[New2Zooks]

Hi. So to keep this simple. I got a new suzuki grand vitara as an xmas present (just ad a daily while i live away from home) and to go camping/wheeling in her. Now. Ive heard 4x4ing in a non power steering vehicle suckssssss. Just driving it on some old dirt roads i punched my nads twice the first day i got it, cause of whip feedback from potholes.

My question is, power steering. What do i do to get it. As my car doesnt come with pwr steering, i need to fit my own. But i dont know what fits, so to save my time, i thought i might ask to see if any of you may have an answer. Its an old, beat car, but its got a straight body and can be saved, 308xxx on the clock, on factory shocks/springs, a 2in body lift, and 31 inch tyres, leaking brake lines, bad clutch. Etc. Its old. But can be fixed with some love.

I fully hope i get helpful replies, and im glad to finally own a zook. I love these little machines, and im hoping this zook is my first 4x4, and one of my last 4x4s. Thanks in advance to anyone willing to help me figure this out. Also sorry if this has been asked before.

[fordem]

As far as I'm aware, ALL Grand Vitaras came with power steering, and if the vehicle in question is the 1997 listed in your profile, then I would question whether or not it's actually a Grand - as far as I know the Grand Vitara was first released in 1998.

We need to know what you're driving before we can help.

[New2Zooks]

Well there ya go. Showing off my ability to noob the zook world. Haha. I thought "grand" was the lable given to the 4dr variants. Guess not huh. Still got some things to learn, but yeah, she dont have power steering, id like to get a little better tech in her to make her up and exceed my pops 80 series cruiser.

[Joe]

All 4 door vitaras came with powersteer

[Gwagensteve]

X2. All 4 door Vitaras and ALL grand vitaras had power steer regardless of engine or trim level.

All JLX vitaras had power steer.

2 door JX vitaras (the base model) didn't have power steer, locking or mirrors.

[fordem]

And we still have NO idea what vehicle you have...

A picture or even the chassis number would probably go a far way to helping us help you.

[New2Zooks]

fordem wrote:

And we still have NO idea what vehicle you have...

Probably would help to know that. Im not quite sure myself.

As far as im aware, it has 4 doors, it has a JX written on the back door, and the metal production stamp says it was manufactured in may of 1997. I only have like 2 pictures of it, ive uploaded one of them, being a front on view, and the other photo got rejected for being too big a file.

[Gwagensteve]

So it has power steering.

[New2Zooks]

Gwagensteve wrote:

So it has power steering.

It does not. Thats the problem. No lines, no resevoir, no pump, no brackets, no hoses on the rack and pinion. Its got nothing. So either not all 4 doors came with power steering, or my car has got a whole new steering column, rack and pinion, tie rods, and deleted everything else power steering related. Which is unlikely.

[Joe]

Is it a 1.6L 2.0L or 2.5L? 4cyl or 6cyl?

[New2Zooks]

Its a 1.6L EFI 4cyl motor. Everywhere i look on the internet, it says my car should have pwr steering. It has the estate decal on the back panel of the car, its the suzuki vitara JX estate 4 door.

[Joe]

You say it has rack&pinon so the car looks like this?

[Joe]

New2Zooks wrote:

Its a 1.6L EFI 4cyl motor. Everywhere i look on the internet, it says my car should have pwr steering. It has the estate decal on the back panel of the car, its the suzuki vitara JX estate 4 door.

Does it have aircon?

[New2Zooks]

It does have aircon, yes. It doesnt work, but supposedly it has aircon.

[Joe]

I would say it has had the complete p/s set up removed and a none p/s box fitted.

[fordem]

And we still have no clue what you're driving ...

A four door with a 1.6 would have to be an SE series which would not have rack & pinion steering.

[Gwagensteve]

Fordem - it's not strictly relevant, as any of the possible vehicles it could be were delivered with power steering.

The use of the term rack and pinion is confusing though. a 4 door 1997 vitara with estate on the rear quarters and JX on the rear door means it's not a grand vitara and therefore will have a steering box not a rack.

Don't overestimate how hard it is to remove/refit power steering. Removing the lines pump and bracket is quick and easy, there's no change to column, tie rods etc - wapping power steer to manual steer box is three bolts and the drag link.

[alien]

New2Zooks wrote:

Ive heard 4x4ing in a non power steering vehicle suckssssss. Just driving it on some old dirt roads i punched my nads twice the first day i got it, cause of whip feedback from potholes.