Yaris EPS installation

It's working! In this video, everything was assembled very quickly. Nothing is tight, but you can see that I can turn the steering wheel while stationary with the wheels on the ground with just one finger. It's on my PVC garage floor, which is less grippy than asphalt, but the power assist setting is in the middle, so I'll be able to increase or decrease it after some real road testing.

It took longer than expected because the first U-joint I ordered didn't fit, so I had to order another double-D one and mill two flats on the output shaft. I also damaged the first assembly, which stopped working, probably when I hammered the first U-joint in. I've since learned that the torque sensor is quite fragile and that you have to be very careful. Luckily, I found another assembly in Poland for €50, including shipping.

Nice work!

I think that you will be equally amazed when you drive the car. The steering is so steady and effortless.

I actually think that it helps you drive the car very fast since it positively stabilizes the steering. So much so that you feel so confident in driving really really fast with it.

There may be other systems that work equally as well but this one just plainly compliments this car so, so well.

It is so quiet and inconspicuous no one would suspect there is power assist to the steering unless you tell them AND it fits so well.

Nice work! I knew you could do it!

Yes, definitely, especially since it allows for a greater caster angle since steering effort is no longer an issue.
I'm going to finalize all this and can't wait to try it out on the road.

A big thank you to you, because I probably wouldn't have spent €3,000 on this. But for €300, it's definitely worth it, and the adaptation is really easy for anyone who's a bit of a mechanic.

Nice work!

I'm adding this to my 3.0 project.

I'm currently in the middle of the 2.0 project and hope to have my re-sleeved Cleveland back this week.

@rene4406 posted:

Yes, definitely, especially since it allows for a greater caster angle since steering effort is no longer an issue.
I'm going to finalize all this and can't wait to try it out on the road.

A big thank you to you, because I probably wouldn't have spent €3,000 on this. But for €300, it's definitely worth it, and the adaptation is really easy for anyone who's a bit of a mechanic.

I've got lots of grey hair (but I've got hair!) and sometimes I actually know WTF (whisky-tango-foxtrot) I'm talking about.

I'm glad to have helped.

@panteradoug,

Did you find a way to adapt a VSS to this system? I'm intrigued but I'm not a fan of GPS for speed sensing.

Steve

@tsolo posted:

@panteradoug,

Did you find a way to adapt a VSS to this system? I'm intrigued but I'm not a fan of GPS for speed sensing.

Steve

Adapt a vss? Why? You have the option with all of these aftermarket EPS to use a manual control for boost.

In reviewing comments from those who have, they don't find a need to change the intial setting regardless of the vehicles speed.

Do if I know if they have run 160mph with it on full boost? I do not.

Neither have I and I can't tell you if going to zero boost at 55mph is the correct setting either, but the GPS version does have a sensativity adjustment built in where you can change where the EPS ramps to zero.

It doesn't increas the boost, it just keeps it on longer as you choose it.

I would advise that somehow you need to test drive an EPS equiped Pantera and make your own determination. We are hearing different opinions but generally speaking I have heard of no one who has EPS that does not like it.

I'm just here to help others not to dictate terms or rub the puppies nose in do-do for "making" in the house.

Which year or Yaris is this EPS from?

Steve

Steve,

Just send an e-mail to the guy that sells the GPS speed sensor and ask him what signal the GPS unit outputs. Then find a VSS that outputs the same signal.

The servomotor I used has the reference 45200-OD50, it comes from a YARIS II from 2006, but I think that other versions can be adapted perhaps a little differently but just as easily.

The key to which model year to use is what electronic adapter is available, Not all years are currently available.

The designer, builder and supplier of ALL of the needed aftermarket controllers for these EPS units is "Bruno". They all work off of the original Toyota designs, which he designed for Toyota. So all of those other listings are variations of the original Toyota concept.

You can find the current available units here on his ebay page.

https://www.servtronic.com/col...g-controller-box-kit

For anyone who wants to do this, IF you want to build your own system, the formula to what works, what to get and where to get it is in the subject matter of this entire thread. Two threads actually BUT you need to read through it yourself.

If you do not understand it then I would advise to stay away from attempting this project because it is simply over your head.

I can't make it any clearer.

NO ONE is going to spoon feed you as if you are a pre-toddler. NO ONE is going to explain to you why wheels are round and not square,  so asking certain questions really is at least a yellow caution flag if not a red flag indicating that you should stay as far away from this as possible, BUT you do have the option of purchasing a pre-built kit from one of the Pantera venders such as SAC Restorations with all of the details of their kits worked out for you.

