Hi Guys

Even though these datsuns are older i never felt i need power steering, still you can move the steering with one hand without big effort,

thanks
Regards
sumith

+ 1, lift weights, hahahaha
+ 1 who cares? Why would you want to drive everywhere one handed? What are you doing with the other hand?

don't mean to have a go at ya, but Datsun utes have the lightest steering around for older cars that have style. Suggest getting a newer car if its a must have. Try the different tyre sizes as mine steers fantastically and has a turning circle that is about the size of a 50c coin!!! Wouldn't bother trying to fab something up - it would be a nightmare.

thanks for the feedback guys.
it looks like power steering is not the answer, although something is definitely up with the steering, atleast now i know its not all 1200's, just mine...
thanks/mik

Hi mate
Does the car have a smaller, aftermarket steering wheel? This will make the steering feel heavy. One of my previous Datsuns had a 13" steering wheel and it made the steering very heavy. There was a world of difference once I exchanged it for a 15" one.

Some of the other suggestions here are valid too:
Check tyre pressures
Check wheel alignment
Check suspension and steering parts condition

Matty

My datto has heavier steering. Modifying things like struts, lower arms and balljoints means you are modifying the steering geometry and scrub radius etc starts to be important, and can get really bad if you don't have the correct width and offset tyres. Fitting 'as big as will fit' tyres under the front guards is what causes this in a 1200. Smaller steering wheel definitely makes it worse.
Increasing caster helps a lot for the regular driving. I did that with adjustable strut tops and coilovers. This doesn't help at car parking speeds..
I'd like to one day get under the front of my datto and draw up the geometry accurately to determine the best width and offset tyres.

hhmmm put that much power in it that it will dangle the dunlops then there wont be any wieght over the front ,heaps lighter steering

the other thing to consider is... if youve had the datto about a week?
and youve come out of a vehicle with power steering, chances are you'll get used to it in no time!

Mik, I'd suggest you get the front end looked at by a steering specialist, somebody with a little bit more knowledge of what to look for. Sounds like it's probably got bigger brakes & different struts & all those things you need to fit these things. Maybe the front end just needs greasing, when I started fooling around with cars it was a Grease & oil change, while the old oil was draining out you went around with a grease gun & put some grease into all the nipples. Now all the tie rods & balljoints seem to be minus the nipples.It maybe a binding ball joint or tie rod end, or it could be that you're just not use to the weight. BUT it does worry you & there's not harm in getting a second opinion. Like they keep telling me, there's no such thing as a stupid question, just stupid people. & there's no I in team but there is in Idiot.

I would definitely check the steering linkages. My coupe has a 13"wheel and 225/45 13 sticky tires and is still super easy to steer. I just redid a friends front steering and suspension on his 510 and when we removed the old steering parts we found that the idler arm couldn't be turned by hand!

thanks alot once again guys, i do happen to have a 13" steering wheel and r31 struts and brakes. but like i said before hand, "something is definitely up!" its not that im not used to the feel, im a fairly strong fella in my own right mind.
what is usually a 3 point turn is now an 8 point turn, which is seriouly odd considering the small turning circle.