Soldato
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Blockier 
Germany Anti Lockout System
Germany Anti Lockout System
Insane and lethal modern car designs.....:(
- Thread starter Orionaut
- Start date
Yeah you're right, I was getting it confused with servo assisted braking 
regardless, in PAS it stands for assisted, not instead, otherwise it would be Power Instead Steering System or... we'll I'm sure you can figure out what the acronym would be
regardless, in PAS it stands for assisted, not instead, otherwise it would be Power Instead Steering System or... we'll I'm sure you can figure out what the acronym would be 
My Mk2 MX5 snapped it's supercharger belt twice, the same belt runs the power steering pump too.
Once I was on a straight so it wasn't that dangerous but even that light car was very difficult to drive without PS.
The first time it did it I was mid corner on a spirited drive, it felt like a sudden puncture mid corner and nearly sent me off the road.
It took me a while to lift the bonnet and work it out if I'm honest, I kept walking round the car convinced a tyre had gone or brakes had locked.
I would hate to have to rely on an EPB as a back up brake anyway.
Traditional Handbrake=Oh Crap! No Brakes <reaches down to handbrake lever and brings car to a halt>
EPB=Oh Crap, No brakes <Looks down to try to find button on dashboard to app..CRUMP!>
That was the torque steer on the original Focus RS wasn't it?
In all seriousness there seems to be very little regulation on this kind of thing. We're obsessed with crash tests to ensure safety when a vehicle is involved in an accident but there doesn't seem to be much regulation or oversight when it comes to the design of fundamental systems like steering and brakes. It seems the manufacturers can do pretty much whatever they like as long as the systems work in routine testing. There's no testing to see how the car is affected by systems failures.
Oh well, in a few years everything will be "by wire" and a slight computer glitch or power failure will render you with no control at all. Soon after that we'll have totally autonomous vehicles where a small software bug will cause cars to run amok mowing down pedestrians and all sorts.
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The advent of non hydraulic PAS is surely a boon, no more leaky steering racks to stain your concrete drive and to fail an MOT.
One question, my car requires the engine running for the EPAS to operate, why does it not work in the 1st or 2nd ignition switch position ?
That would make towing the car with a dud engine a lot bluddae easier.
One question, my car requires the engine running for the EPAS to operate, why does it not work in the 1st or 2nd ignition switch position ?
That would make towing the car with a dud engine a lot bluddae easier.
Yea with a leaver you can control the braking pressure as well. Just like you can with the pedal.
hydraulic steering has more feel/feedback though, which is why it's considered better. Some modern electronic systems are close, but not quite there.
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Soldato
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or at least if every handbrake i've ever met was anything to go by
I dunno, the handbrake on my old van will lift it out of the MOT rollers (Despite being heavily loaded)
Same with my old E36.
But we are talking drum type systems here, the cable operated disk caliper type can be a bit naff mind
Soldato
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lol this is true. Besides, she had enough on her hands trying to steer the car. I would have been able to steer it one handed (just!) but then she wouldn't have been able to push the car so there's that. We got it home, anyway. One split fuel pipe later and it's running again.
Soldato
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I dunno, the handbrake on my old van will lift it out of the MOT rollers (Despite being heavily loaded)
Same with my old E36.
But we are talking drum type systems here, the cable operated disk caliper type can be a bit naff mind
maybe i'm just unlucky, the old mazda regularly stretched cables as did the skoda, the e90's is utterly useless but at least it has a parking brake.
Main problem I find with handbrakes is with cars with auto boxes (Especially, since you mention it, BMW's)
People just dont bother using the handbrake and as a result they do not get enough "Exercise", The mechanism and cables then get all sticky and rusty and do not work when you want them too.
Drum in disk handbrakes (As used in BMW's and Mercs) are pretty damn effective if they are set up right and kept in good condition.
(Hint, With drum in disk type systems, It helps to drive a short distance with the handbrake lightly applied from time to time to keep everything rust free, they work a treat then)
Soldato
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i do use the handbrake, mostly force of habit from manual driving, but even with regular use, servicing and the occasional cleaning of rust it's still useless.
Soldato
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To the op, are you sure the car doesn't have a steering lock/immobiliser on? On my car the wheel is locked when the key isn't in the ignition.
Not quite - Saab used reverse locks until the late 90's
Speaking of - never arm wrestle a 99 turbo owner - power steering is for wimps with those cars lol!
My first few cars were without PAS and it was never an issue, mainly for this reason. I remember the last car I bought without PAS was my wife's 106XND, a small light car but with a heavy diesel up front and some relatively fat tyres (bigger on the diesel as I recall) and that was hard work in small spaces. My MX5 race car does not have PAS but has fat tyres, big camber and is a right tug to get it to turn in small spaces. I got our of it into my R8 and thought "where has all the feelings gone" as it felt lifeless and dead. Shows how we forget what steering feel is as the R8 though not a paragon of excellence in that area is still quite good, but lifeless when compared to an old school rack.