BDR RT2 upgrade to power steering

[Dedas]

I've just purchased BDR RT2 #358, the car is great, handles well but I have issues with parking it. My garage is very tight and I've recently injured my shoulder so getting it in is kind of PIA with the current steering rack.
So I'm thinking to upgrade it to power steering that can be turned on and off. I want to keep the same feel while driving the car.
I've tried to find kits online but it seems nobody offers anything for RT2, so I need some help to point me in the right direction.
I've read somewhere that BMW Z3's power steering rack is compatible with my car, they are pretty cheap to get here in Europe.
Any tips are appreciated.
Thanks

[eschaider]

Power steering, when 'turned off,' does not provide an attractive driving experience. Additionally, turning off power steering is not a popular option, so the technique and approach to achieving this level of operational service will be an original work of art that you will be responsible for designing, engineering, and building — something you might want to give careful consideration to.

[Dedas]

Thanks for the input, but the mechanics I’ve been talking to have suggested solution with the potentiometer knob that can be electronically adjust the power steering. I’m not an expert but they have installed a lot of them in other cars and it works.
However I do need to find something that fits to my RT2.
The rest will be solved eventually hopefully. Do you have any idea what is compatible with RT2?

[eschaider]

With the electric version of power steering, you can program the controller to be progressively less involved in the power assist as vehicle speed increases. When you turn it off completely, most people find the effort to steer without any electric assist unattractive.

With the hydraulic version of power steering, the effort to steer when the hydraulic assist is shut off becomes objectionable.

[Dedas]

Thanks for clarifying it. I generally like how Cobra drives, except for better brakes I wouldn’t change anything much, but with the pain in the shoulder maneuvering her in tigh places is very difficult. It has what? Almost 4 full steering wheel turns to turn wheels completely to one side. I have a small leather steering wheel, and I don’t want a wooden one which might make things easier. The last week I did 180 miles trip and didn’t get tired at all but parking it into a tight garage for 10 minutes was quite tiresome.

[CHANMADD]

So , I put power steering. I used an Escort rack, because the inner ball joints are in the correct place between the control arm mounts. You can trim the steering arm and put more threads on it. Anyway, at the Power steering pump , where the pressure hose attaches , you can unscrew that fitting and get another with a smaller orifice which will lessen the assist. Thats what I did and its great.

[Dedas]

Originally Posted by CHANMADD

So , I put power steering. I used an Escort rack, because the inner ball joints are in the correct place between the control arm mounts. You can trim the steering arm and put more threads on it. Anyway, at the Power steering pump , where the pressure hose attaches , you can unscrew that fitting and get another with a smaller orifice which will lessen the assist. Thats what I did and its great.

Hi Chanmado, thanks for sharing these tips, I’ve read that about changing tips and putting the one with a tighter opening. How did you know that the Escorts’ rack fits in your Cobra? I have a Backdraft RT2 and want to find something that fits in mine. I’ve asked Backdraft but they didn’t reply I’d gladly buy it from them but I can’t find any racks available for RT2 models.

[FredG]

I have a Z3 rack that was put together in a full kit from Alastair Miller of Miller speed. I installed it. It is more of a power assist rather than true power steering. Approximately 2.7 turns lock to lock. Much better than the stock manual that twists and flexes. I also beefed up the entire column. You can find that on here also. I recommend camber plates also.

Fred

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by FredG

I have a Z3 rack that was put together in a full kit from Alastair Miller of Miller speed. I installed it. It is more of a power assist rather than true power steering. Approximately 2.7 turns lock to lock. Much better than the stock manual that twists and flexes. I also beefed up the entire column. You can find that on here also. I recommend camber plates also.

Fred

Backdraft 427 with 2" belt drive cog pulleys and power steering (youtube.com)


This is a new, Backdraft-specific, power steering kit that uses our trick billet power steering pump, which now fits perfectly within the confines of the Backdraft chassis. Our 2" cog pulley system is a popular upgrade for Cobra replicas and this power steering kit is icing on the cake!

