Do-it-yourself power steering installation on UAZ-469

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Recently, almost every manufacturer equips their cars with power steering. It can be either hydraulic or electric. The latter type is actively used on domestic Kalinas of the first and second generations. On cars of the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant, namely on the Patriot, they use a classic hydraulic booster. But many are wondering: why not install power steering on UAZ of other models? And indeed, there are many cars that are still not equipped with such an option. This is the "Loaf" and the 469th UAZ, popularly referred to as the "Goat". In today's article, we will look at how to do it yourself.

Characteristic

At the moment, almost all budget cars are equipped with such an amplifier. However, owners of old cars have a desire to equip the car with power steering. This is a very useful option. Even with a large diameter steering wheel, the effort applied to the control of the machine will be many times less. Especially thisnoticeable when parking in densely populated cities. The power steering itself is part of the steering system of the car and runs on hydraulic fluid, which is pumped by the pump. Also included is the steering column. The usual factory one does not fit here. There are many advantages to this system.

The first is the comfort of control, because you no longer need to turn the steering wheel as much as before. The second is reliability. The hydraulic booster practically does not fail. The third advantage is ease of maintenance. When operating such a car, you will not have any difficulties. Even if the amplifier breaks down, you can fix it yourself. And to get to the garage with such a breakdown is quite within the power. The only thing that will happen is the ease of control will deteriorate. The steering wheel will become "heavy". By the way, for the first time such an amplifier was installed on the Gorky "Seagull". GAZ-13 was the first car with power steering.

Cons of refinement

Among the disadvantages of installing power steering on the UAZ-469 with your own hands, it is worth noting the poor information content of the steering wheel at a speed of more than 60 kilometers per hour. If without an amplifier it becomes stiffer, then with the power steering it spins just as easily as at 10 km / h.

On the other hand, UAZ is not a car for racing. Therefore, if the budget allows, such a refinement is quite acceptable. By installing a power steering on a UAZ-469 from a foreign car, you will reduce the load on your hands three times when crossing off-road or parking in a cramped yard.

What will we need to buy?

To do this, we need to purchasesteering column under the amplifier, as well as the pump. The latter will create and maintain the necessary pressure in the control system. The operation of the element is carried out by a drive belt. We will also need a tank for storing liquid and connecting hoses. The latter are divided into two types - low and high pressure. The first will drive the "return" into the tank, and the second serves to circulate the liquid in the system itself. As for the amount of fluid that is involved in the system, it is not too much. For UAZ, 1.2 liters of special oil is enough. It differs from motor in viscosity and consistency.

How to install?

To do this, you need to remove the steering wheel. Here you will need not just a set of keys, but a puller. Just do not dismantle the steering wheel. This puller looks like this:

It will be impossible to dismantle the wheel with bare hands - this way you will only damage the steering column. After dismantling the steering wheel, the column must also be removed. The universal joint and the nut securing the tie rod bipod are removed. Next, unscrew the three nuts of the steering element. After that, a new set of bipods is installed on the column shaft with power steering. The latter must be connected to the steering rod and fixed with cotter pins. When installing a new column “under the power steering”, the old mount will interfere with us. It is cut with a grinder. Next, install a plastic protective casing on the column. Screws for fasteners fit the old ones. Next, a rubber ring, castle nut and washer are put on the casing. The penultimate one is fixed with stepladders.

A small cardan shaft is installed between the steering mechanism and the column, which will connect both elements and reliably transmit force. A wedge is hammered into a wide hole (with a hammer, with light blows). Two washers are mounted on the thread of the wedge - spring and plain. As a result, the length to the hinge should be 300 millimeters. Next, tighten the castellated nut and mount the steering wheel. Steering column power steering (UAZ-469 - tuning object) has been successfully installed. But that's not all. We need to fix the rest of the mechanism.

Pump and tank installation

Any hydraulic booster is driven by fluid pressure. To create it, there is a pump. But it works through a belt drive - from the crankshaft pulley. It is worth noting that there are different belts - under the power steering on the UAZ and for cars without it. We need a longer element - under the hydraulic power steering. So, remove the drive belt, fan impeller and crankshaft pulley.

Next, unscrew the water pump. Attach the radiator impeller to the wheel hub. We will also need elongated bolts “under the power steering” on the UAZ and a spacer (usually included). A belt is installed on the new crankshaft pulley. The fuel filter bracket is also removed. This is where the pump will be placed. The bracket that comes with the power steering kit is mounted in place of the pump stud. Next, the pump is fixed on the brackets. The bar and bracket are attached to the locknut. When installing the belt, you must setcorrect tension. GUR adjustment (UAZ "Simbir" can also be upgraded) is performed by tensioning a special roller. How to determine the normal tension? The belt must not hang on the pulleys. If you press on it with your finger, it bends by 10-15 millimeters, while rotating at a right angle relative to the plane of the pulley. After we installed the power steering belt on the UAZ, we install the fuel filter back. It is attached to a square hole. Then we take a drill in our hands and drill several holes in the place of the left mudguard of the motor.

They are needed to secure the fluid reservoir. Here we need bolts, nuts and a clamp. This element is connected to the pump using a polymer hose. The system runs on conventional gear oil. Once again, we check the correct installation of parts and start the car.

Check

With the engine running warm, turn the steering wheel from side to side. In the first seconds, excess air should come out of the tank. If it starts to foam, then the system is leaky and you need to look for a breakdown. After carefully sealing all the hoses, we start the engine and check the operation of the amplifier again. The power steering, installed on the UAZ "Loaf" from a foreign car, should operate smoothly and silently. The belt does not whistle, there are no leaks of the working fluid.

You will immediately feel the work of this amplifier. The steering wheel turns much easier than before. During operation, regularly monitor the remaining liquid in the plastic tank. Need it if necessaryrefill. The operation of the hydraulic booster with an insufficient fluid level threatens to damage the pump. The steering wheel will become much heavier.

Operational problems

Often, car owners purchase ready-made sets of amplifiers from the Ulyanovsk plant. Their cost is relatively small, and they are not problematic in installation. Ready-made kits can be purchased at prices ranging from 20 to 37 thousand rubles. But with frequent use, especially without the proper oil level, the amplifier starts to buzz. This means that the pump or drive belt has been damaged. The steering rack itself breaks less often (it can leak at the sealing points). Driving with such a breakdown is not recommended.

Power Steering from "BMW"

The question is often raised about installing a power steering (UAZ) from a foreign car, namely a BMW of the seventh series. It would seem that these are two completely different cars. But the German power steering works quite adequately on the Ulyanovsk Kozlik. To do this, you will need a pump for 130 or more Bar and a flat pulley.

The latter can be machined from a turner on order. This is necessary for the alignment of the crankshaft pulley and the pump. Some install a two-strand element from the 24th Volga. Tank hoses fit without modification. The rest of the installation is no different.

Conclusion

So, we figured out how to put a hydraulic booster on a UAZ with our own hands. After such refinement, driving will become more comfortable, and driver fatigue will decrease significantly. This is a very useful tuning for such an SUV. And if you consider that the carinstall big wheels, power steering becomes a must.