Power rack and pinion into RA23

**TTV8RA23** · 18-01-2009, 04:51 PM

Hey guys i have finally started on my RA23 after all these years of collecting bits and dreaming about it. I finished making my adaptor plate and fly wheel this week and just dropped the 1UZFE and TKO600 in today. I had a front sump set up on it but then changed it to mid sump to clear the cross member and the steering arms, trouble is now though that there is no way im gonna get my turbo manifolds out around the steering box.
So, i was thinking i will now have to put the front sump setup back on and convert to a custom made rear facing crossmember and rack and pinion and i think seen as i have to go to all the effort of putting rack and pinion in it i may as well make it power assisted. Trouble is i cant find any articles or info on doing this, only peoples advice to steer clear of it if at all possible because of all the issues setting it up properly.
I may just be looking in the wrong places but i cant find any articles on it. And i was wondering does anyone no of anyone that has done this type of conversion before or can anyone point me in the direction of someone that has? I have seen one RA23 with this conversion, HYPO77 he used a VL rack but that is all i know, no details or anything else. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers

**timbosaurus** · 18-01-2009, 05:51 PM

Hi TTV8RA23.

The two common R&P conversions for our celicas are:

KE70 Crossmember:

This is already setup for R&P, and just needs the ends trimmed and solid mounts welded on the ends

TA23 crossmember:

This bolts straight up, but curves rearwards (rather than the RA23/8 which curves forwards). This means you can weld brackets on the rear to mount a steering rack.

Both options are fairly cheap (if you can find a TA23 xmember), but both will have bumpsteer or rollcentre issues if you don't do your homework.

Plenty of threads in here (search) detailing these conversions.

Also plenty of cars in here that have had these mods done.

Cheers,
Timbo

**TTV8RA23** · 19-01-2009, 12:40 PM

I did what i thought was a fairly thorough search using key words RA23 power steering rack and pinion conversion and turned up bugger all. Where should i be looking? I was searching in tech and conversions.
I have heard of the KE Xmember option but i do not want to have any issues with bump steer etc as the car is going to be driven regularly on the street and at weekend drag meets and the occasional track day so i dont want it to handle like a dog. What im real keen to find out is if the rack and pinion conversion can be done ithout having bump steer issues?
For example if i sourced a rack that was exactly the same width at the pivot point of the arms as the pivot point on the arms accosiated with the steering box and mounted it on all the same planes would i still have the bump steer issues? Also would the fact that i plan to have it power assisted minimise/eliminate the bump steer issue because of the accosiated hydraulics or am i dreaming here?
Where could i find the articles to do my homework to make sure i do it right? Like i say i have done a fair bit of searching here on toymods and have turned up bugger all. Any suggestions on where to search would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers

**timbosaurus** · 19-01-2009, 02:28 PM

Celica's will have bumpsteer from the factory, there is no way of eliminating it, you can design the setup to minimise it.

Explanation of the KE70 bumpsteer issue here:
http://www.toymods.net//forums/showthread.php?t=40227

A previous R&P thread:
http://www.toymods.net//forums/showthread.php?t=832

Some power steering info:
http://www.toymods.net//forums/showthread.php?t=21711

Matching steering column:
http://www.toymods.net//forums/showthread.php?t=34420

The KE70 xmember has slightly wider LCA mounts, so will give you a bit of neg camber by default.

**sheepers** · 19-01-2009, 02:45 PM

dude, AE86 power steer rack and cross member is your friend.
have a look in my RA28 build thread (link in my sig) or give me a call.
sheepers. 021 429 522.

**TTV8RA23** · 20-01-2009, 06:27 PM

Cheers for all the info guys bloody top notch. So sheepers what i gathered from your info is that if i run an AE86 cross member steering rack and steering arms(the ones bolted to the bottom of the strut) I shouldnt have any issues with bump steer unless i lower it? Which i am going to but this is easily fixed by fitting RCA's. Hunting on trademe it is then!! Cheers guys yo,ve been bloody helpfull!