power steering connections?

[mike1978]

Hi,

I `m thinking of doing a subaru conversion soon on my T3 multivan. I`m lucky enough to have power steering already fitted to my van.

I was wondering if there is a way of connecting my current power steering up to the subaru engine - i assume they have a power steering pump?
the engine will probably be an EJ20 or EJ22
Cheers,
Mike

[doppelganger]

yes you can you just need some new pipes made up to link them,any hydraulic supplier should be able to do it
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vwdrc AE bugjam winner
11.23@127mph. 1.47 60ft. 2.85sec 0-60mph

[ElusiveStranger]

If Mr Doppleganger (sir) or anyone else on here doesn't come up with the answers here

Try:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/subaruvanagon/

Good reading and advice for T3 conversions, mainly text based. You need to register

Or:

http://www.weidefamily.net/vanagon/
(I'm sure Brent's covered it on there somewhere)
_________________
The advice you receive on here is worth the paper it's written on.
Your experiences are worth shed loads to others, including the f'ups - live and learn.
Wouldn't YOU rather learn by someone else's mistakes? So would they.

'78 Bay, 2 litre 091 box, EJ20 NA & the ashtray's on the 'right' side.
I don't lean forward for hills any more
Bugger, missed out on "Live fast, die young"

[mike1978]

cool - thanks for the info - i did join that yahoo group but i`m still waiting to be approved so i can gain access.

thanks,
mike

[rjes]

The pressure and flow of the Subaru pump are compatible with the VW power steering, and it will work if you get hoses made up. Ofrten the steel pipes which run the whole length of the van are past it (rust), in which case you're better off having new hoses made to replave the steel pipes entirely.

A hydraulic hose manufacturer will be able to make up the hoses. They are unlikely to have all the fittings needed in stock though, as the thread sizes used are very rarely used in the industrial hydraulics world. The spec of the hose is quite critical, as it has to handle very high pressure, and automatic transmission fluid is not compatible with a lot of the more normal hydraulic hose specs. If you replace the entire steel pipes with hose, just the material costs will make the hoses pretty expensive.

It is possible that you will get a loud noise caused by the resonance of the valves in the Subaru pump when fitted to a VW. This does not seem that common (I have never heard it), but it can happen. If it does, it may be very difficult to get rid of - it's the kind of thing OEM's spend huge amounts of money preventing in their hydraulic systems. Using the original hoses from the Subaru engine may help, as these are not your average hose. They contain a noise damper. Subaru superseded the part numbers of the hoses a few times in the mid 1990's for reasons to do with noise, obviously in the original Subaru application. From the description of the Subaru noise in the Technical Service Bullitin which described one of the part number changes, it was something very minor, to be fixed at Subaru's expense but only if the customer was complaining of problems.

The noise problem seems more common in the US, but that's probably just because they have more Subaru powered VW's with VW power steering. Notice Smallcar sell a set of hoses that they call something like 'quieter'. If I remember right, there is a note which says they are not guaranteed to get rid if the hydraulic resonance noise though - just reduce it.

A customer of mine in the US has a Syncro in which the hydraulic noise is apparently almost unbearably loud, and that's with the 'quieter' hoses.

I started to work on a set of replacement hoses for the power steering, but have put that project on hold as I am currently working on a totally different (non hydraulic) power steering system for T25's, which will also solve the problem of the rarity (and associated high cost) of original RHD power steering racks.
_________________
Regards,

Richard,

R J Engineered Solutions
Quality Subaru Powered VW Components
www.rjes.com

[mike1978]

hi richard,

thanks for the extra info. not sure if you realised it, but i`m the same mike you spoke to yesterday

i contacted grade a afterwards and i`ve asked them to send the extra power steering steel pipes fom the subaru so hopefully they`ll make the install neater and easier.

you`ve got me worried now about the resonating sound! i`ll have a look into the hoses which potentially dampen the noise just in case i have this problem.

I `ll speak to you later this week regarding the wiring loom.

cheers,
mike