I havent found a rack yet that would really work for us. What is super stupid easy and wicked cheap is to use the GM column motor and an aftermarket controller. I really wish I could modify the column inside the drivers compartment in my class. 100 bucks and a little welding and you're good to go.

 

Who’s Afraid Of Electric Power Steering? | The Truth About Cars

Looks like the GM system runs all the time? I'd want it turned the hell off if it eliminated all feedback... Actually I want the ability to run it at low speeds, and have it turn off above a certain threshold... It would be nice, as somebody pointed out, to have it not run at startup, say >500rpm...

Scary to think these column systems could yank it into oncoming traffic like the 'vishwarma intsitute' claims..

$350 for the MR2 system ain't so bad..

 

Thats why you buy the $40 controller for the motor so you can make it speed sensitive and change the assist amount. Jerking you into the on coming lane really isnt a major concern the real brain of the unit has passed OEM quality testing.

 

Got a link to an instance where somebody retrofitted it to, well, not a cobalt?

 

Has anyone tried the Mini Cooper system? Im curious if that one could work

 

I stared at the EPS on my wife's '03 cooper S a couple weeks ago when I replaced one of the CV boots. Looks simple enough to fit & plumb but I have no idea on the control system. It's quite noisey but I'm sure that's normal for that style EPS.

Quick search shows they aren't inexpensive.

 

Do they have a high rate of pump cooling fan failure? I see as many pump fans for sale as I see pumps for sale, and that gives me that queezy, working on a European car feeling. I still remember that its a british car designed by germans and made england, with a brazilian engine designed by chrysler. I think the only way it could be worse is if it had lucas electrics.

 

I'm surprised no one has mentioned an s2000 power steering setup...
00 01 Honda S2000 AP1 Electronic Steering Rack Pinion PCX F20C 3055 | eBay

 

Bump steer, you will have all of it. The rack is almost certainly a different length than the miata rack.

 

haha actually...the fan was seized on her car. It spun and worked fine last time I checked a few years ago. But we noticed now that it was locked up solid. I spent an hour or so disassembling it and attempting to remove the rust from inside the motor but the one bearing still felt gritty. I have a few fans I'm watching on ebay.

It's a SPAL fan.

The PS Pump cooling fan doesn't run all the time, or even when the Pump is running. There looks to be some sort of BMW add-on harness on her car, I assume it's a thermostat or timer of some sort.

 

Interesting. Does it just blow over the body of the pump? I plan on using a 8x12 PS cooler with this (because big hoosiers yo), but overheating the motor part of the pump has been on my mind.

 

Yep. Blows air sorta kinda around the motor. The entire thing looks like an after-thought.

EDIT: you can see that the fan isn't directly adjacent to the pump.

 

Did the later cars lose the fan and add PS oil cooling or something else?

 

Mazda 2 steering rack?

 

Bringing this back from the dead. The 04-current volvo S40, V50, V70 pump works, its a little overassisted IMO though without any restrictor in the pressure line and no CANBUS control of the pump. It fits where the jack used to be as long as you cutout the jack holder's spot welds and hammer the hump down. You need an 11'7" -6 AN hydraulic line if you copy my setup. But I got interrupted writing this by the lady and now, 6 hours latter I'm drunk and tired and I'll finish this in the tomorrow.

This pump has a max output of 120bar, which is about 1760psi, so its quite a bit more than the miata pump can put out. So It rather over assisted. I havent driven the car yet to see if that is a real negative in the feel department or not.

Wiring wise you need volvo part number 30775461 for the high powered harness, and you need to energize the lower power pin closest to the high power connector with 12v to make the pump come on. I used and 80amp relay and an 80amp circuit breaker. The relay and pump turn on signal is taken from the power antenna connector, pump is grounded to the same bolt as the ground strap for the battery and the hot wire that goes onto the battery positive clamp.

Lines run down both sides of the frame rail and inbetween the upper and lower control arms. They enter the trunk behind the same plastic cover that blocks out the ABS wire connection. Yes drilling some holes is required, use a unibit, and use grommets.

Picture time
Bracket, there is also a zip tie between the bracket and the little shelf the jack compartment cardboard thing sat on.


mounted


Here's the hardest part for the lines. Some hammering required here to get the outer line properly tucked away.


You'll need an M16 power steering banjo fitting to -6 AN for the pressure side of the pump, you'll also need to rotate the stock return hardline tube down all the way. On the pump side you need an M14 o-ring sealed fitting to -6AN. The torque spec for this fitting into the pump is 26ftlbs, if you just tighten it by hand it seems to leak.

Oh and no, the reservoir does not hold a complete quart of fluid. FFFFFFFFFFFFFuck.

 

Bringing this back from the dead - currently working on combining a miata column with a prius column, which has the power assist motor built into the column itself. 3 wire operation - ign on, +12v, and gnd. will post some pictures and results later this weekend when i can do a little more.

Looks like this (this isnt mine)

 

Whats the plan to control this thing?

 

I highly doubt this will work without CAN. It may also require higher voltages than our standard 12V systems.

 

They ran standalone without CAN, and on 12 volts. Take a look at these. Mine should be here wednesday, with its little controller box.

 

Project elec. PS begins. Miata column next to a prius column with electric assist built in. We're going to put the miata column mount onto the prius column, delete all the prius mounts, fab a new front mount, and extend the steering shaft to reach.


Grinding the oversize mount and tilt nonsense off of the prius column


Prius mounts removed, which we throw in the trash


Prius column with miata mount rough positioned. We'll throw this in car with a ziptie and get orientation right before we weld into place. Once we bolt it up we can fab a front support for the column, and get to work on the steering shaft. Then its just hook up power and ground, and we're done.