Variable effort or variable ratio?

[Timo]

Ok im having some problems with my power steering. I blew the high pressure hose and need to replace it. Have rung repco etc and have been told i need to find out if the car (VQ Series2) has ABS and variable effort steering.
Ive searched but cant find anything really useful.
I always thought variable effort and variable ratio were two different things, but it from what i can gather in other threads is that they are the same?
In the manual it says VNs, VGs, VPs, and Statos all have variable ratio steering but doesnt mention variable effort at all.
Can someone set this straight, cos im confused?
Also ive read that all series2 V8s came with variable effort steering as standard, but i cant see a solenoid or anything.
One last question, how do i tell if my car has ABS brakes? And what the hell does ABS affect the steering for, or am i being quoted bull****?
Cheers

[Emackulation]

Well, I had an issue with one of my power steer lines in the GTS, my car has ABS (it says ABS under the stereo and you can see its got a ABS module to the drivers side of the engine infront of the brake master cylinder, it has many thin lines coming from it) But the story was that the 'pig tail' peice of the line would not be bought new, so we got one with the pigtail in the opposite direction and got ENZED (a pipe/connection company) to come out and heat and bend it to fit, pain in the ass but was the only way to get it working.

[haloeight]

The ABS box is a silver/black box on the left hand side of the engine, near the fuse box. Its machined aluminium and black moulded ABS. Has a number of thin aluminium lines coming off it.

It will have bosch or ABS prined on the plastic bit.

As for the steering, holden called it "Variotronic" steering, and the pressure in the rack changes at various speeds, providing a different response and low and high speeds.

As far as im aware it was fitted to some statesmans and calais.

[Emackulation]

Yeah, Variotronic Rack, thats what myne is supposed to have, but one of the previous owners replaced it with a Standard one, So when I went to replace that one we matched numbers and bought a Standard instead of the Varoatronic as the vehicle was supposed to have, no biggie, still steers great.

[Timo]

Cheers guys, think ive worked it out