Decrease Stang's Turning Radius?

With enough thought and a little cash....... anything is possible. So much so, I've been able to increase my steering angle by 30% by shortening up the steering arms on the spindle. AND YES, I welded them and plated them correctly so if anthing they are stronger than when they where stock.......

So now I've got 39-degrees...... Problem is I want 55 or better....... Probable have to chage the lower A-frames or get a longer-traveling rack and then add a steering quickener........

Flaming River does make a replacement rack for the 99+...I just ordered one.

I'm assuming they'd make one for the 94-98 too...or maybe it's the same piece.

They're site needs to be updated...so I'm not sure if it lists the piece there or not.

You should call them.

2000BLKGT said:

Flaming River does make a replacement rack for the 99+...I just ordered one.

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Being a replacement, I wonder if the travel and demensions are the same? If they are it would not be any improvment at all, just new/the same.......

DV19 said:

Being a replacement, I wonder if the travel and demensions are the same? If they are it would not be any improvment at all, just new/the same.......

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I've been told there will be a big improvement. I corresponded with Flaming River online...described what I was trying to improve, and the FR rep seemed to know exactly what I was concerned with. I don't believe it is just new/the same. I think it's a tighter box... ...less turns lock-to-lock.

I'm replacing the rack to get rid of that "sloppy" disconnected feel. That feeling you get when you're diving into a corner, and you lose confidence to go in way deep because you can't really feel the road. I also want a "show quality" rack as well.

I was considering going with a manual rack, but we'll see how/if this one improves it.

Won't be able to give feedback on performance until the Spring though. The car is off the road until March. I'm just stocking up on all the mod in the off season.

A tighter box and a show quality rack.... ...the wife better not read this!

damacman said:

You just need an adjustable wheel-base. See the Red Green show for a more in-depth explanation.

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damacman said:

You just need an adjustable wheel-base. See the Red Green show for a more in-depth explanation.

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rise from your grave...


was there ever a solution to this problem? is anyone making aftermarket spindles and shorter tie rods yet?

Yea I don't have a mustang yet so I haven't even looked under the car to see what can be done. However, I am in the idea form of building one .

I know Geoff from awhile ago and David personally from driftlive/drift50. David is a drinking buddy.

I also know that DV19 DOES have a solution for this and I'm hoping he chimes in soon.



What kind of suspension are you running? Stiffer springs might help with the rubbing under load or possibly rolling your fenders a little (ghetto but thats how i'd do it...probably with a baseball bat).

jbao said:

rise from your grave...


was there ever a solution to this problem? is anyone making aftermarket spindles and shorter tie rods yet?

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Man this HAS been a long time
And now with Long Beach 09' right around the corner it seems like only yesterday I was getting started...

Anyway, to answer your questions:
The Mustang Aftermarket Industry has pretty-much let us down, as sadly there still isn't many parts made for our application.... Guess we still need more Mustang guys to get out there slide'n and then calling-up the Steeda's/Maximum's bitching at them to make us some parts. The tech is there, they just don't think there's a market (despite the fact that there are 4 Mustangs in Formula D and more showing up at grassroots events every day)

To my knowledge, there's only one place that can supply us with a custom built rack and it's like $2700.... Which is why I don't have one.... The "Flamer" guys have been absolutely Zero help and when you call there, I swear the guys answering their phones must live under a rock or something because all they seem to be able to talk about is what they read in their catalogue... Ability to think "outside the box", ZERO.....

I have heard about some guys getting spindles from RaceCraft. From what I hear, they work pretty good. If they give you their road-race version with a shorter steering arm, you'd probably be headed in the right direction. On my car I just have the stock spindle that I took an inch out of the steering arm and it works great. If you go this route (very important), have it Tig-welded back together with "silver" rod. It's a forged part so it needs to be pre-heated and welded with silver so it won't break. Also add external gussets/bands on the outside of the welds for extra safety!

No you don't want shorter Tie-rods. All that would do is make your car toed-in... What you need is a rack that moves farther OR Tie-rods that will slide into the rack (like the 240's) effectively allowing the rack to move farther. That will give you more steering angle... You can also add little spacers between your rack and the tie-rod but I don't recommend this as you don't have many threads left to hold on to the tie-rod end.

Then from this place, Performance Hose Distributing you want his Mustang Power Steering Hose Kit so you don't blow your stop PS Lines when your start playing hard (ask Mr. Gittin about New Jersey last year). And while you're at it get a KRC Power Steering pump so you won't get any "pump cavitation" when you speed up your ratio down the road....

If you do ALL OF THAT, you'll then probably be hitting your lower A-Frames with the back side of your wheels. Only way to fix that is to buy my (or build your own) custom fully adjustable lower control arms.... Very expensive but very correct... PM me when you get to this point....

HTH,
Good luck...