snookwheel Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 I finished installing Power Steering in our Super Stalker today! I used a 2003 Toyota Spyder MR2 electric power steering pump and a Chevette power rack. Only a quick test drive today, full workout tomorrow. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v640/snookwheel/P1040916.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v640/snookwheel/P1040917.jpg [/url] Those big fat slicks we use for autocross will get dizzy with how fast we can turn 'em now! Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted October 31, 2009 Share Posted October 31, 2009 Awesome. mine will be coming soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snookwheel Posted October 31, 2009 Author Share Posted October 31, 2009 What type of set up are you going to use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted October 31, 2009 Share Posted October 31, 2009 I'm going totally electric - manual rack, power steering provided via electric motor in steering column. The particular unit I have is from a Vauxhall, but you can get a very similar unit here in the states from Chevy Cobalt and Pontiac G5. I believe Prius, Mazda 3 and a few others use a similar setup. Power assist level is adjustable via a knob on the dash, down to no assist (if it all goes as planned) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snookwheel Posted November 2, 2009 Author Share Posted November 2, 2009 Gave it a full work out.. at least as much as I could safely on public roads. Really like it. In a couple weeks, an AutoX will give it full stress testing! Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestTexasS2K Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Snookwheel what kind of wiring is required to install that unit. It looks like it works pretty well. I would consider doing something like that to my car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjslutz Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Us under powered light weight 4 cyl. drivers don't need power steering. Great idea if needed though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snookwheel Posted November 2, 2009 Author Share Posted November 2, 2009 Snookwheel what kind of wiring is required to install that unit. I used 10 guage for the pump motor. Also, I did not hook up the speed signal wire. It imagine that may work with the VSS signal from the transmission. All that would do is shut the pump off at around 65 -75 mph from what I have read. Here is a picture of the wiring diagram. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v640/snookwheel/Powersteeringwiring.jpg Here is a link to a build which I gleaned a lot of information from. http://k20a.org/forum/showthread.php?t=58599 Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Snookwheel, Did you happen to take some measurements of the Chevette rack? I'd like to know total end to end length and where in that length the pinion shaft is and roughly the angle it exits the rack. Very clean installation. I'd like to add it to my Caterham SV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snookwheel Posted November 2, 2009 Author Share Posted November 2, 2009 The 'un cut' Chevette rack is pretty close to 41" tip to tip. I had to cut about five threads off each end for my fitment. The pinion shaft tube base starts right at 11.5" in from the end if the rack. As far as angle, that is only a guess from eyeballing it. I would say around 5 to 7 degrees angle off the rack body. Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Thanks for the info. Please clarify the pinion shaft measurement. Is that from the end of the tie rod or the end of the rack housing? Do you know the thread size and pitch? Thanks again. The 'un cut' Chevette rack is pretty close to 41" tip to tip. I had to cut about five threads off each end for my fitment. The pinion shaft tube base starts right at 11.5" in from the end if the rack. As far as angle, that is only a guess from eyeballing it. I would say around 5 to 7 degrees angle off the rack body. Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snookwheel Posted November 2, 2009 Author Share Posted November 2, 2009 (edited) The measurement was overall end to end with out the tie rod ends screwed on. The below pictures are of the non-power Chevette rack. The length is the same as the power steering rack. Keep in mind, there are about 5 threads cut off each end of the rack. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v640/snookwheel/P1040932.jpg In this next picture, you can see the measurement to the pinion shaft. The measurement I sent previously was to the tube housing the shaft. I think this one is what you are looking for. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v640/snookwheel/P1040933.jpg Here's a shot straight down to give an idea of the angle.I don't have an angle gauge here.... so guess away. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v640/snookwheel/P1040934.jpg On the power steering rack, the steering shaft extends about two inches further than the one in the above pictures. I hope that helps. I have the relay that turns on the pump wired to the accessory side of the ignition switch. That way I can turn on the power steering without starting the engine. Great for pushing the car around the driveway! Scott Edited November 2, 2009 by snookwheel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDingo8MyBaby Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Here's a shot straight down to give an idea of the angle.I don't have an angle gauge here.... so guess away. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v640/snookwheel/P1040934.jpg I dragged that image into a CAD program here at work. I get approx 5 degrees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 Scott, what's the measurement on the rack itself, without the tie rods (from inner tie rod joint to inner tie rod joint)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snookwheel Posted November 3, 2009 Author Share Posted November 3, 2009 Scott, what's the measurement on the rack itself, without the tie rods (from inner tie rod joint to inner tie rod joint)? 26" as measured from feeling through the boots. I am outta zip ties so I didn't want to cut them open. Also, that measurement is on the non-power steering rack. I can't get a accurate measurement on the power steering rack installed on the car. Too much 'stuff' in the way. I'll give it another shot in the light of morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 Thanks, I'll get my measuring tape out the next time I am in the shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestTexasS2K Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 Thanks for the info I will have to find a rack that will work for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snookwheel Posted November 17, 2009 Author Share Posted November 17, 2009 We tested the power steering at an autocross yesterday. A pretty short but quick course. It really made it nice! I ended up about 1/2 second behind a shifter cart and a very well driven and prepared EP CRX. My wife and I were in the same group with seven runs each. Not much time between runs. The fluid never over heated (finger in the reservoir test) and the car performed great! I highly recommend it! It will take a couple events to adjust to, but I know it will make us faster!:driving: [/url] Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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