Austarion

I thought this was myth! Until I saw Sargent Kahn selling one. I've been on the starion circuit on and off for 20 years or so and have never heard or seen one of the conversions. My question is has anyone ever fitted and drove a starion with the manual steering box, how much is this conversion, how difficult is it to fit, whats the feel like and who can supply these kits?

Thanks in advance,
T-man

Assuming Starions share the same steering setup as the lesser Mitsubishi's of the same era, it should just be a case of swapping the steering box+column with the ones from a manual steer Scorpion/Sapporo/whatever they're called in the UK, ditching the PS pump and lines and getting a wheel alignment.
Feel-wise, the non-PS doesn't get stupidly light at speed like the PS does. That, and you can feel more of what the front wheels are doing. Basically, it's better. So do it. Lol :P

Or you could just cut the belt LOL

Mine is missing the power steering, i don't mind it at all. It's a bit of an effort at low speeds but nothing lifting some weights is going to fix. Do it! 1 less thing to go wrong or leak!

I have power steering in my Eterna GSR but my old Galant GT didn't have power steering - I think I actually preferred the power steering of the Eterna over the Galant.

Thanks guys for the quick responces. Im just curious if a manual convertion is a better feel as the power steering on my starion feels like its not very communicative, I've tried adjusting the wheel box but still feels bad. I hear what you guys are saying like cut the belt or remove all the pipes and pump. I was under the illusion that a manual box would feel better like more feed back, tighter, more responsive. Am I wrong or wishing for something that's impossible to achieve?

T-man

Somewhere on here there's actually a detailed post about converting your power steering box to manual steering. I believe it was not as simple as just removing the hoses, because then the internals don't work properly and apparently it's heavier. In the post they described something about opening it up and modifying it in quite a lot of detail with some good photos. If anyone comes across that post, it would be great to put a link in here!

I've also considered doing it for my drift Starion, but given that I have to do HEAPS of fast spinning of the steering lock to lock I'm considering staying with the power steering. Would love the possibility of more reliability and less power drain from removing it though. Might try it as some stage as I have a spare power steering box.

Have thrown off a P S belt and it needs muscles like Arnie to turn the wheel :(

T man if your steering feels loose i'd bet that you have worn out steering components like drag link, tie rod ends etc

Ps a steering box will never feel as good as a rack! JA starions were over assisted, hence why the later starions had less power assistance..

I think the guy that turned mine non power steering used the whole setup out of a sigma of some discription.
Once your moving there is no issues steering, it feels really good. Just don't expect parrell parking to be easy or u-turns from a stand still :P

FST4RD wrote:.......or u-turns from a stand still :P

With enough revs and an LSD this is no issue :D

Alspos wrote:

FST4RD wrote:.......or u-turns from a stand still :P

With enough revs and an LSD this is no issue :D

Or dont slow down- just yank the handbrake and give it a flick :D

I like you guys thinking plenty of power and the use of the LSD!

Redzone, I've been underneath and checked all steering components and suspension linkages, also it's not long had its yearly ministry of transport inspection and it also gave the suspension and steering a clean bill of health. Maybe after the DOHC convertion and am board again and want to punish myself I will convert it to rack and pinion!

Cheers,
T-man

The similarities between out 'Sports car' steering and that of an HQ holden make me angry.

Rack and Pinion is the way forward.

I'd be interested to know more about fitting rack and pinion to my track one actually