riggs 74

I was looking through a Jegs catalog and saw some rack and pinion sets.
Could I build something as nice or better than the steeroids setup for
a lot cheaper cost, or is the steeroids system really the way to go.
It seems that every time you buy something just for a corvette you
always seem to have to pay more whether or not it is a better product
then something that is universal. Whats your thoughts on this.

Riggs.

Budman68

Cheaper, maybe. Cheap, ....... lots of reading there just search. Your probably better off just rebuilding your stock gear box.

mrvette

Assuming you have lo profile 17+ rims/tires wide enough to notice the diff....you will never in NO WAY in hell ever get modern performance out of that old sloppy stock system, the largest single thing is box wear, that can be fixed but the other 40% of the thing is that control valve on the end of the pitman arm....

I did a rack of my own for under 200 bux via junkyard raids....in 01-02 winter, before any kits came out....
still there...works fine...daily driver...

NOW having years gone by Borgeson came out with something I would have done....it's a kit to do a modern steering box with ~2.7 turns lock to lock as opposed to the stock 3.7 turns, the diff in handling is amazing with modern tires, which cause a very unstable feel to the car, with trammeling...following ruts in the freeways, making the car lurch side to side and you constantly fighting the wheel....not noticed with most tall 15" replacement tires so badly, but modern rubber makes better steering a must doooooooooo....

riggs 74

I do have 17'' low profile tires on the front and do find the steering
at times to be a little dartty. I am hoping to fix this annoyance soon,
I'm just not sure I want to shell out 1300 for a steeroids set up if I can
achieve the same thing out of a Jegs or Summit catalog for a lot less.
My goal is to make the car perform like its on rails, Like a real sports car.

Riggs.

vette427-sbc

I was able to put together a rack & pinion for just under $400. There is no reason to spend over $1000 if you have time and some fab skills.

A rack can get you a quicker steering ratio, which is the one thing a nicely rebuilt box cant get you. I am 110% satisfied with my decision to go r&p

mrvette

I did my rack install with the same rack as Steeroids, from a junkyard it was fresh to the donor car, 2.7 turns lock to lock, and I have less than 200 bux into the install.....junkyard universals, mix/match on the universal joints, mainly Lumina donors...'92 Grand Am rack....home made brackets, my own design, about 1/3 the weight and size of the kits, but more stable too, apparently....most expensive part for ME, was the machine shop to make the center adapter to take the stock tie rod ends into the center output of the rack, I cut and lengthened the stock tie rod sleeves....from Zirk to Zirk fitting they are 19 & 21" long....rack offset to the driver's side, for header clearance....used just TWO universals, if you do some creative junkyarding, you can do it too.....I have drawings on how to make the brackets...

couperdecar

I've got the Steeroids and love it. Took me an evening to swap everything out. OR you can spend who knows how long fabbing stuff up , PLUS the cost of a rack. I'm thinking you save about $500. Maybe a weekend to build and install? Maybe 2 weekends? Maybe 2 guys involved? So in the end maybe it works out to paying yourself $5 / hr ?
I'd rather pay the "Steeroids" people that $5/hr for their engineering and fabbing skills than trying to reinvent the wheel myself. More driving time for me !

I'm not telling you anything.... I'm just saying.

vette427-sbc

If you are comfortable with fab work then you can save over $900 compared to a $1300 kit. I made one myself that does not hang as low as a steeroids kit, uses only 2 u-joints compared to the steep angle 3 u-joint setup from steeroids, and I dont have to worry about the flex or fatigue problems associated with some of the kits. Of course it will take longer than an evening to make, but
$900 bucks is a nice chunk of change to spend on something else

mrvette

People are free to copy what the want from my design...I don't care....

Raphiki

I'm not comfortable with my fab skills (0) so I bought the kit from VBandP. Same as the steeroids kit but less expensive. Brackets are supposed to be a little heavier but I had no way to compare. Easy install. Hardest part was removing the 38 year old parts.

riggs 74

With the folks here doing their own set up, did you have any trouble with the
the power steering hoses attaching to the rack and pinion set up. Also are the
old power steering pumps being used or do they need to be upgraded. I seen earlier
that the steeroids rack is just a re manufactured Saginaw unit, not a new rack.
With that being a rebuilt unit why is this set up so expensive compared to what
I have seen at the aftermarket web sites? I don't mind putting in the time and
fabrication needed to do anything to any of my cars, that to me is some times
more enjoyable than driving it, and it gives you something to show to and talk
about to all your car buddies, That and its just way cool to build and make things
better than they were before.

MrVett I would be very interested in those drawings that you speak of.

Riggs.

riggs 74

Did the rack and pinion make a big difference in driving, and cornering, and did it give it a
better sports car feel?

Riggs.

Raphiki

I think what you're paying for here is the engineering and development (and of course, the marketing) that went into it. It's a complete kit with all the nuts and bolts and connectors you will need to do the job. The steeroids kit comes with a good set of instructions. With the VB&P set - not so much. You reuse the original PS pump but that's about all.

Budman68

This was mine.

riggs 74

Budman68,
Thaaaak you very much for the photo's. Those will be a big help. If any body else
have any photo's that they can post of their rack and pinion set up please do.

Riggs.

vette427-sbc

Not sure if I can post links to the "blue site" but I have an entire write up of my rack install- search Home-made rack and pinion. Ill see if this works - http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/foru....php?t=115382&

vette427-sbc

It depends how worn out your current setup is- mine was terrible. I have to say, so far the rack was one of my top 3 favorite upgrades (motor and monoleaf suspension being the others). I built mine with a quick ratio rack (quicker than the steeroids I believe) and it is a blast to drive through the twisties. Technically a rack&pinion cant make a car handle better, but it definitely gives it a much more modern performance car feel. I run my rack with NO power steering too. Its really not bad, and is easier than my stock box was at low speeds. at speeds above 10mph, it feels like a real sports car- not too heavy, not too lite. IMO it has the perfect "weight".

eagle275

I got the Steeroids from VB&P. I didn't have the time to build my own. I love it. I may go with a different steering pump sometime,though.

eagle275

I saw your thread over at DigitalVettes - nice work man!

vette427-sbc

Thanks! I appreciate it