RaverRacerX

-AJE seems to carry a unit for our cars pn CF-3444 (I kind of doubt it due to low price for one)
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/a...3444/overview/
http://www.jegs.com/i/AJE-Suspension...-3444/10002/-1

strangely not listed on AJE's site..

-89-97 T-bird rack will work well but not perfectly:
This member uses sketchy Racecraft Spindles but ends up with stock turning circle:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...unt-ls1-w.html

Completed setup by another member:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...ps-pump-w.html

It will have a slightly larger turning circle:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...ck-pinion.html

Insight into the TBird rack setup. Supposedly wont fit 18's?:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...on-almost.html

-Flaming River, Unisteer, etc all offer racks that will work to varying degrees.
With technical analyst from a member (last post):
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...ower-rack.html

https://www.unisteer.com/


-TVC's take:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...-thirdgen.html

-Flaming River, TBird, etc:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...on-almost.html

Ill add more if I find it. Consider this the repository for R&P rabble and information

My question though is if it is possible any newer cars within the last 20 years may have workable units. It is tough finding the travel of the RP units in any of them.

RaverRacerX

http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...inion_steering


Also, has anyone thought of using a rack from a truck, Jeep, etc?

RaverRacerX

Some possible units instead of the T-Bird:
y2k+ Silverado rack
y2k+ F150 rack
~2007 Avalanche (likely same as Silverado)

thing is.. I have no clue what the travels are. Still looking for somewhere that may have those travel lengths.

RaverRacerX

97 T-bird rack:
Travel:~6.5"
Input Shaft Dia.:.725"
Mounting Separation: 15.5"
Rack Total Length: 48.5"
Inner Tie Rod Thread Length: 3.625"
Approximate Tie Rod Length: 12.13"?
Turns: 2.75

2001 Silverado:
Travel:
Input Shaft Dia.: .785"
Mounting Separation: 14.875"
Rack Total Length: 50.75"
Inner Tie Rod Thread Length: 2.594
Approximate Tie Rod Length: 10.376"?
Turns: 3.38

2005 Explorer SportTrac:

Travel:
Input Shaft Dia.: .725"
Mounting Separation: 11.25"
Rack Total Length: 44.75"
Inner Tie Rod Thread Length: 2.955"
Approximate Tie Rod Length: 11.3275"?
Turns: 3.25


2008 Explorer Sport Trac:
Travel:
Input Shaft Dia.: .725"
Mounting Separation: 15.25"
Rack Total Length: 50.25"
Inner Tie Rod Thread Length: 2.875"
Approximate Tie Rod Length: 13.83"?
Turns: 3.69

A few maybes and the T-Bird rack specs added.

RaverRacerX

1997 Explorer:
Travel:
Input Shaft Dia.: .725"
Mounting Separation: 11.25"
Rack Total Length: 44.75
Inner Tie Rod Thread Length: 2.5
Approximate Tie Rod Length:

RaverRacerX

looks like the 07+ STI racks may be an option.

RaverRacerX

measured steering travel of stock gear and I'm not getting what people seem to say is the stock travel. I'm measuring from a fixed point and marking on the drag link.

WTR388

Please keep this up, I would like to get rid of the dead center in my steering (not worn out, just typical 80s stuff)

RaverRacerX

Has anyone tried fabricating a steering arm similar to what is made for the 1st gen camaro setups?
http://www.speedtechperformance.com/..._spindles2.pdf
(scroll to page 12)

RaverRacerX

still looking. anyone have any info to add?

LX_SS

From what i gathered on info during my time testing some racks, was the factory setup was 7 inches total travel from lock to lock (control arm stops).

The closest cheap rack i have found anywhere near this was the unisteer unit. https://www.unisteer.com/trans-am/19...rack-only.html
However this rack only comes in at 6.75 inches travel.

If price isn't an issue the Retrorack (www.retrorack.com.au) has a cto 7 inch travel unit which would work for our steering travel. As to if there would be any issues fitting it up or not would be a little unknown till tested.

They also do a bolt in kit which is only $300aud more than the rack only. Since its not much more i'm sure there is some parts you could use out of it. Here is the 2nd gen LHD kit http://retrorack.com.au/lhd-retrorac...camaro-lhd-kit

US Dealer :
A-Team Racing
LLC Bend, Oregon
(541) 408-1122 PST
(541) 550-7033 PST
Shop http://www.a-teamracingllc.com

Ideally you want the CTO feature as it keeps all the arms in check during its suspension travel. If you use a rack that is wider than the x-member A-Arm bolt to bolt you could have issues with bumpster.

This is just what i found from the other side of the pond. I did email unisteer to ask about a 7 inch travel version of the 2nd gen unit but didn't get any response.

I also had issues finding total travel of steering racks from various vehicles, yet im betting if i found one from an oem vehicle that the tie rod units would be a bit wider than the x-member.

RaverRacerX

Yea, I saw those. Unisteer is in one of the links above. I'm trying to avoid the hilariously expensive aftermarket racks. If you know the travel of any OEM racks besides the T-bird, that would be awesome.

