HICAS good vs bad?

Discussion in 'Technical' started by yellow300zx, Nov 15, 2008.

  1. rollin

    rollin First 9

    Go for a full n/a engine conversion. those twin turbo;s are heavy and complicated :p
     
  2. CHILI

    CHILI Indestructable Target

    ZDUCTIV

    Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that you didn't have some problem. I'm asking you what subsequent evidence you have that supports your belief that the HICAS failed(also, was it the hydraulic, or the electric HICAS)?
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2008
  3. ZDUCTIV

    ZDUCTIV Active Member

    I had the hydraulic HICAS. I didn't need any more evidence that what I had. The amount of rear steer was speed dependent. To go straight required my steering direction to be like / <- that. If I went slower the car began to straighten up, if i went faster I required more steering input. There is literally no other component that is capable of that in the Z32.
     
  4. CHILI

    CHILI Indestructable Target

    I know what you are saying, but with no attempt to analyse and confirm why it happened, it seems less than convincing to simply place unsubstantiated blame on a particular item(even though you may well be correct in your assumption).

    I guess we will never know(and that's a real pity), but you survived the experience, so that's the main thing.
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2008
  5. 5K1TZX

    5K1TZX Its all never ending....

    I like No Hicas

    Most people dont over take on public roads like they are jumping out of a slipstream, and its not like everyone says "ohhh damm I gotta overtake now, thank god I have HICAS... so why would it be good as it is speed sensitive? Only going around the city and parking and driving under 60 was the only thing I enjoyed before I locked the bastard off and removed every component....plus the engine bay looks better :)

    And my zed was alot more stable under fast windy conditions without it, especially though chicanes and powering out of sweepers :) and felt alot safer on some of our tassie off camber corners :eek:
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2008
  6. CHILI

    CHILI Indestructable Target

    It's good because it allows the car to make high speed changes in direction, without unsettling the overall balance caused by such changes(those of us who have been driving since the year Dot, have numerous memories of "lurching" and "swaying" being standard features of most cars available to us back then) and it is therefore safer by comparison.
     
  7. nemz

    nemz nemz cam: active

    did you change or remove steering wheels? because afaik the hydraulic hicas runs off a sensor in the steering wheel

    p.s had hicas in all 3 of my r32's(gtst's) and they all handled like a dream!! id say they handled a fair bit better then my zed(na, no hicas), would never let go in corners
     
  8. yellow300zx

    yellow300zx Pimpin Ain't Easy

    Interesting

    To see everyones thoughts, thanks everyone, glad I asked :)
     
  9. ugame

    ugame user #1

    its easy to answer

    want to drift? remove it :D

    dont want to drift.....leave it :D

    mine doesn't work anyway :(

    stupid non-hicas steering boss :mad:
     
  10. CHILI

    CHILI Indestructable Target

    Well, I guess we will have to agree to disagree(I have never had the slightest issue with my HICAS during the number of years I have owned a Z32) so, as my Dear Olde Grand-Dad often reminded me, "Never try to teach your Grand Dad to Suck Eggs!"
     
  11. MikeZ32

    MikeZ32 das Über member

    wow, 10 year old thread dig.
     
  12. geron

    geron National Petroleum Equipm

    A great thread dig!
    On the HICAS the rear steering rack ends develop play at the ball joints 'close to the rack ends' after 20+ yrs. It's not the control arm ball joints that develop the play. How do I know this?

    The HICAS cylinder itself on the non-electric steering Z'ds is just a hydraulic unit which does not require any maintenance from what I've read. It's the accessories around this cylinder that wear out with time and need to be replaced. If the rack ends wear out, the rear hubs develop play and the rear of the vehicle feels loose, ie the steering loses it's precision.

    The good news is, the rear rack ends are cheap as to replace and are so EASY to remove and re-install.
    While there, the hub bushes should also be replaced after 20+ yrs of faithful service. They go hard.
    The hub bushes are available from Nissan and they need to be pressed in by say Pedders which have the 'magic press' that can do it. No garage mechanic can do this, I tried. The end result is a rebuilt HICAS and a rear end with precise steering and nice soft hub bushes!!! for maximum comfort? hehehehehe…...
     
  13. MORBOOST

    MORBOOST Active Member

    My take, put ATF in power steering system, do it.
    If pretending its a s13 dori dori, remove it.
    If hey whats up guys, hella flush, stance, MM perfect fitment, remove it.
    Daily keep
    Track keep
    Rwc keep
    Toge keep
     
  14. SrAfciGeR

    SrAfciGeR Member

    I had electric HICAS on my R33 and I loved it..

    On my Z I have removed hydraulic system and have lock bar to go on it's place.
    If I find bargain electric all in one bungle deal, I might install it in my Z as well... Electric is fun you can disable it via fuse/switch...
     
  15. Bob Lloyd-Jones

    Bob Lloyd-Jones Oldreverbob

    I am older than Chili and I am not his Grand Dad so I don't suck eggs but I do have to agree with his logical answers I tend to think he has used to much right foot and has flicked the steering wheel in a left & right fast motion witch gave the steering wheel switch a double signal to the Hicas giving the effect of counter steering in a drift.
     
  16. CHILI

    CHILI Indestructable Target

    The vast majority of Visitors to this site, have little(or no)actual Mechanical Prowess. This is inevitably going to lead to a plethora of "Well-meaning, erroneous advice"(hence the ever-increasing need to dispell mistaken ideas before they become "FACT").
    Incidentally, my Grand Father "gave-up" egg sucking some considerable time ago(due in part, to the fact that the Mortician screwed the lid shut).
     
  17. beaver

    beaver southern zeds

    I drove my car with an operating hicas for a long time, never had a problem with it, and didn't notice any adverse affects in respect to how the car behaved on the road when it operated, in fact I didn't really notice it much at all. When I removed the engine for a rebuild I decided to remove the hicas system lock stock and barrel. I have to say I cant perceive a change to how the car behaved, either before I removed it, or now. I don't regret removing it, but if I hadn't remover it the car would be just that little more complete, with just a little more weight over the wheels.
     

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