Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Im finally putting power steering on my zook.
I have an 8 vavle 1600 and Im using the vit pump with a jimny steering box.
My question is what have others done for a steering shaft (firewall to box)
The sierra one is about 2 inches too long and the jimny one is about an inch too short.
Nik

use the jimny one as it has two uni's. cut and join it...........

later model sierras have collapsible columns,
I got a late model one, drilled out plastic plugs, and collapsed it.
rust makes this a knuckle tearing job, tho

christover

Thanks guys. The jimny one would have to be lengthend so I was thinking of getting the zook one shortened to match. Is it coilys that have collapsable shafts, did it collaps much?
Nik

Nah the later model sierra's have them. I have a 94 model with collapsable shaft

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Just cut the jimny one in two. Add a piece of bar in the middle and weld it up.

Cost is $10 for length of metal bar and 30mins work......done properly you won't even be able to tell it was done.....

I just cut the end plate off my sierra one and shortened the shaft and put it back on.

I have a jimny one if anyone wants it.

Thanks for the replies. I got a price on a late model shaft $80 but I,l try to get it cheaper. I cant weld good enough for steering parts so if Im going to spend $ I may as well get the collapsible shaft.
Nik

Alright had another go at project "nothing ever goes to plan"
Got a colapsible shaft for $45 drilled out the plastic pins and shortened it.. too much ( I see what christover ment by skinned knuckles ) Got it to the richt lenght tightned everything up then went to bolt the drag link too the pitman arm DOSNT FIT
Do jimnys have a different taper to sierras or has mine been changed to go with the lux diffs? If so are the pitman arms interchangable between the two. Wont that be a fun job, attempted it once before then paid someone else to do it.
Nik

Took the 2 steering boxes to a mechanic today to get the pitman arms swapped. Told him Id be back when I finish work at 4.30. He said that he shuts at 4.30 so I told him Id finish 10mins early. Left work at 4.20 went ACROSS the road to the mechanic and hes already locked up and gone but still has my steering boxes and I still dont know if the pitman arms are interchangeble.
Aah I feel better now Ive had a whinge..
Nik

ha ha

Engineers will tend to shy away from cut/welded steering shafts. A solution that was engineer approved on a friend of Greg's car was to use the collapsable column and shorten it, bolt the rag joint up with the rubber removed, then cut the old splined section out of the manual steer box to attach the old end of the sierra shaft, to a vitara uni, and then to the (in this case) vitara PS box.

No welding, all stock parts. Collapsable and removable. Engineer was happy

Engineers will tend to shy away from cut/welded steering shafts. A solution that was engineer approved on a friend of Greg's car was to use the collapsable column and shorten it, bolt the rag joint up with the rubber removed, then cut the old splined section out of the manual steer box to attach the old end of the sierra shaft, to a vitara uni, and then to the (in this case) vitara PS box.

No welding, all stock parts. Collapsable and removable. Engineer was happy

Ok I have some answers
The jimny and seirra pitman arms arnt interchangable.
The reason The drag link wouldnt bolt up to the jimny box is that when I got the lux diffs put in at overkill the enlarged the hole on the seirra pitman arm to take an 80 series ball joint so its stronger than stock. Hows that for service
Anyway now I know Im getting the jimny pitman arm enlarged as well.
Nik

Got the box in mounted the pump went to put on thebelt and suprize suprize it dosnt fit
Im using a standard vit pump on a vit motor but the belt (4pk815) is to big even with the pump adjustment right out. I asked the place where I bought the belt and they said its definatley the right one and the next belt down is 4pk800. On full in travel the distance around the 2 pulleys is 800mm so maybe I can squeeze the smaller belt on.
Nothing is ever easy.
Nik

I had to use a smaller belt, and mine is very tight. I undo the bolt completely, it then goes on easily, and screws back in easily once on.
There is more than one size of vit belts, but not sure of reason...probably pulley sizes, etc.

Yep had a go at it today. The smaller belt fit so that means I only have to carry one belt as its the same size as the fan belt! About time something went my way!
Im now running the lines between the pump and the box. Have others got custom lines made as I cant seem to twist the lines the right way so that they bolt up?
Getting closer though.
Nik

Getting closer my dad got me a hose made up for the high pressure side then I was able to use the jimny return line. I just have to buy a new belt now and top it up with fluid. How much fluid does it take? Do I have to bleed the system of air?
Nik

NIK wrote:Getting closer my dad got me a hose made up for the high pressure side then I was able to use the jimny return line. I just have to buy a new belt now and top it up with fluid. How much fluid does it take? Do I have to bleed the system of air?
Nik

Mine held about a litre, including lines, pump and box. It sure wasn't much, anyway. It pumped out the excess till it was happy
I was told bleeding would be needed, but I never did it. I did run it with lid off, turning a lot for a while, which may have bled it?

But I'm a dodgy bugger
christover

Got the powersteer up and running the night before J7. Drove 3hrs there no probs. I could really tell the difference in the events much easeir to turn with 33s at 6psi! I would definately recomend doing it.
Nik

NIK wrote:Got the powersteer up and running the night before J7. Drove 3hrs there no probs. I could really tell the difference in the events much easeir to turn with 33s at 6psi! I would definately recomend doing it.
Nik

Well done, glad ya got it happening. PS is very cool.

hahaha, just need sumone to tell him it was diffrent as he hadnt drove it for so long! lmao

did the vit box bolt straight up? or did you have to weld a plate/strengthen/fab a mount for it etc? did you make a bracket for the pump or use an ac bracket or something?

I used a jimny box and it bolted up. Needed to trim my bumper mounts as the box is a little longer. I also used a vit pump. I had to trim passenger side radiator bracket and mount to allow room for the pulley,
Nik