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Rack Mounting Dilemma

PostPosted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 4:47 pm
by Rickracer
Ok, I've got a nice short rack, (Sweet Manufacturing) 18.25" from inner tie rod to inner tie rod, and 6" of stroke. My problem is that, with the rack centered in the chassis, the input (pinion) shaft points right at a header tube. If I move it over just a bit, I have a nice line of sight to a u-joint. I could shorten one tie rod and lengthen the other to accomplish this, but I'm not sure what it will do to bump steer. My other option is to abandon this rack and find something with the pinion in a little better position.

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Re: Rack Mounting Dilemma

PostPosted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 6:33 am
by speedphreake
To keep that rack, you will need to move the header tube. If you offset the rack, I'm pretty sure you will wind up with all sorts of steering issues. Is there any way to make the rack longer?

Re: Rack Mounting Dilemma

PostPosted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 1:55 am
by overkillrc
making the rack longer would just move the tie rods out some (which may cause more problems with bumpsteer) the pinion would land in the same spot. i would want to center it and move the header tubes.

Re: Rack Mounting Dilemma

PostPosted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 7:18 am
by spencerforhire
If you move the rack mount forward an inch or so and rotate the rack upward so the input spline points more straight up, you might be able to miss the header tube. You would probably have to add an extra u-joint to your steering shaft.
Personally, I'd just cut out the offending header tube and weld in a piece that curves around the steering.

Re: Rack Mounting Dilemma

PostPosted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 9:42 am
by Rickracer
I wound up sliding it over just a bit and rotating it up a little bit. It came out good, it remains to be seen how well it will steer, but it's smoother now than it's been since I got the car.

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I've got a good pic of the whole system with the motor out, but I haven't uploaded it yet. 8)

Re: Rack Mounting Dilemma

PostPosted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 10:45 am
by spencerforhire
Offsetting the rack on a race-only car is no problem; is there enough travel left to let the spindles contact the stops on the lower control arms? Worst case is it just means the car will turn tighter in one direction than the other.

Re: Rack Mounting Dilemma

PostPosted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 3:02 pm
by Rickracer
It turns far enough both ways to make the tire touch the header tube, :? :lol: 8)

Re: Rack Mounting Dilemma

PostPosted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 7:01 pm
by chevy art
sounds likem you are ready to be up and running. good luck rick art

Re: Rack Mounting Dilemma

PostPosted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 8:11 am
by Rickracer
It's moving along pretty good, been painting the rear subframe the last few evenings, pulled the rear end out last night to get in all the nooks and crannies and paint all the freshly welded spots on the housing as well as the 4 link parts, shock mounts, and track locator. Today I'm gonna finish all the front floor metal work, blow out all the metal dust and paint the floorboards. I might try to go get a sheet of aluminum today too, if they are open, rear tinwork is the next big hurdle, that and the wheel tubs and I can start reassembling. 8)

Re: Rack Mounting Dilemma

PostPosted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 10:33 pm
by highstrungvega
Hope everything is coming together for you!

Re: Rack Mounting Dilemma

PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 10:22 pm
by Rickracer
It's going pretty good. Somewhere in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=20&p=200235#p200235 , there are pics of everything, including the whole system with the motor out, :th: 8)