American Powertrain electric power steering UPDATE 3/18

[trkpny2]

I am going to put power steering on my '67 after tearing my rotator cuff doing autocross. Has anyone had any expierience with the product or company?

[ajzride]

Haven't found anytihng specificly on that company. This has been discussed before here:

Electric Power Steering rack ?

With a reference to here:

Electric Power Steering Kit

Also a Street Rodder Article on the Unisteer unit:

Electronic Power Steering - Street Rodder Magazine

[Tarmac_69_Mustang]

Is that an electric power steering pump or rack?

If it's electric steering, don't do it. Takes the feel away from the driving experience. If it's an electric power steering PUMP, then that's no problem.

[ripped]

Originally Posted by trkpny2

I am going to put power steering on my '67 after tearing my rotator cuff doing autocross. Has anyone had any expierience with the product or company?

It would be cool to hear some reviews. I'd like to see this installed with a manual rack, instead of the old factory manual box

[ajzride]

Originally Posted by Tarmac_69_Mustang

Is that an electric power steering pump or rack?

It is an electric assist to whatever steering you have.

Originally Posted by Tarmac_69_Mustang

If it's electric steering, don't do it. Takes the feel away from the driving experience.

You should clarify that this is your opinion, not a fact. I actually prefer the feel of an electric R&P to a pump.

[Tarmac_69_Mustang]

Actually, it is a fact if it's actual electric steering. When road racing the electric steering takes away the feel from the road. It's said across the board in performance cars. Now, if you just like the feel because of easy driving, that's one thing. I was referring to the performance aspect of things.

[ripped]

Originally Posted by Tarmac_69_Mustang

Actually, it is a fact if it's actual electric steering. When road racing the electric steering takes away the feel from the road. It's said across the board in performance cars. .

This is just opinion, not fact.

Even the Boss 302 LS has electric steering.

Last spring track day featured several new Roush Mustangs. Jack Roush Jr was driving multiple cars. There was no talk about lack of steering feel, with the new electric steering systems.

Between sessions, Jack Jr was very good at answering all of our dumb questions.
Braking, suspension, tires, horsepower, track line, trail braking (since we were working on trail braking all day) among oher topics.

Electric steering did not even once come up as being a problem.

The above system, is not the same as an electric rack, so attaching it to a worn out manual steering box with worn tie rod ends, isn't going to give you good steering.

I'd like to hear some honest reviews of the product.

[55Speed]

i emailed them 4 times and never got a reply or returned phone call. i wouldnt bother

[ajzride]

I do plan to put on on my manual R&P down the road. With big sticky tires and a 351w, it gets pretty laborious in parking lots. However paint is the next priority.

[ripped]

Originally Posted by 55Speed

i emailed them 4 times and never got a reply or returned phone call. i wouldnt bother

THAT, says a lot about customer service. Thanks for the post.
If you cannot get a hold of them before you buy, I always wonder what it will be like, after you purchase and have an issue or questions.

[ajzride]

I've always had good luck with uninterrupted customer support, you could call
Them about their setup. The idiot column with built in electrical assist looks pretty cool.

[trkpny2]

The system in question is indeed an electric assist to the steering column that does maintain the original (since updated Flaming River Box) manual steering. The AP electric unit has an adjustable amount of assist via a small knob. Ford has been using electric power steering now for a while, as mentioned in the reference to the Boss 302, but also in my '12 Focus. In my car I have no issues with lack of road feel. Thanks for the input so far.

[Tarmac_69_Mustang]

Maybe american cars have it down. Which would be neat.

Coming from STIs and M3s, electric steering is a big no-no. Nobody would convert to it for performance reasons. Which is why the newest M3s still don't have it. I would totally run an electric power steering pump, but that's about it.

Then again, this is a different type of electric steering than what I've seen.

[Tarmac_69_Mustang]

Oh, read that article, cool stuff.

They did say this: "Electra-Steer EPS is now available for street rods and any vehicle weighing 2,800 pounds or less." Although, I'm sure it can work on something heavier, I'd definitely double check that.

Edit.

From their site: http://www.unisteer.com/search_by_pr...tra-steer.html

they definitely have a stronger one.. go for it!

[trkpny2]

Uni-steer is a different company than what I am looking into. I saw their system at SEMA this year and between them and AP, I liked the AP system better. Uni-steer does have more powerful units for heavier cars, but what I didn't care for is the lack of adjustability.
I was reading your specs on your car, isn't Cragar spelled with an A?