Has anyone installed power steering in a CRX? - Tuner-Junction

ARKANSASCRX · #1 (**permalink**) June 1st, 2006, 10:20 PM

I have a donor Civic EX with PS. I am planning on putting it on my rex. I know...I know, it will cut down on my performance a little, but I drive so much that my wrists are killing me. I am getting carpel tunnel syndrome. No kidding.

Has anybody installed one? It looks fairly simple, but there are always some helpful tips on installation. I am going to tackle it this weekend. Thanks

jadkar · #2 (**permalink**) June 1st, 2006, 11:35 PM

I sure it can be done........

I've never seen it done.........

It should be fairly simple.........

I think your nuts

ATISTANG · #3 (**permalink**) June 1st, 2006, 11:59 PM

All you do is take the pump, hoses, brackets, maybe the crank pulley, and the rack then swap everything.
I never seen the need, my rex steers eazy.

ARKANSASCRX · #4 (**permalink**) June 2nd, 2006, 10:13 AM

I guess it is these terrible Arkansas roads but my rex doesn't steer easy. Driving 100-200 miles per day really fatigues my forearms and wrists.
I don't think that the entire system weighs more than 20 lbs. and surely the pump doesn't deplete too much HP? But remember, I am the guy with the auto tranny.

My car is my work vehicle /daily driver/sportscar.

I want to go fast and be practical...can it be done?

ATISTANG · #5 (**permalink**) June 2nd, 2006, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARKANSASCRX

I guess it is these terrible Arkansas roads but my rex doesn't steer easy. Driving 100-200 miles per day really fatigues my forearms and wrists.
I don't think that the entire system weighs more than 20 lbs. and surely the pump doesn't deplete too much HP? But remember, I am the guy with the auto tranny.

My car is my work vehicle /daily driver/sportscar.

I want to go fast and be practical...can it be done?

Let me get this strait, you have a crx thats an auto, so we know its a dx, probably still dual point, 2 biggest things you could do without dumping to much money would be mpfi conversion and 5spd swap. Power steering will probably cost you 2-3hp I would guess. Do you have a stock size steering wheel on it? When I got mine the guy had a 9in steering wheel in it. Talk about hard to steer, now I have a wheel out of a civic dx. I tell everyone that my crx was a limited production when they ask about the cruise control buttons

anyways I can palm the steering wheel when I park, you might just need to work out more

A_White_Gs-R · #6 (**permalink**) June 2nd, 2006, 11:56 AM

short answer...yes it can be done. Technical answer is i dont know how since ive never seen it done but it should be a straight swap from the other engine.

njn63 · #7 (**permalink**) June 2nd, 2006, 01:17 PM

honestly, i've never seen the need. The only time it makes a difference is at speeds under 15 mph and even then it isn't that bad.

That being said, i'm sure it can be done. I'm almost positive the SiR's over in Japan had power steering and if that Civic EX you're talking about is an 88-91 almost everything on it is the same.

jadkar · #8 (**permalink**) June 2nd, 2006, 04:59 PM

yes....SiRs had power steering.

ARKANSASCRX · #9 (**permalink**) June 2nd, 2006, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATISTANG

Let me get this strait, you have a crx thats an auto, so we know its a dx, probably still dual point, 2 biggest things you could do without dumping to much money would be mpfi conversion and 5spd swap. Power steering will probably cost you 2-3hp I would guess. Do you have a stock size steering wheel on it? When I got mine the guy had a 9in steering wheel in it. Talk about hard to steer, now I have a wheel out of a civic dx. I tell everyone that my crx was a limited production when they ask about the cruise control buttons

anyways I can palm the steering wheel when I park, you might just need to work out more

I have already done the MPFI swap and have a vtec head. I have a aftermarket steering wheel on it and it is slightly smaller than the stock wheel.
As for working out, I have done knuckle pushups for the past 10 years for martial arts. I have very strong wrists and forearms.

I think it is a combination of the 16x7 wheels, manual steering and a smaller steering wheel.

I will let you guys know how it goes. I am getting it for free and if I am only going to loose 2-3 Hp...no big deal...I can get an aftermarket pulley. If any one is interested I can do a write up, if not? I won't mess with it.

I could also swap the power windows, locks, mirrors and cruise control?
Just kidding.

jadkar · #10 (**permalink**) June 2nd, 2006, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARKANSASCRX

I have already done the MPFI swap and have a vtec head. I have a aftermarket steering wheel on it and it is slightly smaller than the stock wheel.
As for working out, I have done knuckle pushups for the past 10 years for martial arts. I have very strong wrists and forearms.

I think it is a combination of the 16x7 wheels, manual steering and a smaller steering wheel.

I will let you guys know how it goes. I am getting it for free and if I am only going to loose 2-3 Hp...no big deal...I can get an aftermarket pulley. If any one is interested I can do a write up, if not? I won't mess with it.

I could also swap the power windows, locks, mirrors and cruise control?
Just kidding.

Write up please

ARKANSASCRX · #11 (**permalink**) June 2nd, 2006, 08:41 PM

You got it!

Give me a little time to get it posted...it will be my first write up.

ARKANSASCRX · #12 (**permalink**) June 3rd, 2006, 07:04 PM

I worked for 5 hours and I am 3/4 of the way through the swap. Taking the system off the donor car was a real pain. Re-installing into my car is much easier. The only snag so far is that the 90' civic PS pully takes a V-belt and my 97' D16 pulley takes a grooved/flat belt. I have another PS pulley ordered from ebay. The civic only has 135k on it and steered like a dream when it ran. I'll post up tomorrow p.m...I am taking pics!

ATISTANG · #13 (**permalink**) June 3rd, 2006, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARKANSASCRX

I worked for 5 hours and I am 3/4 of the way through the swap. Taking the system off the donor car was a real pain. Re-installing into my car is much easier. The only snag so far is that the 90' civic PS pully takes a V-belt and my 97' D16 pulley takes a grooved/flat belt. I have another PS pulley ordered from ebay. The civic only has 135k on it and steered like a dream when it ran. I'll post up tomorrow p.m...I am taking pics!

You might very well be the only crx in the states with p/s

A_White_Gs-R · #14 (**permalink**) June 3rd, 2006, 09:56 PM

Deffinitely do a write up this would be great. and a crx with power steering would be comfy.

ARKANSASCRX · #15 (**permalink**) June 3rd, 2006, 10:38 PM

I will certainly do a write up and give as much detail as possible, but so far it is a no brainer...just very labor intensive to remove from on car and install into another. Give me a few days to see if there are any kinks to be worked out. I am taking several pics and will have to do the write up at work because my home PC cannot handle the pictures.

Just to let you know, all of the holes for the for the mounts are already on the CRX. The holes have plastic plugs in them. I have done no modification to my car whatsoever. Cool thing...those two hooks directly behind the driver side motor mount are for the PS fluid reservior. Everything is already there!