steering and suspension Power Steering ???

[cross1717]

Hey guys started to think if i can put power steering in my 75 2002,do they even make power steering for our type of car. also could or would it be better to put a bigger Steering wheel than this years wheel and take off the 75 steering wheel ?

Please comment

Also anyone selling bigger steering wheel and or any steering wheel better then my stock 75 2002 wheel we'll buy, message or post link to this.

[Jace]

go the the gym.

[cross1717]

?

[esty]

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/index.php?s=007cb1a0d96673b3055430587f749e5e&app=googlecse#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=power%20steering

[adawil2002]

The stock steering wheel should be more than sufficient to turn the wheels with no problem.

[peterschop]

Buy skinnier tires. The wider they are, the harder it is to steer at low speeds.The cars came with 165 tires. How wide are yours?

[Rocan]

The 2002 is plenty light enough for manual steering. 

 

Check that everything moves freely and that your tires are inflated to the correct pressure. This makes a big difference. 

 

I drive in new york city everyday, so most of what I do is slow speed maneuvers requiring full lock to lock movements. If you don't drive the car enough to build up the muscles, then sure, its a bit difficult at slow speeds. But the truth is that even when the car is moving at ALL, the steering effort reduces to next to nothing, even with wide sticky tires. 

 

If you are dead set on having power steering, though, there are some electrically assisted kits you may be interested in. Do a google search. 

[TobyB]

You also learn the right way to use a steering wheel, as in, only when the car's moving.

 

But that's not the question-

 

Yes, of course you can add power steering.  An E36 rack and pump would do it, but that's a LOT of fabrication.

 

Aftermarket kits exist, for significant money, that add a 'hydroboost' function to the stock system.

 

I think there might even be an (e24?) box that you can retrofit in.  Esty's link has some details...

 

t

[bluedevils]

There is an electric power steering kit for 2002s, check out here 

http://www.ezpowersteering.nl/type/161/24/BMW_2002.html

 It is a dutch company and has a representative in the USA (American Power Train, TN), call the number. It is not cheap, prepare to pay over 2-2.5K. It apparently installs on the column and keep the original steering box, sensitivity can be adjusted by a knob. It kicks in on lower speeds and takes itself out of the system during highway driving. I would worry about safety issues though especially since GM's screw up with similar systems ($$$$$$$$ law suit),  

Edited April 20, 2014 by bluedevils

[roadhog0]

Make sure the car is moving when ya turn the wheel... I'm a small dude and I do it with stock wheel and fat sticky tires... Or like others said, go to the gym

[ColinK]

Or....

if the tie rods, center link are the originals from '75 or if the last steering gear refresh is unknown then i'd look at that as the source.

while you're at it, new ball joints and watch out for scope creep...

[GoFaSSter]

What about the strut bearings? Are they in good shape? Assembled correctly?

['76mintgrün'02]

I agree with the responses above about assessing the condition of your current components.  Does everything move freely with the front tires in the air?  (If there is binding in the strut mounts, it may not be apparent unless there is weight on the wheels).

[autobahn]

I just found this one...

 

https://epasperformance.com/collections/bmw/products/1966-77-bmw-2002

[2002iii]

I would try using a e30 318i m10 power steering pump and a e24 power steering box and you could add the e24 hydroboost braking to eliminate the bulky vacuum power brake booster. The power steer pump should bolt on and the e24 steering box should be similar to the 2002 box.

 

The other route is the e30 318i power steering rack and pinion setup, but that requires subframe and or suspension modifications.