Electric Power Steering!

If you have a spare four grand. Some new cars are using electric steering now- kind of scary IMHO. Paul Johnson

When I worked for a mining company, all of the big off-road dump trucks (the Tonka truck style) are all electric steering. There's a motor for each wheel.

Lee

I don't think its as scary as it sounds. Apparently if the motor fails, its no different than standard steering; unlike when you lose a belt from a conventional power steering setup. They say it saves on fuel as the motor only kicks in after 2-5 pounds of steering effort is applied, otherwise, it remains off until needed.

Craig.

My wife says I act the same way.... Jeff

Craig wrote...

This Electric power steering works just like Studebaker's ill fated Mechanical Assisted Steering. There is no assist until a perdetermined effort is put on the steering, then the assist kicks in. I have driven some GM cars with this setup and have to say it's a bit odd feeling. It reminds me of Hydrostatic Steering on a Farm Tractor which are very on-off feeling. The one thing different is the electric system is still mechanical so if the assist dies you still have regular steering. I hope they never go Steer By wire or Stop by wire though!!!

It would be nice to come up with this for the old fricti> Just the ticket for getting rid of all those messy pumps and hoses and > fluids! BP >

OcrappyOne's Honda S2000 has electric assist power steering. You can' tell the difference in driving an electric assist and hyd. assist.

The word a few years ago was that the auto industry was going to a 36 volt system. One purpose of that was to power all the engine accessories that are now belt driven. It would allow pumps, generators, drive motors, etc. to be remotely mounted in convenient locations and draw less power from the engine.

My wallet sez, "OUCH!"

JT

snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com wrote:

One of the guys from the museum just sent me to a site for a new concept MB with a stick on the console for steering, etc.

I w> My wallet sez, "OUCH!"

I know a guy who was working with a German company a couple years ago to develop electronically controlled intake and exhaust valves for engines...basically get rid of the camshaft. He has since taken another job and I don't know if there is any progress in that project.

Lee