Lvangundy

Thanks to devildog who confirmed it's safe to disconnect the power steering ECU, I will be doing this soon just to mess around with it for a while.

I'll post pics of where it's located. and report on how big my arm muscles get. j/k!!

1994 LS400

AWESOME !
So it is ok to do this ! So we can have the best of both worlds / German car feel and Lexus if we choose ??!?! Yea please post pics
Paul

retrodrive

Heh, I doubt you will have anything close to German car handeling in an LS by just disconnecting the ECU

Lvangundy

LOL I know!

No, of course the handling won't improve, I'll still have boat-like body roll, and front and rear end diving. It's just fun to drive around with no power-steering, feels like my mom's 77 280Z.

Need coil-overs or something!

hyperopt

You still get power assisted steering and more effort is required on your part.

Lvangundy

I've noticed that there still is a very slight amount of power going to the steering wheel. For example the first inch or so you move the wheel left or right feels like normal.


Still fun though!

lawman

I am an SC owner and was wondering if I could do this as well. Is it safe to do this - drive withou the p/s ecu? Has anyone else done this? Is it even worth it? Just want to try to get a "sportier" feel to the wheel when driving at higher speeds. thanks

Lvangundy

OK since this is getting a revival I'll explain more..

The PS ECU box is located under the steering column. It's a white box that is labeled "POWR STEERING ECU"

You can reach around if you know where it's at and unplug it, but first timers should find it by unscrewing the 3-4 screws that hold that lower panel and pull it down to see the ECU.

This is my conclusion on what unplugging it does. Basically there is a number value assigned referencing how fast you are traveling. When you are going really fast the ECU may receive a signal of let's say '5' = this is the stiffest setting. When the ECU is unplugged it's reset to the stiffest value.

You still have the power of the rack and pinion on unless you disconnect the power by the P/S pump on the rack and pinion. If you unplugged this driving the car would be really like having NO p/s at all and would be extremely difficult. Ever driven a non p/s car? It' pretty tough until you start driving and get used to it.

My recommendation is to try driving it for a day or two and see how it feels. The thing I did notice was that when you plug it back in, taking corners is 100% easier on the arms and you can do 'deeper' turns left or right because the steering wheel turns a farther distance with less resistance.

lawman

Lvangundy,

Nice. Thank you very much for the response... and info...

One HoT

iTrader: (5)

If you disconnect the PS ECU and the PS is off...Does the car have any gains? Or is this just for your arms to work out..

lawman

Onehott,

I am not looking for bigger arms What I am looking for and this "mod" may help is that on other sports cars (porsche, BMW,) the power steering is firmer to begin with, helps in feeling the road, better feel, heavier to have "better" control at higher speeds. If you drive a porsche/BMW or other sports car you will know what I mean. There is power steering but on our luxury lexus its almost too easy to turn, on the sports cars its still easy to turn but you can feel the turn more because the steering is heavier - this is what I am looking for.