For more info please visit www.millerspeed.com and see the Contact Us page

[bobcowan]

For those that have found a part that works (Escort, BMW) Can you give us more details? PN? Year, model, trim, etc? If I went down to Autozone to order the part, what do I ask for?

[Dedas]

Originally Posted by FredG

I have a Z3 rack that was put together in a full kit from Alastair Miller of Miller speed. I installed it. It is more of a power assist rather than true power steering. Approximately 2.7 turns lock to lock. Much better than the stock manual that twists and flexes. I also beefed up the entire column. You can find that on here also. I recommend camber plates also.

Fred

Thanks Fred, I'm looking for something exactly like that.

[Gone]

I have an RT3 so I don't know if this will exactly apply but if you have the same suspension from a bmw, it probably will.

I take no responsibility in the following advice if you mess your car up. You will have to use a band saw ad drill press for multiple parts.

USE ONLY GRADE 8 HARDWARE!!!!!!!

Get a 2002 BMW Z3 3.0L L6 rack with inner tire rods
I got the AAE 3310N from rock auto

it came with the inner tie rods you need to shorten them 3/4 to 1 inch using a band saw.

Then get the outer tire rods. I used mevo tech they worked great. They will have to be shortened using a band saw to where it starts to taper larger.

Then your going to have to get 1 inch x 1/8 inch (1/4 possibly depending) metal stock from home depot to build your brackets. your going to have to mark your holes for the power steering rack, use the mounting points that are on the cobra already for the manual rack. Drill holes in the metal stock with a drill press. Then placed the other metal stock over it and drilled that out to it all lines up. Then paint your new brackets so they do not rust. Then bolt your brackets with your new steering rack sandwiched between it, on the manual steering rack points.

The following steps are outlined in spdbrake's post just changed a little. When I found that post, I was like JACKPOT!!! Thank you spdbrake!!!

This is his post.

Steering shafts upgrade

I then got the following from summit racking for your new steering shaft;

Borgeson Universal Steering Shafts 409418
This will have to be cut to size and fit between the steering rack and the flaming river u joint

Borgeson Universal Steering Shafts 409036
This has 36 splines and will connect the the borgeson u joint listed below. You will have to shorten this as well and using a drill press drill holes though this. If you pull out your steering wheel and the shaft that it is connected to, you can slip this shaft into it and use your drill press to go right through it. FYI mine were a little off centered from the factory so I put another hole though it dead center and used an extra fastener due to my ocd.


Flaming River Stainless Steel U-Joints FR2563
This fits the power steering rack I purchased and mounts the the 3/4 D shaft


Borgeson Universal Steering U-Joints 013449
This will connect to D shaft and the other end of the 409036 shaft that has 36 splines.



Some guys also replaced the BMW bushings inside that rack that your steering wheel is mounted to. I did, it was a total nightmare for me, I broke two bushing and the ball bearings went everywhere.

Then buy a pulley kit and a power steering pump for your car. I have a 351 windsor, I bought the kit from CVF that came with the pump, pulleys and tank for steering fluid. I had to source a belt, use a rope and measure the rope, go to local hardware store and purchase belt for your application.

The hardest part I ran into was finding fittings for the power steering pump to the rack. I made my own lines with PTFE steel braided lines. I does take a little time to get it, but nothing impossible. I ordered a ton of fitting from Summit Racing and sent the rest back that didn't work. Some fittings were too long, some to shallow for my liking. Then connect it all together, bleed air from the lines and check for leaks.

I now have a Saginaw GM pump on a ford motor powering a BMW steering rack. Is all polished chrome and looks good.

Get car aligned!!

This car drives how I always imagined it would as a kid. Some people hate the power steering some, like me love it. Just now at higher speeds your going to have to hold the wheel a little tighter. Enjoy!!!