Rack and Pinion Steering?

[TT350]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

Well, I need to find some tie-rod ends that fit our spindels and thread to this arms of this box.. They are M14-1.5 threads.. I tried a f-body tie rod end and it did thread on but its not long enough.. I need a tie rod end at least as long as the explorer rod that fits our spindels.. I've got a buddy that works at NAPA every Saturday.. He is going to do some digging this weekend and see if he can come up with anything.. I may make a trip back to the u-pull-it yard and just start checking any/all GM R&P vehicles to see if I can find what I am after..

After that I may throw a motor on this frame and work up the steering shaft..

I also still need to build the mounts for this rack..

Don't expect this project to progress quickly.. The frame is up at my parents and I usually only get there on the weekends... Once I have everything mocked up on this frame I still have the issue of pulling the motor in my truck to throw this in...


-Matt

Ream the spindle

 

[mattw]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

Ream the spindle

Yeah, I could.. but then I couldn't go back if I wanted to without swapping spindels. Also those reamers are pretty pricey. I'd prefer to just find a set of tie rod ends that would work.

What did you mean by this:

They all share one thing , the tie rod ends and the rack are parallel and level.

Are you saying that if you were to string a line from one tie rod end hole(in the spindle) to the other that the rack should be mounted exactly where the line would be?

If so thats not the way the explorer I pulled this rack from was. This rack actually mounted ~4" forward of that line.


Thanks,
-Matt

 

[syclomatic]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

I just got my truck and it drives good compared to my 68 stang, but it still kind of floats across the roads sometimes. Is this normal for the Syclones? If it is i wouldnt mind changing the steering to be more luxurious.

 

[Syborg Twin Turbo]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

Well, I need to find some tie-rod ends that fit our spindels and thread to this arms of this box.. They are M14-1.5 threads

Does anyone know if the 2wd spindle shares the same spindle size as a 4wd. If so then you may want to consider a Bear tracker tie rod end. One of the benifits is you can adjust bump steer if you need it.

 

[HighPerformanceTrucks]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

How about the Baer trackers? You can compesate for the misalignment with the shim kit.

EDIT: Maybe I should have read Marty's post first.

Well, I need to find some tie-rod ends that fit our spindels and thread to this arms of this box.. They are M14-1.5 threads.. I tried a f-body tie rod end and it did thread on but its not long enough.. I need a tie rod end at least as long as the explorer rod that fits our spindels.. I've got a buddy that works at NAPA every Saturday.. He is going to do some digging this weekend and see if he can come up with anything.. I may make a trip back to the u-pull-it yard and just start checking any/all GM R&P vehicles to see if I can find what I am after..

After that I may throw a motor on this frame and work up the steering shaft..

I also still need to build the mounts for this rack..

Don't expect this project to progress quickly.. The frame is up at my parents and I usually only get there on the weekends... Once I have everything mocked up on this frame I still have the issue of pulling the motor in my truck to throw this in...


-Matt

 

[Syborg Twin Turbo]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

How about the Baer trackers? You can compesate for the misalignment with the shim kit.

EDIT: Maybe I should have read Marty's post first.

lol - na usually i'm just a blowhart

 

[mattw]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

Well my buddy at NAPA came through.. It seems that the tie rod ends for a 2005 Chevy Classic, I've never heard of such a car BTW, are a perfect fit. They are ~1" longer than the Explorer rod ends which works out just right.. They fit into the spindle with the same taper and bolt right up..

As you can see the rods are mostly parallel with the upper and lower control arms. If I move the suspension and down the spindle does not seem to turn in or out at all. I'm pretty sure that this is what is desired.

This rack has the perfect amount of side to side travel as it touches the stops at full lock either way:

.

Here is a view from the top.. You can see that the rack does sit a but far forward but I don't tthink that it will cause any issues.. This is very similar to how it sat in the Explorer:

And finally here is the Chevy Classic Tie rod end compared to the Explorer tie rod end:

-Matt

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

So the next step is to put it on a real truck then?!

What about the previously mentioned issues of the crossover pipes and headers? Have you mocked up the spacings?

how much for the tie rods / availability etc

Keep going man!

 

[mattw]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

So the next step is to put it on a real truck then?!

What about the previously mentioned issues of the crossover pipes and headers? Have you mocked up the spacings?

how much for the tie rods / availability etc

Keep going man!

Not yet.. I still do not have it in its final location and I haven't built a bracket yet. I've got a 4.3 laying around that I can drop in that frame but I don't have any spare sy/ty manifolds or a x-over to use.. In my particular case I will be building headers to fit around the steering shaft.. It would be nice to see if I can make it fit with stock sy/ty parts though.

Tie Rod End Part Numbers:

ES3455 - TRW Tie Rod End.. $43.97 Advance Auto Parts
SES3455 - Tread Saver.. $18.48 Advance Auto Parts

-Matt

 

[TT350]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

What's the part# on the tie rod end?

 

[mattw]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

What's the part# on the tie rod end?

Part Numbers:

ES3455 - TRW Tie Rod End.. $43.97 Advance Auto Parts
SES3455 - Tread Saver.. $18.48 Advance Auto Parts

 

[TT350]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

Part Numbers:


SES3455 - Tread Saver.. $18.48 Advance Auto Parts

What it this?

 

[mattw]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

Thats the advance auto parts cheap version..

 

[TT350]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

Thanks for sharing this with me it will me some time on mine. :tup:

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

How is this going?

You didn't comment on the adjustable Baer tie rod ends that supposedly can adjust bump steer.

Are you selling these as kits yet ? :tup:

 

[mattw]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

I got distracted and haven't really worked on it lately.. I'll post pics and info as I make more progress..

-Matt

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

found a great write up of bump steer -

http://www.moddedmustangs.com/forums/bump-steer-explained-vt875.html

Helped explain it to me!

 

[mattw]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

found a great write up of bump steer -

http://www.moddedmustangs.com/forums/bump-steer-explained-vt875.html

Helped explain it to me!

Just read that explanation.. Thats the best that I have seen bump steer described anywhere.. If I understand everything correctly then this explorer rack is a perfect fit. The only real issue will be getting the steering shaft to the R&P unit..

Sorry for the delay.. I have no updates at this point.. I've been somewhat distracted with a fiberglass project..


-Matt

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

Matt,

how is this going?

Mark

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: Rack and Pinion Steering?

what was the year and model of the Explorer you got the rack off?