Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Power Assisted Steering

Good Morning Folks, has anyone on the forum fitted the hydraulic Power Assisted Steering kit by Classic Driving Development to their Morgan or know anyone who has? I had it fitted to my Roadster and it has transformed my car. I have always enjoyed driving it since I bought it in 2005 but it is in a different league now and I can't get enough of it. However I would like to compare notes with other users. The kit comes with a warning that it will take some time to get used to the new handling and I would like to know how others have taken to it particularly in wet conditions as it is so light.

Moir Coupar

All the Aeros have ZF/BMW hydraulic power assisted steering: one of the reasons we moved on from the Roadster was the heavy steering.
The Aero steering isn't especially light, but it doesn't load up at low speed, in that respect it is "modern". The CX cars also have power steering, which I found to be very similar to the Aero, perhaps a bit lighter and with less feedback: typical of electric powered steering.
I'd also be interested to hear how people find the Roadster with power steering.

I've just had this system fitted to our 2004 Roadster (owned from new). I'm well pleased with the outcome and have had no problems during our limited wet-running. I find that because it's light I can sometimes over steer (as opposed to oversteer), especially when I'm not paying attention. On the whole though it's probably the best investment I've made. When combined with the recent fitment of a Mulfab Panhard Rod I find it a delight to place in corners and I'd say my average speeds across country have gone up.

However, because the steering is so light I'm aiming to get a smaller steering wheel. The trouble is if I go to 13 inches I'm not sure how much of the instruments I'll be able to see. I know that not being able to see them was a Morgan feature at one time but I'd be much happier if I could do so.

If anyone out there has a spare 13 inch Moto-Lita wheel I could borrow to try for size I'd be most grateful. Please PM me if you can help but be aware that I'll be at Goodwood from Thursday on and may not be able to respond until my return.

In the meantime I'd say that it's now the car it should have always been and, like moircoupar, I love driving it even more

Hi

In June this year I bought a 1996 +4 4 seater (Rover T16), with what I believe to be this system already fitted. I bought the car despite this, rather than because of it. I had driven other Morgans but not recently enough to give a very meaningful comparison.

I got on ok on a test drive and went ahead with the purchase. I have now covered about 3,000 miles. I find the car easy to manoeuvre at low speed, although I suspect full steering lock is slightly limited (the tyres were not close to touching the chassis rubbing plates, which I've now removed). At high speed I feel the steering is probably not much different to other Morgans but I have not tried a back to back comparison with a similar car.

There is a little noise from the pump/drive belt/rack at low speed, not noticeable at higher speed. Presumably there is a slightly increased fuel use.

I have no regrets from buying the car with power steering.

David Stuart

I also bought my Roadster new in2005 and have had a great deal of pleasure driving it. However age seems to have crept up on me and the steering got heavier as the years passed and as I had heard good things about the CDD Kit, I decided to go ahead and have it fitted by Peter Davidson (PD Motors and ex Beamish Motors) in Durham. As I have already said I really can not fault it. It's just that in wet conditions I find it very light and a wee bit disconcerting. I should say right away that the manufacturer in the fitting instructions says in big black letters "When driving, take time to become accustomed to the steering" so I am in no doubt that it is all down to my getting used to it. I have a 14 inch Moto-Lita
steering wheel and there are only 2.9 complete turns lock to lock and I understand that pre PAS it was 4 turns, (although I'm not certain of that) so much more sensitive.
It would appear that those who have fitted the PAS Kit are delighted with it, I was just wondering how others have coped with the difference in "feel" and how long it took them to get used to it.

Moir Coupar

My ARP4 was ordered from new with an electric power steering setup and the then standard 14" wheel, which neatly managed to obscure the whole upper portion of the rev. counter and change up light, as well as being quite light. I quickly replaced it with a neat Momo 11" (28mm) wheel, now allowing me to see the rev. counter up to 8k as well as making entry and exit far easier. The weighting and feedback are just about perfect for me now, with no extra heaviness when manoeuvring , so smiles all around. I would thoroughly recommend it.