rack and pinion questions
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 34
rack and pinion questions
1. I have a quick ratio rack and pinion I ran for about a year. I found that the input shaft part of the rack has to be off a gear or two because it turns to the right far more then the left. Is it possible to pull the input shaft thing out and move it over a tooth or two so that it turns even both ways?
Anyone have any tips on how to do this?
2. poly mounts.
Anyone have any tips on how to install these things?
it does not seem as easy as I thought it would be.
Anyone have any tips on how to do this?
2. poly mounts.
Anyone have any tips on how to install these things?
it does not seem as easy as I thought it would be.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
I doubt it is necessary "to pull the input shaft thing out and move it over a tooth or two" Simply readjust your tie rod ends to center the steering.
While I have installed a new rack, I have never changed only the bushings. It MAY be necessary to R&R the rack to change the bushings. Go with your service manual, on THAT.
RACE ON!!!
While I have installed a new rack, I have never changed only the bushings. It MAY be necessary to R&R the rack to change the bushings. Go with your service manual, on THAT.
RACE ON!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Originally Posted by bill mcdonald
poly mounts. Anyone have any tips on how to install these things? it does not seem as easy as I thought it would be.
Best to pull out the fan and front sway bar to get some elbow room in there. The bushing presses out with a vise and socket. Install is even easier. Positioning the rack to go in can be touchy. Get a good straight alignment and she'll drop right in.
-JRC-
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 277
Likes: 3
Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
I doubt it is necessary "to pull the input shaft thing out and move it over a tooth or two" Simply readjust your tie rod ends to center the steering.
While I have installed a new rack, I have never changed only the bushings. It MAY be necessary to R&R the rack to change the bushings. Go with your service manual, on THAT.
RACE ON!!!
While I have installed a new rack, I have never changed only the bushings. It MAY be necessary to R&R the rack to change the bushings. Go with your service manual, on THAT.
RACE ON!!!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
I went too far with my initial response. I never should have even addressed the possibility of disassembling the rack. A simple centering of the steering wheel is all that is required. Afterward, I would have the final toe in adjusted by a pro with the proper instrument(s).
Also, I used the word "bushing", where I meant to say "mount".
RACE ON!!!
Also, I used the word "bushing", where I meant to say "mount".
RACE ON!!!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 34
Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
I went too far with my initial response. I never should have even addressed the possibility of disassembling the rack. A simple centering of the steering wheel is all that is required. Afterward, I would have the final toe in adjusted by a pro with the proper instrument(s).
Also, I used the word "bushing", where I meant to say "mount".
RACE ON!!!
Also, I used the word "bushing", where I meant to say "mount".
RACE ON!!!
I have had the rack out for a year and I am running a normal ratio one now.
While I could adjust the rod ends, and I do believe I looked into that, I think I was worried about the amount of threads left on the one side that would have me backing the rod end off of.
I am also running heim joints on my rack, so they are a little different then the stock tie rod ends.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 277
Likes: 3
Originally Posted by bill mcdonald
hmm...
I have had the rack out for a year and I am running a normal ratio one now.
While I could adjust the rod ends, and I do believe I looked into that, I think I was worried about the amount of threads left on the one side that would have me backing the rod end off of.
I am also running heim joints on my rack, so they are a little different then the stock tie rod ends.
I have had the rack out for a year and I am running a normal ratio one now.
While I could adjust the rod ends, and I do believe I looked into that, I think I was worried about the amount of threads left on the one side that would have me backing the rod end off of.
I am also running heim joints on my rack, so they are a little different then the stock tie rod ends.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Standard or fast ratio, shouldn't make any difference. With a stock steering gear, the stock tie rod ends heve the tie rods pretty equally screwed into their ends. I have no clue what you are working with NOW! However, I have no idea what you think you can gain by dissassembling and re-indexing the parts, over simply turning the input shaft. Good luck, and...
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
When I replaced my rack,I guess i got Lucky and it was even on both sides.I have heard that replacing the rack with a rebuilt unit,many times the center is off or titled a few degrees off and that causes alignment problems.
