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All domestic vehicles in Japan come with Right Hand Side Steering, because of the driving system.
Japan is among those 52 countries of the world who drive on left side of the road, this driving system is introduced by Great Britain. Today we find that out of 193 sovereign states only 52 drive on left side of the road or say Right Hand Steering mounted vehicles. More research shows that there is no special reason, and is it safer to drive on left or right side.
Let’s see how to convert a right hand side steering to a left hand side. It is not so simple and involves risks and costs and good workmanship. There is a huge market of non-privileged who still cannot afford new cars and look for best Japanese used cars in cheap prices. This demand from such users compel them to do steering conversions from Right-Hand to Left-Hand because of strict import policies to comply with their country traffic rules. Japan is largest market for exporting high quality used cars, but Japan’s domestic vehicles have right hand side steering wheel to drive on left side of the road. Therefore the customers who wish Japanese domestic vehicles have to either drive a Right-Hand Drive vehicle or do the conversion of steering if there are some strict rules about imports of Right-Hand Drive used vehicles. Some countries have totally banned the imports of Right-Hand Drive vehicles which have transferred the attention of used vehicles exporters to provide a Left-Hand Drive conversion.
The steering conversion process is technical and is not limited to mechanicals but electrical also. The vehicles having center-locking, electric windows and power-assisted steering have to be reinstated after the conversion so as the driver does not feel any different from original. In the conversion process first the dashboard, door trims and steering kit have to be removed including foot pedals. The empty spaces from the pedals on the floor have to be fixed taking full care not to burn any electrics. Then Brakes master cylinder, air-condition heater and power steering cables should be fixed in the opposite side. The important factor is to install the new electrics and new rubber parts and cables including foot pedals. The airbags are very sensitive therefore extra care has to be taken while taking off the steering bracket and re-fixing it. Lastly the full checks to make sure that all the electrics are functioning properly after the new dashboard is fixed and the new steering bracket is welded properly to the passenger side. Once all the functions are tested the door trims have to be fixed and the job is nearly over. In Japan there are speed road testers which will tell electronically about the drive; this saves the risks on the road. After the test proves OK your converted Left-Hand Drive car is ready for a safe drive. Japan used construction equipment does not require any sort of conversion but Japan Truck exporter are also considering conversions to be quite good for business.
There are few garages in Japan who provides this extra ordinary service under qualified mechanics. The prices for steering conversion can vary and depend on the type of vehicle but please always have a second opinion about the prices and expertise of such jobs. Have a save drive-bon voyage
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