BDR RT2 upgrade to power steering

[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!!!