Usually an alignment can correct that but the rebuilt rack should be centered properly but many times are not.
I think someone on the forum a WHILE back said this happened to them and they had to realign the center gear or part,I forget the name to put it back in the correct spot.
Dont know if this helps.Just double check everything.
I didnt replace the bushings since it had new ones on there so cant help you much more with that.
Usually an alignment can correct that but the rebuilt rack should be centered properly but many times are not.
I think someone on the forum a WHILE back said this happened to them and they had to realign the center gear or part,I forget the name to put it back in the correct spot.
Dont know if this helps.Just double check everything.
I didnt replace the bushings since it had new ones on there so cant help you much more with that.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 34
Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
Standard or fast ratio, shouldn't make any difference. With a stock steering gear, the stock tie rod ends heve the tie rods pretty equally screwed into their ends. I have no clue what you are working with NOW! However, I have no idea what you think you can gain by dissassembling and re-indexing the parts, over simply turning the input shaft. Good luck, and...
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
I will try to be more clear with my words.
I know the ratios are not going to be set up any differently, and they dont matter.
I am stating that I have 2 racks, and my standard ratio rack is working fine, my fast ratio is indexed wrong.
All i want to do is index my fast ratio one so that it is not so far out of adjustment.
For me to make my fast ratio rack go straight, and have even amount of turns on the tie rods, my steering wheel will be turned about 80-90 degrees when going straight down the road.
To simply set the steering wheel straight, and adjust the tie rods to get the front tires to go straight, this means one of my tie rods will be about falling off the threads because the rack is so far out of adjustment.
I dont want to rip the whole rack apart. All i want to do is set the rack ends evenly, pull the coupler out of the rack where the intermediate shaft mounts into it and set it back to index, so that my steering wheel would be straight, as well as my front tires.
I feel using my standard ratio rack as a guide would make this easy.
I just dont know If I can go in there and pull this steering shaft out of the rack, without causing damage, or ruining parts that are not available, or possibly never getting it back in.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 34
Originally Posted by frank j. moran
now it does sound like the sector was installed with the rack off center...the thread issue that you mention is a big concern, is this a reman unit? if so it may very well may have been put together wrong.
I tried sending it back, but I sat in it a year before I installed it, so they could not take it back in exchange. I figured fair enough.
They did offer to look at it and have someone fix it, but that means shipping it and paying for the repairs. I figure it is about half the cost of the rack and pinion, I rather just buy a new one.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,324
Likes: 249
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Not sure on your year concerning steering wheel spline, but here is what I did on my 86.
I set the tie rods even on rack.
Installed rack and hooked up tie rod ends.
Adjusted toe in by moving tie rods evenly.
Took it for a drive and pulled straight into my driveway.
Pulled the steering wheel and centered it.
Then I fine tuned my toe in and rechecked my steering wheel alignment.
All is good
I set the tie rods even on rack.
Installed rack and hooked up tie rod ends.
Adjusted toe in by moving tie rods evenly.
Took it for a drive and pulled straight into my driveway.
Pulled the steering wheel and centered it.
Then I fine tuned my toe in and rechecked my steering wheel alignment.
All is good
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 646
Likes: 0
From: Santee Ca
Originally Posted by AGENT 86
Not sure on your year concerning steering wheel spline, but here is what I did on my 86.
I set the tie rods even on rack.
Installed rack and hooked up tie rod ends.
Adjusted toe in by moving tie rods evenly.
Took it for a drive and pulled straight into my driveway.
Pulled the steering wheel and centered it.
Then I fine tuned my toe in and rechecked my steering wheel alignment.
All is good
I set the tie rods even on rack.
Installed rack and hooked up tie rod ends.
Adjusted toe in by moving tie rods evenly.
Took it for a drive and pulled straight into my driveway.
Pulled the steering wheel and centered it.
Then I fine tuned my toe in and rechecked my steering wheel alignment.
All is good
