Custom Steering Rack Mounting

[bigm]

Hey Guys,

Here is the story,

My mx73 had powersteering from factory, i removed it and dodgyily put in a ke70/ae86 steering rack, that doesnt line up well at all. but has done the job for a while now.

Now what i want to do is solid mount the steering rack housing to the cross member for the following reasons
-the current mounts do not line up
-it is a track only car and i want direct steering and dont see the need for bushes

The rack housing will most likely be welded to a piece of steel that then bolts to the cross member for removeability if required. I will be doing the fab myself.

Now my questions here that is a bit technical, Where is the ideal place to mount the rack. things i have considered i have to work with.
-Needs to be centered
-Should move forward than a factory rack would (to reduce bind (its a drift car)

The things i dont know.
-what height do i mount it (in relation to the control arm bolt?)
-how mounting it will affect bump steer/ scrub radius etc

If anyone has any good information to help that would be dandy, Google didn't help much but i plan to keep looking, im asking here for some experience who might know what they are on about

I also dont have the original rack (no idea where it went to be honest) so i cant take measurements from that.

[lolwat]

dont you move the rack back, so that the tierods/rackends dont end up inline(straight) with the steering arms/knuckles causing binding???
(thats what the nissan guys do)

[bigm]

if u move the rack back they will bind sooner because the straight line will be achieved with less lock...

[Skylar]

Ehh, can't be bothered 'splainin'. Ask whatever you don't understand.

Note: Ackerman is only evil in the way of drifting.

[lolwat]

yea i just sat down and drew it up and thought WTF!, i swear thats what loyd smith and beau have done, and others

[Skylar]

Oh and zero bump steer isn't possible while you have a radius rod. You can minimise it by having the radius rod parallel to the ground.

[bigm]

I assume the first picture is when the cars suspension is loaded, if so thats all good.

understand the bindining all good.


the ackerman getz me, is it something i can rectify by the position of the rack or is it to do with the knuckles used?

But that gives me a great place to start thanks man

[bigm]

and can u please elaborate on the radius rod- what it is and just a bit more info?

CHeers

[elda_bob]

Ackerman is on the knuckle. Sorry using Nissan talk.
Rack doesn't affect Ackerman.
I don't know what a radius rod is

[lolwat]

acker man's is in your arms, yes you should be able to get arms that dont have it (T3 do them for ae86/ke's) its pretty much when you turn the inner wheel turns less then the outer one(as one has a greater distance to travel)