dec0y13 Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 OK I have a 86' Gen 2 brat. I am jealous because my buddy got an 82' and his has power steering...and mine does not (sigh) OK so, How hard is it to add power steering to a model that does not have it?? Can I buy the pump and hoses off a wagon some where? Is there some kind of sensor that controls it? Do I need the full knuckles and linkage? I have not had the opportunity to crawl under my buddies Brat yet, so all I can see is the pump, bracket and hoses, I'm sure there is a hydrolic piston somewhere. is there a link w/ pics anywhere?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baccaruda Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 Hi, welcome to USMB! The power steering swap has been done many times and is simple. Let me show you a couple of things about the board - first, at the bottom of any topic's page, you can see related posts - they may be for-sale posts but check them out in case they have a list or a link to one. Second, give our search a try. It doesn't like words of 3 characters or less so try "power steering swap EA81" but not "add power steering to EA81." Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dec0y13 Posted May 11, 2010 Author Share Posted May 11, 2010 My bad, should have done a search on that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 In addition to the search - your friend's Brat did not come with power steering so you might just take a look at his to see what they did to convert it. You will need an entire engine cross-member from a power steering equipped EA81. Not the easiest thing to find in some parts of the country. GD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yo'J Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 If you have all the pieces for the power rack and cant get the crossmember off (like being stuck at pull-a-part), you can drill out the spot welds off the lower plate on your existing crossmember to remove the plate and drill the required holes for the new power rack, just bolt it back on when done and dont over drill. You will need all the parts from the power rack though and the rubber grommets as well. If you closely look and compare your friends crossmember and yours, you will see what I mean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Brat Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 I have a pump I can sell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bheinen74 Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 like said, power steering can be added to any car. If you want it to work, you need the entire front rack, crossmember, as the racks are different from non-ps to the PS model. If you have the rack and all parts, go for it. BTW good luck 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carfreak85 Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 I have all the parts needed to swap over to PS, if anyone is interested. Hard lines rack X-member rubber grommets hardware pump/tensioner bracket Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dec0y13 Posted May 11, 2010 Author Share Posted May 11, 2010 OK carfreak. what's it gonna cost me shipped?? I think I can get it at the junk yard here, but if you have a good price and it's ready we'll talk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xoomer Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 I also have the pumps and bracket, thermostat housing too, but no hoses or rack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcbrat Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 I also have the pumps and bracket, thermostat housing too, but no hoses or rack. Good point on the t-stat housing... the ea81 power steering quipped vehicles had a differet t-stat cover to allow for clearance of the rear of the pump.... if you go here Subarus of the 80s to the "Some Helpful Diagrams" link in the middle column, at the very bottom of htat page, is a drawing of the diffferences.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ettev Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 I put PS on my '85 Brat and didn't swap the crossmember. Used the non-ps one. PM me and I can give you a list of "watch outs" that you'll run in to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carfreak85 Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 OK carfreak. what's it gonna cost me shipped?? I think I can get it at the junk yard here, but if you have a good price and it's ready we'll talk No idea where Sugar City is, so its hard to give an estimate. If you can get the parts closer to you, I would do that, some of the stuff is pretty heavy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dec0y13 Posted May 13, 2010 Author Share Posted May 13, 2010 If I do it, I'll need to whole set up. Like I said I may be able to get the deal from the junkyard. I just haven't gone to get prices yet. That being said, I can never pass up a good deal Sugar City in in SE Idaho here's a zip for shipping est. 83448 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SubaruJawn Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 wouldnt EA82 such as GL and Loyales also work for the Brat ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomRhere Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 wouldnt EA82 such as GL and Loyales also work for the Brat ? It can be done... but it is not a simple "un-bolt this and bolt this on" type of swap. I "stumbled upon" a bracket that would allow me to bolt the EA82 PS pump onto my EA81 engine. Had to modify the belt pulley, make a tensioner up, then decided to drop the whole thing. Couldn't get the belt to stop squealing.............. Do still have PS rack, just no pump. Did find that Turboed EA81's, had a PS pump that mounted similar to the EA82's. Maybe that is the bracket I have, but I still had to modify it to fit engine and for belt clearances. EA82 PS rack will physically bolt under the EA81 crossmember, after removing the plate mentioned earlier in this thread, and opening up the hole where the input shaft of the column attaches. Tie-rods can be a bit of a challenge to get right. Found some that would not work...... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SubaruJawn Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 what if use eA82 rack lines ect... just use an EA81 pump ? or would there be issues with mating Ea81 pump to EA82 Lines ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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