LX_SS

Just from a quick search, have a look at Dodge Intepid CTO Steering Rack. Reports from a few sites list the 96 and newer rack to have 6.995" of total travel. It may be a nice solution for a cheap rack. I believe they are front steer from what i have found.

Sadly tho i need one in rhd not lhd.

RaverRacerX

thanks for the lead

Any other infor you could share?

RaverRacerX

1996 Dodge Intrepid:
Travel: 6.995"?
Input Shaft Dia.: .725"
Mounting Separation: 3.750"
Rack Total Length: 34.5"
Inner Tie Rod Thread Length: Stud Center to End (in) 20.50"


Alternate part numbers:
4695756, 4723885, 4755114, 4897712AA, 4897947AA

1995 Dodge Intrepid Rack:
http://webpages.acs.ttu.edu/jikelly/Howdy%20Dude.htm

RaverRacerX

More rack travels please!

RaverRacerX

While researching, I've run into companies that make replacement/upgrade rack and pinion gears for existing units. Anyone do that for domestic cars?

LX_SS

Not certain how accurate this is, but i've read on one site that ford taurus steering rack has 7 inches of travel. This isn't a CTO rack either. You would have to check one out and measure i suspect.

RaverRacerX

The Intrepid rack is an option with some minor modification.

Which Taurus? Older or newer?

Also, where are you getting this info? I have trouble even figuring out where to start.

LX_SS

Unsure what taurus, suspecting older.

Just google 7 inch Steering Rack and 7 inch CTO Steering Rack.

Then weed through all the bs you get and may find some good info.

RaverRacerX

I've been doing that but havent come across anything. I suppose your google fu is better than mine.

RaverRacerX

Bump

RaverRacerX

2007 STI rack looks to be out of contention. It's travel clocks in at what looks to be 5.25"

RaverRacerX

Any new racks to add guys?

Kind of surprised the usual knowledgeable tech guys havent showed up

tvc 15

My car is for sale, complete with power rack and pinion. Just a thought.

RaverRacerX

Apparently the 84-87 Skylark rack is an option.

LX_SS

Pretty sure the skylark rack is the same as cavalier rack, 6.5" travel.
Thats what my rhd cto rack is based off.
After i settle in my new place, i'm going to see if i can modify the rack for the extra .5" travel, which is only 12.7 mm more movement. Not a huge amount.

RaverRacerX

Hope you know how to cut gear teeth..

RaverRacerX

You know, someone could make some good coin making rack gears to reach 7" on a that fits our cars well.

LX_SS

If the intrepid is 7" measured, or 6.995, you've already got a rack that should work.

RaverRacerX

it is also a CTO but I suppose that would help with positioning. The part I'm dreading is a bar to position the tie rods.

LX_SS

Why, if you must, keep the factory drag link, make a bar that bolts onto that.

Otherwise its all pretty simple, and you 100% dont have any bumpster issues cause your not changing the length of the tie rods.

Pablo

iTrader: (1)

I'd hate to see you guys go through all this work for nothing.

I already went this route and installed the "intrepid" rack. If you look through the cardone catalog it gives you specs on several racks that are very similar to the intrepid rack. It's fundamentally one design that has been modified to fit a number of cars, even RHD. The retrorack is also based on this design but has been modified further to provide the adjustability. It also, most importantly, employs a method to secure the rack itself from axial rotation due to torsional loads (I actually resorted to looking up the patent documents to learn about this and several other racks).
Even with that mod, I'm fairly confident in saying that even the retro rack is not going to work well for many reasons.

I spent a couple/few hundred hours on this. This style of CTO rack, and perhaps all racks, are not worth your time. I'd go into details but I know most people won't read/believe me so I won't bother.

There are some very very good modifications that can be done to the stock steering system that make solid improvements. I've back to back tested my setup to a stock 87 TA and the difference is dramatic. I'd suggest going that route instead.

p.s. the rod end guide is not touching the header in the pictures. There is actually plenty of room there.

RaverRacerX

If youre going to be vague and not explain then no, I won't believe you. So if youd be so kind..

Also, I have various reasons for wanting a rack and pinion.

RaverRacerX

Bueller?

RaverRacerX

Bueller?

jgetti

I've been watching this thread and I too have been trying to tackle the rack and pinion solution for my own reasons.

I've thought about approaching it from a different route. It is not possible to have a conventional end take off power rack and pinion simply because there isn't enough distance between the inner A-arm pivot axes to permit the 7 inches of travel we need.

You can get a custom end take off manual rack from Flaming River, Unisteer, etc. but none of them have the required travel and/or have a very poor gear ratio.

However, I have found that www.woodwardsteering.com does offer manual racks that could give us the trifecta of approx. 17.5" between inner tie rod pivots, approx. 7" of travel, and multiple gear ratios to select from, all in a very compact body. If we coupled this with electric power assist, we could get a very nice power rack and pinion setup, and ditch the steering box and power steering pump up front.

They're still pretty pricy, but this way gives up most of the compromises of other methods.

RaverRacerX

You can play with the inner/outter toe rod lengths to get the correct pivot. On the Subie board they made some neat threaded inner tie rod extensions.