RA28 stering rack conversion (need advice)

[merc-blue]

this is very interesting. does it acctually work is the big question? i need to empty my engine bay in the near future but the question is does a setup like pubes actually work? could you just use a AE71 rack with custom made tie rods? or are we gonna get problems due to excessive throw?

[WDE_BDY]

Willwal98, no problem with that sort of mounting of the rack that I can see, but will you have enough sump clearance? Also, is the standard steering in fron or to the rear of the crossmember? If to the front you have to address the steerings arms going forward rather than backwards and its generally not as simple as swapping them side to side.

Callum

[ddeane]

Callum

I have set my car up with a rear sump and ra23 xmember to fit the 1gg. You question regarding running a front rack has been on my mind. In theory swapping struts left to right should put steering arms in the right place and make it easier to connect the column to the rack. Just wonder if there are other angles bult into the struts that are not obvious.

Anyone have thoughts on this?

Craig

[willwal98]

The steering rack would remain at the rear of the engine, same placement as the rear facing x-members above just with a larger mount from the front x-member to get it in the right place. I don't think there would be a clearance problem as the original box steering system passes through this area.

Has anyone attempted it? Would like to see some pics or hear of any hassles.

I have been contemplating doing a rack conversion for a while simply because the standard box is shot and a rack is a better system, and easier to get power steering. Would something like I am sugesting be street legal?

[ddeane]

Ta

That's not the question that I was seeking advice on. The question being - would the geometry of the suspension be changed if you were to swap struts left to right and have the steering arms coming forward? ie are the strut bottoms symmetrical? This would then allow the rack to be mounted forward of the engine - where there is much more room and would very much decrease the angle that the steering column (and shaft) has to work through. There are lots of cars that have this configuration.

Craig

[WDE_BDY]

Generally you can't just swap struts/steering arms left to right without screwing up the geometry.

Callum

[ddeane]

Callum

Not sure that I understand why. If the struts are symetrical all we are changing is the fact that the steering arms face to the front. The suspension would move up and down exactly the same. We would not face any further problems in setting up akermann, bump steer, etc than we would face with the rack at the rear.

Craig

[WDE_BDY]

They won't be symetrical though, steering arms are set to take account of king pin inclination, castor, toe in/out, braking effects etc. when you swap sides they no longer match up.

Callum

[willwal98]

any idea on a link to your write-up on the old forums? Didn't see it in the tech docs or articles.

[barned01]

here is turbora28's writeup of his ta23 xmember approach before his latest ae86/ke70 xmember approach....alas a few of the links/piccies no longer work.
http://forums.toymods.org.au/index.p...art=0&count=40

[willwal98]

ta. I have some ideas of my own for doing this conversion using a forward facing x-member (for a rear sump engine such as my 1g-gte).

Will need some guidance as to parts and geometry though.

[MWP]

So how are you going to mount the rack?

[willwal98]

eh I said I had some ideas. No solid plans yet. I'll have to get under the car and take some measurments to make sure it's possible to do what I want to do. Then i'll post up some rough drawings so you guys can tell me why it won't work

[willwal98]

OK, I think physically this will fit, not sure if an engineer would pass it or not so all input is welcome and appreciated.

Bascially the idea is to bolt the rack in where the old steering stuff was, gives you three bolt holes where the box was and 2 (I think from memory) where the idler was.

[Major Clod]

I have seen kits for old american cars like this, they bolt onto chassis rails rather than the crossmember.

Your biggest issue will be clearing the sump, you'll need to work out all the geometry stuff and find out exactly where you need to position the rack. From there you'll be able to determine if you can put one there.