Geriatric exxe

htfx19

htfx19

Herzel Frenkel
With my advanced years, weakening arm's strength and a 13" steering wheel I find it harder and harder to make tight turns.
Has anyone devised a power steering for the car?
May be off a Fiat Punto electric unit?

Enjoy -
 
Not my area of expertise but aren't most power assisted steering units belt driven? That might be hard to do with the engine behind you!

Why not just a bigger steering wheel or skinnier tires?

Ed
 
The new car's that have power steering use battery power instead of a pump.

distance will not effect the hydraulic system.

Diesel pusher motor homes have their pump on the motor and the steering gear in the front.
 
There is a phenolic thrust plate in the front suspension that when worn will create more resistance when turning the wheel.

Here are the original parts (taken from the MW-B site):

http://www.midwest-bayless.com/p-15...st-plate-fiat-bertone-x19-128-all-oe-nos.aspx
http://www.midwest-bayless.com/p-15...st-plate-rubber-seal-fiat-x19-128-all-u8.aspx
http://www.midwest-bayless.com/p-15...l-washer-fiat-bertone-x19-all-oe-renewed.aspx


You can order thrust bearings from both Midwest-Bayless and Obert's that will replace the phenolic washers. They are reported to lighten the steering by a noticeable amount.

MW-B's offering: http://www.midwest-bayless.com/p-15...ing-pair-2x-fiat-bertone-x19-128-all-new.aspx

Chris Obert's offering: http://www.fiatplus.com/FRONT-STEERING-PIVOTS-BEARING.html

A collateral item that probably should be replaced along with the phenolic thrust plate, since you're going to have the suspension apart to replace the phenolics anyway:
http://www.fiatplus.com/HEAVY-DUTY-UPPER-STRUT-MOUNT.html
 
+1!

The thrust bearings replacement will work wonders. I had replaced mine a couple of years back and a short time after had to drive with my arm in a sling for about a week while my should recovered from an injury and my DD was getting an engine repair. I had no issues driving one handed at any speed.
 
yea I did not comment, but i steered my last x purchase with just my left hand as my right hand is in a cast (and of course I'm right handed).

had no trouble turning the wheel from lock to lock as the people pushing went around the car.
 
I do have

the Plaia thrust bearings installed.
Thanks.
On second thought, maybe I should check that bearing.
 
Electric units are available.

I know there is a company in the Netherlands making retrofit units for various cars. They have a kit for the 124, I doubt they have one for the X but it would seem possible.

http://www.ezpowersteering.nl/25/170/EZ_ELECTRIC_POWER_STEERING.html
http://www.ezpowersteering.nl/car/26/21/Fiat.html

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/transmission-drivetrain/1201sr-electronic-power-steering/
http://americanpowertrain.com/p-29458-electric-power-steering.html

http://www.ultimatepowersteering.com.au/electric-power-assisted-steering-epas-1/

The system used on the original NSX would be nice as it wouldn't intrude on the driver space or add to the mess under the IP. Scroll down on then link.
http://www.ebearing.com/news2001/news232.htm

This looks interesting

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/ELECTRIC-POW...R7-B-SERIES-/161935781315?hash=item25b41fedc3

Seems possible
 
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Hey my friend, what about one of these as well?

https://www.google.com/search?q=bro...Zy9vKAhWC2D4KHWy8CCMQsAQIgwE&biw=1440&bih=777

They now come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes, folding and fixed, etc.

I would also suggest it be mounted on the OUTSIDE of the steering wheel if possible which would increase your leverage. Also... If you go to a 14 or 15 inch wheel AND the "Brodie Knob"... you would essentially have the leverage of up to 3 or 4 inches more overall.

Also... if you have not grown any more since we last met, and CLEARANCE might be an issue, purchase a wheel with a deeper "dish" or use a spacer or adapter to bring it forward a bit.



I think these solutions will help tremendously, be reasonably priced, and be immediate until you can find an electric assist that can be adapted.



Shalom!
 
Hey... they were always Brodie Knobs for me...

as well as "brodies" were done by us when we slid sideways to a stop in the dirt on our bikes, locking up the coaster brake usually!

I never understood the term Suicide Knobs until just a decade or so back when I read about this crazy race car driver by the name of Steve Brodie...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brodie_knob

Alas... I always wanted, but never had one of these...



The first time I ever had one was in the mid '90's when my wife broke her wrist and needed more leverage even with power steering. No one carried these any more and finally I found ONE at a local Truck Stop. It worked great and looked like this:



What Herzel really needs is something like this, and they have them that fold also.



What I fear most is someday we'll all need something like this:



Ebay has something like 7000+ along with some inexpensive ones that you can insert your own foto or logo! FUN!
 
last I heard their is something on the books for using this on the road being ill-eagle. (if you do drive a vehicle with one, use it, if you are not using it.... it will catch one of your hands in a corner, at best it will hurt like heck, at worst you can crash(maybe resulting in someone's death)

I did work a wreck were an old car had one and a young driver got caught up in it.

Rod
 
HOLD ON a minute Jeff and Herzel...

As Jeff pointed out in his reference... they are NOT illegal in MOST States and Communities cannot enforce something that is a state law.

(What are ya supposed to do, remove the knob while driving through Compton... reinstall it when you get to Gardena???)

Alas... Jeff's reference is 1) from the internet... 2) from a SuicideKnob.com site and... 3) probably sells suicide knobs as well!

HA!

When it comes to the Handicapped or Seniors who need the assist... they are MORE beneficial than detrimental. There are also several on the market now that have collapsible features for those that share a car or that are considered more safe. Just don't wear any LOOSE jewelry on your wrists (or bangle bracelets or those big ID bracelets we all wore in the 50's).

http://rjmobilityservice.com/mobility-products/driving-aids/steering-devices/


I had one just like this one (only it said TONY) and had all my vitals on the back side...



This is me in '63 wearing it... Kool, huh!

 
As others have said, it should be relatively easy to turn if everything is working correctly. If you have wider, aftermarket wheels or tires those things can make it more difficult. Make sure your tires have a good amount of air in them. With skinny stock tires and lots of air, it should be easy to turn.

If your steering wheel is smaller than stock consider a larger diameter and thicker rim. The thicker rim makes it very easy to get a firm grip when needed, very comfortable and less strain as well.
 
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