Looking over a lot of rack and pinions on the web. Seems like most people aren't 100% satisried with most upgrad R&P on the market. And if you have a big block with headers there are clearance issues. Anyone heard of anyone swaping the spindles. left side to right side so tie rod ends are pointing to the front and putting a mustang II front mounted R&P on it? Sounds like something to try, but just wondering about geometry.
rack and pinion idea
- Thread starter mxsman
- Start date
brianj5600
Active Member
Geometry would be dangerous. The spindle would be ahead of the king pin. Picture a shopping cart with the front casters facing forward.
I thought about the same thing. Just that all the new cars are set up that way. Just an idea, not that I'm going to run out and swap them without doing a lot of measureing and checking with some alignment shops for inputs. Rodders do a lot of stuff like that, if they didn't we'd still be using leaf spings and solid axles from the model T days. Arlene coming, time to move the stang into the garage.
I was hoping the idea would be workable too but found the same answer you got here. I have a different idea I'd like to toss out for discussion. Hope I'm not hijacking your thread because it's still on the same rack and pinion subject.
What about casting a steering arm that would bolt onto the stock spindles converting them to front-steer? Some early GMs had them. Same spindles used these arms (just flipfopped) for either front-steer or rear-steer on different applications. If people can cast entire new spindles, small parts like this should be easy.
What about casting a steering arm that would bolt onto the stock spindles converting them to front-steer? Some early GMs had them. Same spindles used these arms (just flipfopped) for either front-steer or rear-steer on different applications. If people can cast entire new spindles, small parts like this should be easy.
reenmachine
20+ Year Stangneter 
When a car is designed that way, it's not a problem at all. Front steer is commonplace. It's when someone just swaps spindles from side to side that it's dangerous. A front steer spindle for the early Mustang could easily be designed by someone with an understanding of Ackerman steering principles, bump steer, caster, kingpin angles, etc.C0V3R said:
rack and pinion
You'll need a rear steer rack and pinion. The one I am using is from a 92 tuarus. I ahve a granada disc brake conversion. If you use (I know it sounds funny) fiero tie rod ends it works. 67 and 68 cars are fine with it as it. 65 and 66 cars will need to shorten the portion where the tie rod end screws on by 1 inch on each side.
I'm also told omni rack and pinions will work too.
You'll need a rear steer rack and pinion. The one I am using is from a 92 tuarus. I ahve a granada disc brake conversion. If you use (I know it sounds funny) fiero tie rod ends it works. 67 and 68 cars are fine with it as it. 65 and 66 cars will need to shorten the portion where the tie rod end screws on by 1 inch on each side.
I'm also told omni rack and pinions will work too.
Not ALL current cars have front-steer rack-and-pinion systems, If you check, you'll probably find that it is 50/50, just like it was with the old recirculating-ball steering setups.....
There are people that have adapted Taurus steering gears to the early Mustangs and they work OK up to a point, but the turning radius is HUGE (there is/was a guy in Holland thet was making brackets to bolt a Taurus rack in). MOst of the aftermarket rack setups being sold are based on either the GM J-car or Chrysler Omni/Horizon/K-car systems. All have their little problems which are well-documented here and on other vintage Ford message boards. So pick your poison.....
There are people that have adapted Taurus steering gears to the early Mustangs and they work OK up to a point, but the turning radius is HUGE (there is/was a guy in Holland thet was making brackets to bolt a Taurus rack in). MOst of the aftermarket rack setups being sold are based on either the GM J-car or Chrysler Omni/Horizon/K-car systems. All have their little problems which are well-documented here and on other vintage Ford message boards. So pick your poison.....
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