Hey guy's I did a search but I could not find exactley what I wanted to Know. I know what HICAS is but I was wondering why people remove it I have noticed some differences from driving my NA and TT as in the cornering feels slightley heavier and it is harder to controll as in keeping a drift also the car has a bit more snap back maybe this is coz it hase moer power. Any ways who has removed ther HICAS why do people do it Is it legal What benefits are gained How much $$ many thanks mike
Saves weight, prevents malfunction,some people prefer no 4WS, tidies up engine bay. Not illegal to remove
Isn't there a hydraulic unit for earlier TT's and an electronic operated for 94+ models i heard the electronic unit was alot more reliable as 4ws kicks in quicker and operates at all speeds, can anyone comment on having later model HICAS?
Why do people remove it? That's an excellent question....take a look at the 1990 Car and Driver Magazine article elsewhere on this forum, comparing the Z32 TT to a Chev Corvette 5.7 V8. The Z32 TT recorded the fastest speed ever logged through the 1000 foot Slalom Course, by the testing team who then attribute this feat to the remarkable HICAS steering. Damn we better get rid of that, asap. And don't forget, this was the hydraulic HICAS unit, not the later, reputedly "better" electric HICAS.:zlove:
I miss mine ...which currently is not working... and shining the warning lamp from the first few feet travelled. Ho hum definately not an empty reservoir or sender...but I will find the problem. There are roundabouts everywhere here and mastering the hicas through them is awesome. I agree with chili, I mean who are they to think that they can come up with a computer processed controlled rear end steering system that operated on hydraulics from that tiny unit under the hood utelising the power steering for pressure, I mean... are they mad... according to some we are much better off without it rather than mastering it. If I was one of the development team at Nissan and read all that is said about it I would be right miffed.. I would at this point add that if you deliberately want to break traction and oversteer (which has its merit) a static rear end is easier and more predictable, but I like to keep that for the track or whatever, daily drive needs to have all 4 wheels firmly on the ground and I reckon the hicas gives you that little bit more fun factor, especially in the around town speeds. I vote hicas:zlove:
my reasons for removing it are obvious. being a dedicated track car, I have removed it for about 20kg of weight saving and a firmer rear end.
people remove it because they dont understand it. Like when they used to kill people for thinking the world is round
Yep! Your reasons are valid for you Pete(and a handful of other competition focused owners), but I suspect that the vast majority of HICAS removers are simply following the herd, to be fashionable. I am not known to be averse to some fast motoring on occasions(and I have a solid background in Motor Sport), and I can say that I have NEVER had an issue with HICAS to this point in time.:zlove::zlove:
Some people like predictable performance out of their performance car :zlove: Look at what the chief engineer on the R35 GTR project said in the argument over whether to include it or not "no race car has ever had 4ws" no need to criticise those that prefer to remove it as herd followers maybe they are just enlightened :biggrin:
if you do understand what you're talking about and make an educated desicion then that is fine. ther are some guys on here who removed hicas becuase they thought all it did was to help turn sharply for u-turns and parking. Someone lese removed it to increase stability over 180kph a speed range which hicas does not operate
Race cars also don't have ABS...... but I wouldn't advocate its removal from a road car But why stop there, race cars don't have air con, heater, stereo, electric windows etc plus anything resembling an interior Your statement is correct but you are blurring the lines between race car & road car. 99% of people on this forum have the latter (i.e road car) so quoting what a fully gutted, unregisterable, outright race car has and suggesting people would improve their road car by copying it is incorrect. Racetracks don't have potholes, dips and bumps, crumbling edges, manhole covers, oil, loose dirt and gravel or the dozens of other obstacles that could confront the road driver every day of the week. Horses for courses. As a matter of interest, I have one zed WITH hicas and one WITHOUT.
I removed mine to eliminate something else that 'WILL' fail. Hydraulic leaks from power steering systems is a pain to fix (especially in a Zed) and you have not only extra hoses to fail but also another hydraulic ram with seals that will also fail. HICAS is a great system and works very well for it's intended use. As my Zed is never used in a manner that utilises this feature, I have removed it simply to eliminate another component that is affected by Murphy's Law which is more likely to come into play with the age of our cars.:zlove: I am not suggesting that everyone go and do this. I had an opportunity to do it easily since the engine is out.
Thanks guys this has given me a bit more of a understanding of HICAS also what driving mehtods are best used to take full advantage of HICAS. many thanks guys cheers mike
Same reasons as Pete! For weight savings and reliabilitys sake! Didnt like how it fealt going through turn one at Eastern Creek at 170kms/hr +, plus I have in more recent hillclimbing events that the car is more predictable in power oversteer - ie drift lol. MattB
95% sure the operating range is 20mph to 70mph. what ever that is in Kph. Athough i am certainly open to correction
