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Modification By: BlackBII GM
started using an electric motor in the steering column in the early
2000's (And now Ford is using electric power steering rack and pinions).
The GM unit is inline with the steering column, so using it along with a
manual steering box works well with the older Ford Rangers.
BlackBII
modified his 1989 Ford Ranger by adding an electric power steering unit
from a 2002 Saturn (GM) Vue. Power
Steering Motor: What are
the benefits: No
more power steering fluid leaks or annoying power steering pump
whine. You
still have power steering even if the engine dies. It
won't rob power and kill the motor when negotiating offroad obstacles
at slow speed. It's
adjustable, so you can adjust how much steering assist it provides. The
power steering motor comes with an attached ECU. BlackBII unbolted it
and mounted it underneath the dashboard because it would not
fit where it was. He had to extend the wiring to do this. BlackBII took the
stock Ford Ranger column, cut it in half, welded two flanges to
the Ranger steering column tube, and then bolted the motor in the
middle. He
cut and welded the Ranger lower shaft to the GM lower shaft,
using the lower GM u-joint. On the upper shaft, he welded the GM slip
joint to the Ranger shaft. The
new unit is the factory length, so it attaches to the engine bay shaft
the same as before. Here's the
column mocked up with the electric motor. It looks like it's in the way
of the throttle pedal but there's plenty of room. Control Unit From bruno_steering on ebay: The GM electric power steering uses an electric motor to assist the steering. A computer module (ECU) receives information from several sensors and decides which level of assistance the electric motor should deliver to the steering. When you install an electric steering column from Saturn Vue or Chevrolet Equinox to your vehicle it won't work because the ECU doesn't receives information. That's why you need this control unit. It sends information to the ECU according to the position of the knob. So, the position of this knob will determine the steering assistance level. How to adjust steering assistance:
This controller box will fit steering columns from:
BlackBII mounted the adjustment knob for the steering control unit in a panel that he put in place of the ashtray. With the steering shaft and control unit in place, it was time to get rid of the steering pump. BlackBII wanted to retain his air conditioning and still use a factory length serpentine belt, so he needed a pulley to go in the pumps place. (Note: The motor is a 4.0L V6) BlackBII made a bracket that bolts on where the pump was, and added a pulley. Here's the new bracket, pulley, and serpentine belt; Since the power steering pump was removed, this meant that BlackBII had to do something about the hoses on the steering box (on the frame rail). BlackBII took a piece of hose and connected the steering boxes inlet and outlet, so it wouldn't loose its fluid. If this hose kinks and restricts flow, it can make it difficult for the internal components to turn.
BlackBII decided to replace the power steering box with a manual steering box. This is a sealed unit, so you don't have to deal with steering hoses. Here is a photo of the power steering box on the left, and the manual steering box on the right. The input shaft on the new manual box has a 3/4 30-spline, and the input shaft on the power steering box is a 3/4 36-spline. BlackBII found a 3/4 30-spline shaft on a Jeep Cherokee. Luckily the DD shafts between a 1989 Ford Ranger and first generation Jeep Cherokee are the same, and it made for an easy swap. The Jeep Cherokee shaft is shown at the bottom of the photo below, and the Ford Ranger shaft is on the top. Both shafts shortened; The left is Jeep Cherokee and goes to the steering box. The right is Ford Ranger and goes to the steering column. Here's the completed shaft below. BlackBII used the Ford Rangers shafts' plastic inner sleeve fitted over the Cherokee shaft and rubber outer sleeve on both. With the new shaft, BlackBII now has a completed electric power steering setup without using a power steering pump, or power steering box. If you would like to learn more about BlackBII's 1989 Ford Ranger Build click HERE.
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