HonkyTonkMan

I was wondering if anyone have any input on the turning radius on these cars.
i want a shorter turning radius, AND i want a steering rack.
But i cant find anyone that sells these with servo.
only manual racks from sphon or hawks,
anyone know any ways to get a smaller turning radius ?

AlkyIROC

I don't think there's any way you're going to get a shorter turning radius with a factory style steering system. About the only way you might be able to do it is to cut the steering stops off but that means the inside tire needs to turn even sharper and may rub the inner fender preventing any sharper turning. If it's turned too sharp it will stop rolling.

Use google and look up ackerman angle

HonkyTonkMan

I was thinking of a new steering rack from hawks.
but they dont come with power steering... and i refuse to have a manual steering rack.

The factory steering box also have stops in it ?

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

the factory box has stops in it, but the tire is really close to the chassis when you hit them.

Making a rack fit in these cars is not the easiest thing to do without using 4 universal joints.

AlkyIROC

Changing from a steering box to a rack won't change the turning radius. You need to change the spindles to change the angle that they turn.

The easiest way to install a steering rack is to change the k-member to an aftermarket one with rack mounts built in. The lower steering shaft needs to be modified with an extra shaft to reach the rack. This means another u-joint and a shaft support.

The steering stops I'm talking about are part of the spindle. There's a heavy tab extension sticking down below the caliper. This piece of metal makes contact with something on the A-arm to keep the wheels from turning excessively. If a power steering box is set up properly, the internal stops should vent hydraulic pressure before the spindles hit those stops.

AlkyIROC

This topic got me thinking about how I can reduce the amount of steering I have on my car. Since I don't have steering stops on my spindles, I can turn the steering until the tires hit the inner fenders.

Using the same steering stops inside the steering box, you can increase the amount the wheels turn by changing the pitman arm and idlers arm providing the stops on the spindles are not touching yet. When turning the wheels, the pitman arm only has so much rotation. If you measure the distance traveled from the end of the pitman arm and a point half way down the pitman arm as an example, you'll see that the longer the arm is, the more distance it travels.

Providing there's enough room for the linkage, if you install a longer pitman arm (and idler arm to keep the same steering geometry) you effectively will cause more side to side travel of the center link which will allow the wheels to turn in a shorter turning radius.

For me, I don't want shorter turning so I should be installing a shorter pitman arm. A third gen power steering pitman arm and idler arm is 6.5" from center to center. An S10 manual box has a pitman arm 5.75" from center to center. I have no idea how to find an idler arm that will bolt into a third gen and be a different length. The shorter pitman arm will allow the center link to travel less distance which means my turning radius will be greater. Without putting a shorter idler arm on, the ackerman angle will be different when turning from side to side.

Changing the pitman and idler arm to a different length means you need to get a wheel alignment done as it will change the required lengths of the tie rods slightly.

AlkyIROC

Went to the auto wrecker today and did a bunch of measuring. Although I'm not 100%, it looks like the S10 idler arm is the same length as the third gen. It's not a direct swap because of the length of the mounting part but the center to center length looks close enough to say they're the same length.

That means just changing the length of the pitman arm will change the turning radius. You'll have to measure the pitman arm currently on your car. Maybe you're using a shorter S10 pitman arm which will make a larger turning radius?