I'm really intrigued with the electronic power assist. I have to wonder what the steering effort is like with an electrical or more so a mechanical failure.
If you like the feel of a fresh tight 16:1 manual box when you are rolling down the road at speed, you could have that same feel with power assist at lower speeds with Electric Power Assisted Steering.
You can set how much "Assist, Feel or Feedback" you want with the provided potentiometer.
The steering shaft is still directly connected from the steering wheel to the steering box, just with an electric motor inline. The electric motor assists the shaft in turning.
In case of an electric failure, you just have manual steering again...
There are Sensors that measure input force (Steering wheel input) and resistance (moving the Tires on pavement).
In a straight line, no assist is needed so none is provided. Also no current draw at the motor since it isn't providing any assist. Assist is all "On Demand" or idle...
At slow speed, like when parking, when there is more resistance to the tires turning, the electric motor provides more assist... The amount of assist is given can be adjusted to the amount you prefer.
The potentiometer, (like a volume knob) looks a little like the old "Fader" knob in some of our old cars... Want it to feel like manual? turn it all the way down. Want to steer with one finger? turn the assist all the way up.
I can't say how this particular setup feels yet because it is still not on the road... :-(
But I'm pretty confident from all the research I did before making the decision to go this route.
In fact, so much so I sold my brand new never used Borgerson box since I decided to go electric.
Saves weight over hydraulic PS, saves horsepower over hydraulic PS, no PS belts, no PS pulleys, no PS pump, no PS reservoir, no PS hoses, no PS fluid, no PS leaks.
Does require electrical current and grafting the EPAS to your steering column.
I've driven several modern rental cars with electric power steering. It's pretty common on a lot of newer cars.
In cars that give you a selection of "Steering Settings" like sport or comfort, I'd guess most are Electric.
Takes a bit of getting used to a new BMW in sport mode, feels a bit twitchy... my daily is a 1 ton diesel crew cab 4x4.
EPAS + Ididit Tilt Column for our 69 6.1 Hemi Barracuda
The original column that came out of the car.
Only reused the mounting collar and modified mounting bracket from the old column.
What you see under the hood.
If it weren't a 6.1 Hemi, it could easily be a 100% stock steering column adapted to the EPAS inside and out. There was no way a stock column would clear the valve cover or the header in my build. EPAS solved a lot of challenges and provided a nice PS solution with a 16:1 Manual Firm Feel Mopar box.
I chopped up the old column to do all my test fitting. Made my own firewall plate so I could move the pass-through hole a little bit, for a little more clearance. The factory steering coupler is still to big to clear the header though.
A collapsible steering shaft is still achieved by using a telescopic 3/4" double D inside a 1" double D
There is a bearing in the firewall plate for the 1" DD.
Should have this car on the road this year.
