Power Steering System, ITB Adapter, and Distractions

Jun 23

I’ve been trying to “finish” something before making a blog post but that means I don’t document anything so here’s what’s been going on.

Let’s start with a few of the things that got in the way of making progress on the car over the last two months.

Some good MTBing. Stumpjumper is about to hit 4000 miles. Repainted it and replaced a ton of parts after a big crash and hospital stay a few years back. Paint color is Burst Fracture Blue.

Always good stuff in the parking lot at the local trailhead.

Rear air spring died on the E39. I replaced both. Easy job. 45mins to do both sides.

Fixed some plumbing, painted the shop, and did an overdue oil change on the Land Cruiser.

Back on MK2 related content, I finished the PS reservoir bracket. PA6-CF. I have confidence in this material/application given how PA6 parts are holding up for clips and stuff on the E39. More on that at a later date.

Then, I re-designed the SW20 power steering pump bracket. I simplified this design and decided to just use clamps to hold the pump to the bracket. Easier, lighter, and adjustable. I used SendCutSend for these parts. The first bracket arrived bent backwards. SCS sent the correct replacement part the next day. A+ service from those folks.

Next, I fit up all the parts and made power steering lines. The reservoir to pump line is a cut up E46 line with a barb connection to get the bends right. The high pressure line is the same one from the LS swap just shortened 8in. I’m still waiting on a 120deg fitting for the return line but everything should worked out nice. I will need to clip all these to the chassis somehow. I will do something like the parts I made for the E39.