Rack and Pinion Steering?

[jjorgensen52]

Thought I'd start a new thread so it would be near the top of the list... anyone considered using the rack and pinion from the new chevy colorado/ gmc canyon? they're pretty close to the same dimensions and they use a torsion bar front end on the 4wd. Appears to be very similar orientation wise to sy/ty steering as well, and I expect the ratio is pretty similar to the s10's ... I'm going to go look at one sometime in the next few weeks, I'll try and get some measurements to compare against my typhoon. Anyone who knows more about that setup, extra info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[JSM]

be very cautious, steering is more criticial than just does it turn the wheels.

Things like bump steer make a difference and can make a car downright scary if not done correctly.

I have a source to make some custom racks for us, if I can get some quantities.

Just a matter of spendign the time needed to do it RIGHT!!!!

It may work, just do your homeowork on suspension geometry.

 

[Sy769]

I have given some thought to this idea. Dad builds streetrods and has a couple of racks laying around. I may do some measuring when I install the coilover suspension.

Jeff what kind of $$ are you talking? I really hate GM steering but if I can't fabricate most of it myself for cheap it probably wont happen.

 

[jjorgensen52]

Steering ratio for the colorado/canyon rack is 18:1 2wd and 19:1 4wd... according to the reviews the 4wd has a wider turning radius, but i'm sure thats a function of the front suspension and not the rack....
forgot to mention.... I have my truck's nose stripped off, so i'm going to take some measurements either tonight or monday... if there are any specific ones needed, let me know...
about half way down this photo page there are some pictures of my truck's nose... pretty messed huh?http://www.typhoon1357.50megs.com/photo3.html

 

[JSM]

Worse case, I am thinking will be $800. YOW.

I talked to guy when I was at SEMA, very knowledgeable, understood what I wanted to do etc.

It would most likely require a custom rack, along with custom mounts.

It is in my plan, and goal but as I posted in the suspension GP my day job (not syty stuff) is keeping me very busy right now.

Any syty'ers in Tucson Arizona???????????

 

[jjorgensen52]

Rack in the colorado's no good for this.. has a diagonal output.. my brother is trying this with a C4 rack... said it has the correct steering output, but the angles may be a bit sketchy... we will see.

 

[mattw]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

What about a box from a Ford Exploder.. They are for 4x4 torsion bar setups and look like they just may fit.. My parents use to have a 99 and even though it rode bad and handeled even worse the steering was very tight/responsive.. Also, if you jacked up one of the front wheels and attempted to move it side to side there was 0 movement.. This certainly isn't true with our trucks even with all new steering components... I was unable to find and ratio type info but here is a pic of one..

yes, no, maybe???


-Matt

 

[mmp142965]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

id pay the big bucks to 86 the box and linkage setup. :2cents:

 

[jjorgensen52]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

What about a box from a Ford Exploder.. They are for 4x4 torsion bar setups and look like they just may fit.. My parents use to have a 99 and even though it rode bad and handeled even worse the steering was very tight/responsive.. Also, if you jacked up one of the front wheels and attempted to move it side to side there was 0 movement.. This certainly isn't true with our trucks even with all new steering components... I was unable to find and ratio type info but here is a pic of one..

yes, no, maybe???


-Matt

The biggest problem with doing a rack in our trucks is that the steering shaft on most racks would have to go essentially through the motor mount. The angle racks will have a shaft hitting the frame, so that is a no go also. If you had a box that had the shaft coming out above and on plane with the rack itself, it'd work, but I have yet to see one like that

 

[TT350]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

KGB Pilot had a rack set up on his truck.
Look at the frame in the link, no steering box
but there’s a steering shaft


http://www.sportmachines.com/gallery/91Sy1741-badasssybuild/DSC01261

 

[jjorgensen52]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

that frame doesn't look quite stock to me :lol: ... pretty clean setup though

 

[HighPerformanceTrucks]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

I might be interested if I can see it working well on a test truck.

be very cautious, steering is more criticial than just does it turn the wheels.

Things like bump steer make a difference and can make a car downright scary if not done correctly.

I have a source to make some custom racks for us, if I can get some quantities.

Just a matter of spendign the time needed to do it RIGHT!!!!

It may work, just do your homeowork on suspension geometry.

 

[TT350]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

that frame doesn't look quite stock to me :lol: ... pretty clean setup though

Well there’s not a lot of choices for examples. :lol:

 

[Daryl H]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

I really like driving my truck, but the only thing it wont do well is drive straight.
Eight hundred bucks doesn't seem to bad to drive in a straight line.
I'll start saving up some money.

 

[mattw]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

The biggest problem with doing a rack in our trucks is that the steering shaft on most racks would have to go essentially through the motor mount. The angle racks will have a shaft hitting the frame, so that is a no go also. If you had a box that had the shaft coming out above and on plane with the rack itself, it'd work, but I have yet to see one like that

I'm looking at doing this on a regular S10 and not a sy/ty so if it means cutting/welding/boxing the frame I could care less...


Thanks,
-Matt

 

[mattw]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

I was able to take some picks of the rack and pinion setup on an 03 explorer this weekend.. The neck of the box looks like it just may work.. The only real problem that I can see is that where it pivots to go out to the tie rod ends its about 3" wider(~28.5") than our bar(25.5") that connects to the pitman arm and ideler arm.. I'm sure that the location of these pivot points is pretty crucial to a proper suspension setup.. I want to take some measurements on a pre-2001 explorer as I think they are slightly narrower.. Here are the pics:

http://mattw2.dyndns.org:81/cgi-bin...Rack and Pinion/2003 Exploder Rack and Pinion

Also, this unit was 4 turns lock to lock I think the older explorers are less..


-Matt

 

[jjorgensen52]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

I was able to take some picks of the rack and pinion setup on an 03 explorer this weekend.. The neck of the box looks like it just may work.. The only real problem that I can see is that where it pivots to go out to the tie rod ends its about 3" wider than our bar that connects to the pitman arm and ideler arm.. I'mm sure that the location of these pivot points is pretty crucial to a properly suspension setup.. I want to take some measurements on a pre-2001 explorer as I think they are slightly narrower.. Here are the pics:

http://mattw.dyndns.org/cgi-bin/pic...Rack and Pinion/2003 Exploder Rack and Pinion


-Matt

Looks like that might actually be doable because of the long neck on the box :2cents:

 

[mattw]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

I found a thread where someone claims to have done this on an S10 but there are no completed pics and/or summary of the results:

http://www.blazinlow.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20784&highlight=rack+and+pinion

I was able to take some pics of a 99 explorer setup the other day...

http://mattw2.dyndns.org:81/cgi-bin...drivetrain/Rack and Pinion/1999 explorer rack

I measured the explorer from tie rod joint to tie rod joint and it was 54" which happens to be the same as a sy/ty...


-Matt

 

[mattw]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

I found some pics where someone did this to a 2wd S10...

http://mattw.dyndns.org/cgi-bin/pic...n_drivetrain/Rack and Pinion/Examples/2wd S10

-Matt

 

[HighPerformanceTrucks]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

I'm having a custom off road racing rack and pinion installed w/ adjustable tie rod ends. As soon as it's done I'll post info and pics.