? (As a rough estimate of course). No thats incorrect. It costs $0 and a days work. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Quote: Originally Posted by dylan Hey mate, nice article. I just did mine about last week, and the one problem I came into was the rods at the end of the steering column. Where the steering rack connects onto that long piece of steel with your steering wheel on the end (if that makes sense). little arm piece Anyway, I found out the clips on the end of those little arms, are different from power steering to non power steering. The arm isn't as long, etc. The clips on the end are different. So anyone reading this, double check and make sure your steering column has the right arm length to reach your new power steering rack. Other than that top article, I did almost the exact same thing as you did on there (installing, heat shield, etc to mount power steering bottle). Definately a 2 man job. Wish I'd bloody read the article before I'd done it!, lol, it was trial and error mate. haha good on ya.. yeh mine had little issues like that.. we just managed to make it work though.. of course its not dangerous or illegal though.. but it does fit fine.. maybe the series 1 could be different to series 2? mine being series 2.. i highly doubt it tho.. And yes definitely a game of trial and error.. especially knowing where to put all the lines!..

I did mine mate with some help from a mate too, the hard part was replacing the steering column because the power steering coloumn is different to the manual steering column. it was hard to get it in place, putting the rack and lines and pump on were easy i just made up a bracket for the pws bottle, cost me $140 all up.

i have a VL SL and im pretty sure power steering came standard...?

dont VL SL's come standard with power steering.. i have one and it has power steering??

Nope, not standard.

Back in the day it was an option like a/c, and because it was an option insurance companies look at that as a modification (goes for tow bar and a/c as well!!), figure that one out! By the way this is RACV, damn slappers!!

I'm stuck on a few things; -I've taken off all the bolts from the manual steering rack, but the pinion won't come off the lower intermediate shaft clamp. -I've bolted the new PAS rack into position (with the old rack hanging loost next to it) -I've noticed the PAS lower clamp is different to the manual clamp. The PAS clamp also sits lower, compared the to manual one. -What do I attach the PAS lower clamp to? There isn't a thick long rod on the manual shaft to bolt it to, so how is it done? -Also I want to keep my existing column and shaft, instead of getting a Calais one.

To undo the clamp, I used a large screwdriver to wedge open the bracket (where the bolt went through) and the spline come out (plenty of Inox works well, like youve done)

Got the power steering in a few days ago and wheel aligned, drives so easy! One point this guide failed to mention is that you need the intermediate shaft from a power steering car. But the pump does make an annoying whinning noise, and when at full lock I hear a really loud squeak, and the pump and wheels start to vibrate vigrously. I payed $0 for the setup (free from my mates wrecked Calais, removed it myself) One man job Only payed $40 for wheel alignment $19 for ps belt $7.50 for auto/ps fluid.

Quote: Originally Posted by Henry But the pump does make an annoying whinning noise, and when at full lock I hear a really loud squeak, and the pump and wheels start to vibrate vigrously. The whining noise is the belt. Tighten it. The shuddering is air in the system. Take it for a drive and give it a few slow figure 8's and a few circles to bleed all the air out of the system. Be sure to take some ATF along with you to top up incase the fluid gets low.

sic thats wicked will have to do it to mine

wooooooooo i finaly have power stearing!!!!!!!!!. after almost 10 hours of not eating and countless re-tries of everything and rebuilding a rack and pulling everythign out of the wreck i have and installing it all and cutting holes in roofs to see what a sun roof would look like in my car ( cut in another car ofcorse with a 4" angle grinder) its all in and now iv just got to get a wheel alignment and it should all be done! i knew it would be light but i didnt know it would be this light. one finger parking here i come!

Tried doing this mod this weekend. Bought a supposed "Complete" setup for manual to PAS. Not ever having done it before, got all the old rack out and when it came time to set it all back up again, realised that the intermediate shaft was different. Being Good Friday, nowhere was open, so had to wait until saturday morning. Went to a wreckers and got an intermediate shaft from a car with Power Steering. Got up under the dash, took the manual one out and installed the PAS one. Thought i was cooking with gas until it came time to put the rack in and found that i was a good 1-2 inches short between the shaft and the rack (no smartarse comments ) And yes, i did have the clamp for the end. Im wondering what in the hell i need?? Because there was no way i could of made it fit like it was. Any help and suggestions as to how you got yours to work would be appreciated! Cheers, Rick Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

hey mate, ive done this twice, second time was easier :P did it in 2 hours! anyway, did you pull off you steering wheel while doing this....you need to! and the boss it etc so the steering shaft can move around mate. just put it right down and line it up nicely Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Quote: Originally Posted by SmiK_vL hey mate, ive done this twice, second time was easier :P did it in 2 hours! anyway, did you pull off you steering wheel while doing this....you need to! and the boss it etc so the steering shaft can move around mate. just put it right down and line it up nicely Will try that next time thanks. But how do i get the extra 2 inches needed? If i move the shaft downwards, am i not going to have issues putting the wheel back on? Thing is doing my head in. Tempted to get another intermediate shaft, angle grind it to the right length and clamp that with the longer clamp, then clamt that onto the rack. Should of been a simple job. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

well from what i know mate, the intermediate shafts are different on power and non power steering but the actual steering coloumn itself is the same length on both! Just take off the steering wheel, boss kit and remove the circlips etc to make the shaft move up and down...this is with no steering rack connected or anything....just the thing hanging by itself and start from that. if in doubt....get a whole new steering coloumn from wreckers I did that on my first one, cost me $30 Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Really starting to hate this project now Taken the old rack out again, and attempted to take the steering wheel off and i've just managed to pull the whole column forward about 2cm and the actual wheel hasnt seemed to have budged. Lights fading so will try again tomorrow/when i get some much needed advice Not...Happy...Jan Some original photos have not been recovered yet.