Replacing Power Steering pump with an electric unit questions.

[ATaylorRacing]

So here is the deal. Last year I removed the power steering pump on my 95 SOHC Neon. I LOVE the feel on the road, but was sondering if I can rig up an electric power steering pump in place of the original pulley operated one. I know that some (if not all) Toyota MR2s had them and the wife's Prius does too, along with some Jeeps and GMs? These units are kind of pricy at the yards so I was even thinking of modifing an electric water pump that is used to circulate water in the fish tank of a boat. I used one of these "water guppys" a few years ago on the old Four Play Horizon that I used to race.

Does anyone know how much psi the power steering pump put out. I plan on using a switch so I only use it when parking. Any ideas out there?

[Reaper1]

The stock P/S pump varies it's output based on the shuttle valve in the rack giving feedback, but maximum is probably in the 1500psi range given the fittings and the line used on the pressure side. A water recirc pump isn't going to do the job.

I've also been thinking about this exact mod myself, especially after seeing and feeling it done in person on a Honda.

The 2nd generation MR2 is the easiest and least expensive option that I've seen. You can get pumps on ebay for as little as $150. You don't need all the electronics to run the variable assistance, just run it 100%. I read a few forums that people do this with good results and that's the way the Honda I experienced was running it. The good news is that the variable assist is basically a stand-alone system in those cars, so if you wanted to run it, you could nab all the stuff from a wrecker and adapt it to your car! The unit is about 25# from what they told me, and can draw a good amount of power, BUT, it frees up that whole side of the engine AND you can place it wherever you want as long as it'll fit.

Minis also run these types of pumps, but they seems to be about 3 times as expensive whenever I find them.

I'm interested to see if you actually go this route as I am pretty serious about doing it to my car eventually.

[4 l-bodies]

Steve Calder has a MR2 pump installed on his CSX. Pretty slick!

[Reaper1]

Damn it! Every time I think I have a unique idea for our cars! LOL

[turbovanman²]

Yeah, water pump won't cut it, not enough pressure.

Damn it! Every time I think I have a unique idea for our cars! LOL

Rbryants also been tossing this idea around for years,

[rbryant]

I have one of the MR2 units (the older style) installed on my GLHS on the back of the 2.4l engine in place of the rear accessory but of course I haven't fired it up.

I made a bracket for it if you need one I can probably make another.

I had to modify the pressure hose to take the right fittings because the MR2 unit uses an inverted flare fitting instead of the oring style fitting. I ended up making it all AN fittings.

-Rich

[Dony409]

I know my dads old 02 jeep grand Cherokee overland the power steering pump powered the cooling fan also

[contraption22]

I know my dads old 02 jeep grand Cherokee overland the power steering pump powered the cooling fan also

...Huh?

[Big_P]

Yup, they did for a few years. Never understood that.

Ford and GM did the "hydroboost" thing too, power brake assist provided by power steering pump pressure.

[Dodge Aries K]

My old 93 Toyota Camry XLE had a hydraulic (power steering pump powered) cooling fan as well.

[turbovanman²]

...Huh?

Yep, fan is powered by the power steering, royal PITA to work on.

[RattFink]

Yup, they did for a few years. Never understood that.

Ford and GM did the "hydroboost" thing too, power brake assist provided by power steering pump pressure.

Yes, I am very familiar with these systems. Really not bad systems at all I think. I was under a 2011 Ford F150 today and it has an electric/hydraulic front steering rack. Too bad the trans front pump seal was leaking at 10,000 miles.....

[contraption22]

Weird.... looks like some Vipers had a hydraulic cooling fan too. If I had to guess on a reason... small fan with high pitch blades. Perhaps needed more power than an electric motor could deliver?

[ATaylorRacing]

Damn it! Every time I think I have a unique idea for our cars! LOL

I had lasic done back in 2006 and I had to use bifocals to read, but could see to infinity! On vacation I was using cheapo reading glasses for maps and then regualr sun glasses to drive. I came up with the idea of cling on lenses for sunglasses.....went to Walgreens to buy another pair of readers and sure enough, cling on bifocal lenses were there! Now I simply buy bifocal sunglasses.

BTW, we will be leaving for Jacksonville Monday in this Neon and staying there tues and weds night....any suggestions on where to get to the best (cheap) beaches or places a 5 year old would like? Nice and cheap places to eat? I'll check back later on, Saturday maybe.

[Reaper1]

if you like Mexican it doesn't get much better than LaNapolera on Atlantic Blvd. Jax beach is free, but parking can be a pain. Fernandina is nice, but kinda far. You could try south on A1A toward St.Augustine. there are some nice beaches down there and parking is cheap or free.

I've got to change where I live. I'm not in Jax anymore. I'm now down in Plant City...just outside of Tampa. I do still know a bit about Jax, though and my parents still live there.

[ATaylorRacing]

Thanks!

[Reaper1]

NP. I hope things went well for you today!

[Austrian Dodge]

i used one from an older vauxhall, works pretty well!
make sure to run hoses/lines that withstand over 100bar of pressure, as this around the max. pressure built up when steered to one end.

[Reaper1]

So I was right with my estimate of about 1500psi! Nice to know!

[Shelby87Charger]

This may be an older thread, but I stumbled upon it today and figured I'd throw my setup out there. I'm running a Volvo V50 electric power steering pump that I bought used off of ebay for about 100$ shipped. I got the idea from http://www.diyelectriccar.com/forums...ing-44828.html and if you read through it, you'll learn that you can either run this pump all the time or hook up the CAN signals and have it controlled based on your speed. I've just got mine as an on off switch for now. Here is a picture of my setup now. Its an 87 Shelby Charger with an SRT engine/trans setup in it.