To many that is a very good option.

In any case, sincere best wishes from me.

After a few more problems, everything works well, and aside from maneuvering, I confirm that it's very pleasant on the road during tight turns at low speed or in the city on small streets. I also confirm that you don't notice the boost decreasing with speed; the steering wheel resistance is simply always well adapted to the speed.

I say problems because I thought I had only damaged one part of the first Yaris assembly and could keep the other with the adjustments I had made. As a result, it worked, but more when turning left than right, and in a straight line, if I let go of the steering wheel, it turned left by itself.
So I had to replace both parts and modify the way I assembled the two tubes to avoid welding, instead using 3 screws in tapped holes:

And here's the result when stationary:

So if anyone wants to do the same thing, BE CAREFUL: the torque sensor is fragile, and you must avoid impacts and not weld anything on the Yaris assembly side.

Nice work, Rene, thank you for posting your information up above!

It sure looks like your boosted steering works great!

PS. That is very cool coat that you are wearing! It still must be very cold out there in France!

Unfortunately for us, it was 95° two days ago here in Arizona!

I think that’s about 35°C. It’s way too early in the year for it to be this hot!

I had suspected the fragility of the torque sensor and removed it for safety before I welded.

I had thought about using an epoxy instead. The one that is used now in body repair shops for bonding replacement body panels but did the welding instead.

The cautions that you warn of are well founded. This can be an issue of techniques and recognizing in advance that it is a significant consideration of avoiding being the bull in a china shop.

I think it is also important that you recognize the combination of the amount of boost that the Yaris unit provides is well matched and in addition the  GPS EPS adapter to the boost reduction curve is very well applied for the Pantera along with it's built in 'fail safe' operations if the GPS connection fails for any reason.

In my own personal review to myself, I don't see the need for a more powerful EPS unit and see no need to look for another type of boost controller device, but frankly I only intended to do this for myself and not offer other advice to others on how to do it. Many just don't like my personal solutions and that's ok with me. Let them realize themselves that they should have taken different paths? I am not the Dalai lama of Panteras by any means.

This is really a great build and in no way, a "Mickey Mouse" solution.

Great job on your part and an excellent post-surgery review of the results. Not that you or anyone else needs my approval?

@ Rocky, It's only early spring here in France. Yesterday it was 16°C (57°F), and today there's a north wind, and it's only 11°C (52°F).
I live below the 45th parallel, 45.17° to be exact.
We only reach 95°F a few days a year in midsummer, and only in the last few years. Previously, we rarely exceeded 90°F.

@Panteradoug, a forum like this is designed to share experiences, good and/or bad. Everyone does as they please, benefiting or not from the experience of others, but you're right, there's absolutely no question of imposing your solutions on others.
In the technical field, there is rarely a single good solution; each has its advantages and disadvantages. However, there are solutions that are always bad.

There are also rules, the laws of physics and mechanics, that are not debatable. These are not opinions but proven facts, and breaking them always leads to problems.
2 + 2 equals 4, and even if you have the right to have a different opinion and think it equals 5, your calculations will always be wrong.

Definitely, the Yaris' power steering is well suited to the Pantera, both for its ease of adaptation and for its operation, well adapted to the weight on the front wheels. I am very satisfied to have followed your way.

In addition, some photos of the final version:

After shortening and milling two flats to install a double-D U-joint.

I was very self assured that you would come to this conclusion.

I am concerned though that I should stock up on the components before they dry up and become very expensive because of this discovery.

It seems the nature of the beast for some to openly debate and disagree with the proven obvious. I attempt to avoid those confrontations but at times they seem to seek me out intentionally.

In this case though it would seem that the controversial developments have already been solved for us and all we needed to do was realize the components already exist and then to apply them.

As the saying goes, "sometimes even a blind squirl finds a nut".

I am pleased that it did work out in the end for you so well. Beautiful job. Very, very well done.

I have a Mitsubishi EPS in place and it works good as well. You would not feel it if you wouldn’t know. It feels seamless.
However I am lagging the GPS power control which I would like to add as well. Could you please state the product Rene you applied.
And where have you positioned the GPS signal provider in the car please?

I purchased the control module here:

https://www.servtronic.com/

Mitsubishi doesn't appear in their list, but you might be able to contact Bruno. There aren't many power steering manufacturers in the world, and it's possible that Mitsubishi uses the same one as another brand.

The GPS antenna comes with a sticker on the front, and I stuck it under the dashboard above the speedometer, but I didn't take a photo.