phelpsa
|
 posted on 22/10/04 at 05:18 PM |
|
|
What angle have you put you steering rack mounts at?
Having just cut the steering rack mounts out from putting them in as the book said (far too high), what angle do you suggest I weld them in at now?
Adam
|
|
|
|
|
theconrodkid
|
| posted on 22/10/04 at 05:49 PM |
|
|
i would wait till you have all the weight on the car and make the brackets so the side rods are parralel to the ground,slot the bolt holes as well to
get it just right,it makes a lot of diffo to handling if its wrong
who cares who wins
pass the pork pies
|
|
|
JoelP
|
| posted on 22/10/04 at 06:14 PM |
|
|
ditto conrod, but i think that the rods should be parallel to the lower bones rather than the ground (nearly the same thing i guess usually...)
|
|
|
phelpsa
|
| posted on 22/10/04 at 08:42 PM |
|
|
Better get on with the other bits then!
|
|
|
chrisf
|
| posted on 22/10/04 at 08:47 PM |
|
|
Did you folk shorten your rack or bolt it in as is? If you bolted in unmodified, do you get any wierd bump steer issues?
I'm strongly considering cutting my rack in half and sending it to the machine shop for shortening. Having never driven a Locost, I assumed the
bump steer must be horrible.
--Thanks, Chris
|
|
|
phelpsa
|
| posted on 22/10/04 at 08:50 PM |
|
|
The escort rack is nearly perfect for the locost. The sierra rack needs shortening befor being put in an indy etc...
|
|
|
chrisf
|
| posted on 22/10/04 at 08:55 PM |
|
|
Really? I have a standard book chassis and my rack looks to be around 3" too long. But I suppose this depends on the rack mount location and the
donor uprights as well. I used an MX-5 donor.
So no horrible bump steer issues then?
|
|
|
Dave Ashurst
|
| posted on 23/10/04 at 12:48 AM |
|
|
Chris,
Ditto Conrod 100%. Bump steer issues, yes. Do a search for bump steer on this forum and read all about it!
Speaking from experience the escort rack is too long. You can minimise bump steer to an acceptable degree, within the range of suspension travel,
but it's a compromise.
It's sensitive to careful positioning of the standard escort rack. Otherwise it can be very twitchy.
|
|
|
SilverFox
|
| posted on 27/10/04 at 03:50 AM |
|
|
Rack options
Dave,
Was about to order a LHD Escort rack but note your comment that it is a compromise. Is the shortened Sierra a better option.
If my thinking is right, a UK "rear steer" RHD rack would work for a "front steer" LHD lcost when inverted/turned around. Has
anyone seen a rear steer rack in the scrappies that they would think is perfect "if only it were a front steer" e.g. Ka, