Steering, Suspension, & Brakes
tips, technology, tools and techniques related to non-driveline mechanical components
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MGBV8 Carl Floyd Kingsport, TN (4600 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 11:32PM Main British Car: 1979 MGB Buick 215 |
Re: Electric power rack steering
I know someone that just finished up an under the dash installation. He's not ready to spill the beans, yet. I guess there will be a line at the next V8 Meet to try it out. I predict there will be many more going down this road.
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Scott68B Scott Costanzo Columbus, Ohio (567 posts) Registered: 10/25/2007 11:30AM Main British Car: 1968 MGB GM 5.3 LS4 V8 |
Re: Electric power rack steering
Quote: Out of respect I'm not going to share any details, but I've seen some pictures and asked some questions. It is REALLY slick. I never thought I would but I'm actually thinking about doing this at some point down the road. |
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MGBV8 Carl Floyd Kingsport, TN (4600 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 11:32PM Main British Car: 1979 MGB Buick 215 |
Re: Electric power rack steering
After driving mine for 26 years with out power assisted steering, I still don't think I need/want it. That may change after a test drive. :)
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Capt'n Moorgone Mike Moor Angola,IN (116 posts) Registered: 11/20/2008 07:05PM Main British Car: 1973 MGB 300 Buick |
Re: Electric power rack steering
OK Carl, you called me out. I did get the Equinox unit in and functioning like in the Cobra video Jim posted. I was trying to wait until I could get some road miles on it to say anything. Sitting still, it seems to be amazing. You can adjust the boost from "off" to feather light with a turn of a knob! I can't wait to get it out in the spring. Mike
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BlownMGB-V8 Jim Blackwood 9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042 (6530 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS |
Re: Electric power rack steering
Pictures Mike, we gotta have pictures.
Jim |
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mgb260 Jim Nichols Sequim,WA (2535 posts) Registered: 02/29/2008 08:29PM Main British Car: 1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8 |
Re: Electric power rack steering
I figured it was you Mike! Did you mount it under the dash or make room in the engine compartment? Pictures would be cool!
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MGBV8 Carl Floyd Kingsport, TN (4600 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 11:32PM Main British Car: 1979 MGB Buick 215 |
Re: Electric power rack steering
DID NOT!
I do have a pic now that Mikey has owned up to it. ;) Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/05/2014 02:13PM by MGBV8. |
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Capt'n Moorgone Mike Moor Angola,IN (116 posts) Registered: 11/20/2008 07:05PM Main British Car: 1973 MGB 300 Buick |
Re: Electric power rack steering
Jim, Yes I've watching Chris's project closely! Don't know if I'm ready to go down that rabbit hole quite yet! Couple years ,maybe. But this EPS deal is easy to do. The under dash bracket needs cut for clearance. The hardest job was getting the bracket out so I could relief cut it. There is a stud and nut coming from the hood hinge that has to be removed to get the bracket out. The motor wires right up with the Bruno controller. I did take the control box off the motor ,and hid it under the dash. Mike
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Capt'n Moorgone Mike Moor Angola,IN (116 posts) Registered: 11/20/2008 07:05PM Main British Car: 1973 MGB 300 Buick |
Re: Electric power rack steering
A couple pics.
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BlownMGB-V8 Jim Blackwood 9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042 (6530 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS |
Re: Electric power rack steering
So Mike, which pieces are what? MG parts, other parts, ???
Jim |
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Capt'n Moorgone Mike Moor Angola,IN (116 posts) Registered: 11/20/2008 07:05PM Main British Car: 1973 MGB 300 Buick |
Re: Electric power rack steering
Jim, The ends are both MG. The shafts were cut and spliced with some of the Equinox shaft pieces spliced in. The lower outer tube is made of exhaust adaptors and pipe. Took a drive today!! This thing makes it a blast to drive! I need to dial in a little more castor to get the wheel to self center faster. With Ted's front end ,I'm running about 2 degrees now. It is just so smooth to drive! Mike
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mgb260 Jim Nichols Sequim,WA (2535 posts) Registered: 02/29/2008 08:29PM Main British Car: 1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8 |
Re: Electric power rack steering
Mike, 5-6 castor is good for self centering. Probably shim between frame and back crossmember bolts.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/06/2014 09:07PM by mgb260. |
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Charles Charles Long McDonald, TN (177 posts) Registered: 09/15/2013 08:54AM Main British Car: 1966 MGB V6 1994 Camaro 3.4L 60V6 |
Re: Electric power rack steering
Mike, I noticed you wrote, " I did take the control box off the motor and hid it under the dash." I do hope you made a HEAT SINK for the high power components in side the controller, the use of the 80 amp fuse is a clue. That white stuff you wiped off was heat sink compound. They were using the body of the steering unit as a heat sink, hence the white heat sink compound. If you did not, you need to install a fairly large heat sink to the controller. I would use a piece of alum. 1/4 - 3/8 thick X 3"x5" cut to fit the screw holes, then apply some heat sink compound.
Mike, I would limit the use until the heat sink is installed as those high power devices will self destruct. charles |
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Capt'n Moorgone Mike Moor Angola,IN (116 posts) Registered: 11/20/2008 07:05PM Main British Car: 1973 MGB 300 Buick |
Re: Electric power rack steering
Charles ,
You are right about the heat sink. I did screw a large piece of aluminum back on the motor. I even had some old heat conductive compound in stock to make the connection. I don't think our #2500 cars will ever get the motor hot. I read the high amp fuse was for when someone holds full lock on the steering wheel. I have a 30 amp fuse in-line with #6 power cable going to the battery. Fuse holder is rated for more if needed. I won't be able to any more testing until the snow melts. Mike |
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Charles Charles Long McDonald, TN (177 posts) Registered: 09/15/2013 08:54AM Main British Car: 1966 MGB V6 1994 Camaro 3.4L 60V6 |
Re: Electric power rack steering
Mike, I am proud for you. You do good, very good work. I did not think you would let something slip by.
Did you remove the shafts before welding? The bad thing is all of your handy work is hidden from view. charles |
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Capt'n Moorgone Mike Moor Angola,IN (116 posts) Registered: 11/20/2008 07:05PM Main British Car: 1973 MGB 300 Buick |
Re: Electric power rack steering
Thanks Charles,
The best thing to do is take the column out, and take an overall shaft measurement without u-joint. Then you have to work down the column starting at the steering wheel placement. I used the two mounting bolts as a benchmark. The late column has three mount bolts. You end up eliminating the odd one. I used a pipe cutter to cut the upper tube off the EPS. The shaft cuts were done with hack saw.I used the splined slip joint from the EPS unit as a coupling. Welded a piece of the inside splined tube to the MG shaft down past the steering lock sleeve. I used a 3/4" wooden dowel to mock up the length. I'll try to post some pics of the inner shafts this weekend. Mike |
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74ls1tr6 Calvin Grannis Elk Grove,CA (1151 posts) Registered: 11/10/2007 10:05AM Main British Car: 74 TR6 / 71 MGB GT TR6/Ls1 71 MGB GT/Ls1 |
Re: Electric power rack steering
Hi Mike,
Anymore photos? I just went to the recycle yards and picked up two Saturn Vue electric steering setups. I should have took the steering columns with me hmmm. The steering was $41 a piece. Cheap way for power steering!! One was out of an 03 and one out of an 07 Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/31/2014 03:51PM by 74ls1tr6. |
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