It\u2019s no secret that some \u201cknockoff\u201d power steering conversions exist for the S30 Z car.\u00a0 As a business owner, I\u2019m a firm believer in \u201cbuilding a better mousetrap.\u201d However, my loyalties lie with the Datsun community and the people that we interact with.\u00a0 In these instances, here\u2019s what you need to know.<\/p>\n
Some of these systems utilize an\u00a0inferior motor setup.<\/b>\u00a0 They’ll use an electric steering motor designed for ATVs, farm implements, and go-karts.\u00a0 It is NOT designed for automotive use. Period.\u00a0 \u00a0Zpowersteering uses a NEW, OEM steering motor that is designed for, and used in, modern automotive applications. We\u2019re flattered that they liked our design enough to order one and replicate it, but be advised that you get what you pay for.<\/em> The motor alone\u00a0 for our unit costs over $600. If you see a slotted column with a pinch-type clamping system, think about whether that\u2019s something you\u2019d see on an OEM application (the answer is no).<\/p>\n While you’re checking out the “knockoff” units, remember that you DO NOT get a warranty with any other kit.\u00a0 Of course, they didn’t design their system, we did.\u00a0 That’s a big risk to take to save a couple hundred bucks.\u00a0 Then again, they sell lots of other parts – we ONLY sell power steering retrofit kits.<\/p>\n The units using an actual electric power steering motor are a little better, with some key differences:\u00a0 They’re not new components.\u00a0 They’re junkyard-sourced units, so they’re used (and who knows what they’ve been through).\u00a0 These systems are referred to as “dumb” motors.\u00a0 That means they’re wired to function in limp-mode, rather than having ZPS’s proprietary torque-sensing brain box (like an ECU for steering). As such, they’re powered even at speed (when you simply don’t need assist).<\/p>\n We receive frequent inquiries about\u00a0speed-sensitive power steering.<\/b>\u00a0Great question, and one that should be addressed honestly and thoroughly. In simple terms, it is unnecessary<\/strong>. Here\u2019s why: Speed-sensitive systems rely on a wheel sensor (such as those used for ABS and TCS on a modern car). The Z never had these, so they\u2019d need to be retrofitted. Aside from the extra work involved, what happens if you experience wheelspin? How about a sharp curve, where the inside wheels are rotating slower than the outside wheels? Your readings will be inaccurate, and should not be relied upon. Furthermore, above a certain speed, there is no need for power assist\u2026 so why utilize a speed-sensing system<\/em>?\u00a0 No one wants to answer that question, because the answer is simply, “it’s useless.” <\/strong>Some use GPS as well.\u00a0 If you’ve ever lost signal while driving, or had a glitch in your connection, that’s a risk you should be unwilling to take.<\/p>\n ZPS uses a\u00a0much smarter solution.<\/b> Our proprietary system continuously senses and measures the torque differential between two inputs: Your hands on the wheel, and the tires on the ground. When there is a disparity between these values, our system instantaneously applies or subtracts steering assist so it remains constant and linear. It is a \u201cneed-based\u201d application of power, rather than being based on an irrelevant value such as vehicle speed.\u00a0 Simply put – When you need it, it\u2019s there. When you don\u2019t, it\u2019s not, just like a hydraulic system.<\/em><\/p>\n Before we ship each unit, we test the completed system on a test bench for YOUR particular car. Each control unit is calibrated to the specific motor and steering column that it is attached to, and the potentiometer is adjusted accordingly. No one else does this. Voltages are tested and torque output is measured in order to ensure trouble-free operation after installation. These processes add time and complexity to the finished product, but ultimately, our kit deserves the same care and attention to detail that your Z deserves.<\/p>\n When it\u2019s all said and done, we\u2019re confident that the slight additional expense is money well-spent on a far superior product.\u00a0 As of 2025, we’ve built and sold over 380 units, manufactured right here in America.\u00a0 As a long-time Datsun collector and supporter of the Datsun community, I’m restoring, driving, and showing these rare cars along with you.<\/p>\n Thanks for your support, and if you like what we\u2019ve done here, please tell your friends. Beware of cheap Z power steering imitations! It\u2019s no secret that some \u201cknockoff\u201d power steering conversions exist for the S30 Z car.\u00a0 As a business owner, I\u2019m a firm believer in \u201cbuilding a better mousetrap.\u201d However, my loyalties lie with the Datsun community and the people that we interact with.\u00a0 In these instances, here\u2019s what […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-63","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zpowersteering.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/63","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zpowersteering.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zpowersteering.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zpowersteering.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zpowersteering.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=63"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/zpowersteering.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/63\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":810,"href":"https:\/\/zpowersteering.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/63\/revisions\/810"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zpowersteering.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=63"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n-Greg<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"