In Search of... Rack and Pinion Info

[jikelly]

I've been looking for information on converting to rack and pinion steering using junkyard parts and hav found very little. When I have found links on the net to articles on the conversion using late model parts the links go nowhere. It sucks!

Well in the absense of a good how to article to use as a guide I'll have to shoot from the hip and do it from scratch. Somewhat scary but I think I can do it.

Anyway do you guys have any knowledge of steering system design that I should be aware of? Do you think it would be easier to install a new column maybe the one out of the doner car I take the rack out of?

I'll keep searching but I've gone over the web pretty good and I think I found the end. I think I'll look for steering system design books at the library and see what I can come up with.

 

[skywalker]

www.chpsk8.stangnet.com has some good info. chpsk8 want to weigh in on this one?

 

[snowb07]

skywalker" the link does not work,,
-fred

 

[jikelly]

I actually found chpsk8 article on the rack and pinion install. http://www.chepsk8.stangnet.com/Steering.htm

This link works.

 

[87gn2]

Flaming River had a sale on rack and pnion steering alng with one of their steering boxes. It was 1200 bucks or so. Manual, of course. That's a pretty good price...

 

[skywalker]

fred: I just realized i typed that in wrong! Lo siento mi compadres! I was in a hurry cause I was welding for the first time (Sub-frame connectors) right after I got done so...I was a little excited haha.

In my opinion, Randall's Rack looks better than the flaming river model, but that's just me. Better price for sure.

 

[Håkan]

I would recommend that you check out the Woodward Steering Tech Info pages for basic info about rack and pinion installation and front end geometry .

Eric Reimer have collected info and links at his website about adapting rack and pinions to the early Mustang.

What I have done myself can be seen here: VikingMustang.com

 

[jikelly]

Thank you so much!

Wow Haken you really did some serious engineering on that column and rack setup.

Why did you use a centerlink type attachment to connect the rack to the tie rods?

 

[Håkan]

Thank you so much!

Wow Haken you really did some serious engineering on that column and rack setup.

Many thanks! Glad I could help!

Why did you use a centerlink type attachment to connect the rack to the tie rods?

I wanted to design a system that don´t have either bumpsteer or an increased steering radius and the centerlink type attachment to connect the tie rods to the rack was the best way I could figure out to do it. It´s a more complicated way than using a center take off rack and pinion, but in my opinion it´s a much stronger=safer way.

 

[Edbert]

If you can find someone who has one IN STOCK I still say get a TCP, Based on their current financial situation I would not pay for one on back order though.

 

[Ronstang]

Fantastic job Håkan. I love your attention to detail, as I am the same. You have one of the best setups I have seen to date and it addresses all the concerns I have had with doing a rack install. What rack did you use for your's? Finding a rack with the amount of travel seems to be difficult and any help you could provide would be appreciated.

 

[skywalker]

Hey Håkan, I'm trying to arrange to spend a month in Europe next summer, if I do that can you show me your R&P setup up close and introduce me to some beautiful swedish ladies?

 

[Edbert]

Hey Håkan, I'm trying to arrange to spend a month in Europe next summer, if I do that can you show me your R&P setup up close and introduce me to some beautiful swedish ladies?

Hehehe...just which RACK do you want to use that PINION on?

 

[67bluestang]

Flaming River had a sale on rack and pnion steering alng with one of their steering boxes. It was 1200 bucks or so. Manual, of course. That's a pretty good price...

I know someone that just had a Flaming River rack break inside the body of the unit. Its on a 160mph Super Gas drag car. It broke on the top end and he wound up in the weeds. Luckily not much damage. He said Flaming River tech was crap and didn't even want the rack back to inspect it. This same car had a stock Pinto rack on it for over 5 years with no problems. Makes you wonder about they're quality.

 

[skywalker]

Hehehe...just which RACK do you want to use that PINION on?

Eh, I'd saya green eyed blonde, w/ long hair, about 5'4" sounds good to me.

 

[Håkan]

Fantastic job Håkan. I love your attention to detail, as I am the same. You have one of the best setups I have seen to date and it addresses all the concerns I have had with doing a rack install. What rack did you use for your's? Finding a rack with the amount of travel seems to be difficult and any help you could provide would be appreciated.

Many thanks Ronstang! I think the r&p unit I used is only available here in Europe, but if possible try to look for a Toyota or a Mazda r&p unit, rear steer of course. As I just had to put new inner tie rod ends to our ´94 Mustang GT that has only seen 48,000 miles I am a little bit concerned about the quality of the American Ford rack & pinions, but if that´s not an issue I would look at the Taurus/Sable r&p unit.

Hey Håkan, I'm trying to arrange to spend a month in Europe next summer, if I do that can you show me your R&P setup up close and introduce me to some beautiful swedish ladies?

Yep, that can be arranged, no problem, your description there fits in on both my wife and daughter ;-)

 

[chepsk8]

Hi!

A ways back, we had a few GOOD threads about Rack & Pinion Steering here. Use the archives, The threads were very good, and loaded with information, I basically used alot of that information in my Steering article in Hemmings Mustang Magazine last year. Haken was a major contributor on that thread, as were many others.

Thank you for the nod to my website, not updated in a few years! That system has been working trouble free for five years, and even the new owner of Chepsk8 likes it. I had ALOT of fun develping that system, and the only drawback was the large turning circle. It had wicked bumpsteer, but cred it with the bumpsteer kit by BAER, again the subject of a magazine article.

Find those threads here, they're full if good stuff.

 

[skywalker]

Yep, that can be arranged, no problem, your description there fits in on both my wife and daughter ;-)

Good to go! My trip is currently in the planning and the figuring-out-how-to-pay-for-it phase, so I'm not even sure I'll get to do it just yet. I love to travel and over the next couple years my training is going to get pretty intensive so I won't have much time to travel overseas (unless the Corps sends me which will mean asia but no Europe most likely.)

 

[jikelly]

Hey chepsk8 is it possible to get a copy of that article that you wrote?

I was really bad tonight and spent about an hour searching the archive for rack and pinion info, when I should have been doing homework. I found quite a bit though.

From the information that I've compiled it looks like the centerlink type set up is perfered over the direct tie rod end to rack shaft set up. Is this because it ties the two wheels together?
It also looks like you have to be careful to get a rack that is the correct size. Something like it has to be as wide as the frame rails or at least centered between them.
Oh yeah, you also need a rack that is for a "rear Stear" setup. That basically means that the tie rods attach to the rear of the spendles.

Now I just need to get to the junkyard and find parts. I don't know when I'm gonna do that because I still have about ten other projects to finish on my car first. The summer is coming and I'll get after the rack then. That will give me more time to spend...

In Search of Rack and Pinion Information.

 

[chepsk8]

JK

PM me an e-mail address that can take large files, and I'll shoot you my stuff!