EZ STEERING GTJOEY ITS A NEW WORLD!

[ralphr1780]

Doc I have now fitted the 123ignition and it has improved steering feel, should I keep on drinking?
Soory, couldn't resist...

[paulsco]

Can anyone who has fitted the EZ confirm if the steering wheel shaft has full travel and that the inner column top is no further forward than the original?

Looking at the available photos, there does not seem enough room in the short inner column to house the full centre steering shaft, unless it protrudes further forward.

Paul

[bitsobrits]

I have an early (load sensitive, not speed sensitive) EZ steering unit, and there is no discernible change in the fore/aft adjustability of the wheel.

[gtjoey]

It’s the exact same
You use your original upper shaft!
Column twist and all!
Gtjoey1314

[paulsco]

Hi Steve and Joey,

Thank you both for confirming the fit.

Regards,

Paul

[gtjoey]

Your welcome.....Good luck!
gtjoey1314

[gtjoey]

Bob just recieved his kit for a very early series 2 before locking column
It’s under my
Let’s build a 67 E type thread!
On Jag lovers
Interesting as he will post blow by blow

[BobKTX]

While I contributed to this Series 1 thread given the post and comments from my buddy GT Joey, I will be posting my own thread in the Series 2 forum since I'm currently installing the EZ Power Steering unit in my very early 1969 Series 2 FHC.

Bob

[Heuer]

Angus brought his beautiful FHC up to our place on Tuesday so I could buy him lunch, sorry ... test the EZ steering system. Although his car looks standard it has air-con, sat-nav, MX5 seats, cable throttle and a reversing camera seamlessly integrated so it is a pleasure to drive regardless of the PAS. It is also the most beautiful colour, silver with a hint of screen, just as Jaguar intened.

The PAS makes the steering effortless during manovering and low speed driving and I liked it a lot. On the open road there is no jolting of the wheel over pot holes and it is quite serene. I did find disconcerting that small inputs to the steering caused a disproportionate movement of the car resulting in weaving on the road. Angus said it was a case of getting used to it but I am not sure what would happen in an extreme situation when trying to quickly correct over/under steer or a rapid avoidence manoevere. I also felt remote from what was going on at the wheels as on my car I can feel everything with my finger tips. On this score I did not like the EZ steering as it spolied the E-Type driving experience. This was echoed yesterday by a very good friend of mine who has an E-Type, Mk2 and an XK150 with the latter two fitted with EZ steering - one speed sensitive, the other continually adjustable. He also experienced the weaving on the road with small steering inputs and he had not got used to it, and was unilkely to given the mileage he does in each, and would not fit it to his E-Type. When Angus drove on the return trip I did point out to him the same effect despite his experience with the system.

The EZ steering unit is a generic item and has not been subjected to hundred's of thousand of miles of testing and calibrating for the E-Type so it comes as no real surprise it is not perfect. There is a simple solution however and that is to add an on/off switch and treat it as another accessory like the blower fan or map reading light. If you want assistance at low speeds flick the switch, whilst on the open road leave it off. Angus is going to add a switch to his car which will make comparisons easy and confirm that with the power off the car behaves as we would normally expect.

So I don't think this is a "game changer" or a "new world" but it is a useful accessory that can be activated when necessary and it is certainly worth considering if you find low speed manouvering a challenge but, IMHO, in all other circumstances it is better switched off.

[chrisfell]

“ in all other circumstances it is better switched off.”

It would be interesting to compare this experience with that of an E-Type fitted with a LiteSteer unit. Conceptually the same as the EZ unit, my very brief experience was of no wandering once under way. I cannot recall the speed at which the power unit provides effort, but it might have been less than 20mph. LiteSteer is (or was) a fraction of the cost of EZ.

Hmmmmm! That devilish voice in my head has thought of a solution to David’s (Angus’s) wandering steering, one that he will instantly hate - why not fit fatter stickier tyres?

[gtjoey]

I tell you what I thought......
We have both been driving etypes 20, 30 , 40 years ?
You have to keep driving it and then you will never go back.
Your brain is compensating for the old jerk and steer motions you dont have to do anymore, Too me.
Once i drove say 200 miles? it became a modern car.
Remember i went 205/70 /15 so its just right to me.
In New York with TERRIBLE roads, 205 is a savior.
Heurer did you guys run the 185 or 205
To me 185 with EZ is like a donut spare tire after a flat with 3 20 in wheels around the other 3.
Thoughts
gtjoey1314
ps what steering wheel did you drive?

[Heuer]

why not fit fatter stickier tyres?

E-Type 'Game of Consequences' ... experience a problem with an upgrade and then patch the deficiencies with another upgrade when a £2.95 on/off switch will suffice.

Heurer did you guys run the 185 or 205
Thoughts
ps what steering wheel did you drive?

Dunlop 185 tyres, 5.5" wheels with a 16" steering wheel. Need to check with Angus on tyre pressure but I always run Dunlop's at 38psi, Michelin XVS - 30F/35R psi work for me.

I might fit an EZ as it offers the best of both world's ... with the option to disable it.

Joey - can you spring for a switch, fit it and report back?

[gtjoey]

Yeah, Thats old school...........And I understand it BACK THEN before I was born
Try this.....
Keeping those tires...drop the tire pressure to 30.
Then retest, your patch is SOOOOOO small on the road to offset the heavy steering. IMHO
Just try that.
Ultimate is my set up like Julians setup.
It will be totally different
36/38 hot will be close to 40 , To me thats too high.
With the EZ
IMHO
If you can see if your buddy will let you try that?
To me its a game changer like this...
15 inch steering wheel
6 inch wheels
205/70/15
Its a new game!
I always hated the stock, cheap thin steering wheel.
Its terrible to me

[Heuer]

I used to run my FHC with Dunlop Sport's at 32psi but Dougal at Longstone Tyres told me the official spec calls for 38psi and the handling is much better and inspires confidence in my experience. Don't really want to fit a £2,500 accessory and then have to start changing other things on the car to make it work right. Joey - Fit this and report back:


Angus has a new 16" Moto-Lita wheel which is very sturdy compared tho the original. I suspect the tyres were 32 psi all round.

[1954Etype]

Good point about the Tyre Pressures, I am running at 38 PSI.

Bit of a downer today, driving back from Norwich at midnight last night and hit a deer in the E Type. It was dead already but laid out in the road. I didn't even brake (70 mph) which probably saved the bonnet. Written off the exhaust, bonnet support frame and I think cracked an engine frame. Will have a proper look and assessment later today but..... buggar! (Not even the power steering saved me ;) )

[Heuer]

Ouch! Glad you are OK though.

[Gfhug]

Angus, sorry to hear of your mishap and I hope you (and any passenger) are ok and that the damage won't be too serious.

Geoff

[gtjoey]

Wow and thats what its all about!
Enjoying and geting home safe!
A car can be replaced.
Good luck
gtjoey1314

[Robbiee]

Angus, sorry to hear of your mishap and I hope you (and any passenger) are ok and that the damage won't be too serious.

Geoff

That sounds scary. As long as you’re
Metal can be fixed

[1954Etype]

Thanks for your kind words guys. I'm fine and the car is going to be fine albeit loads of work. Anyone have any recommendations as to who I can get to do the work?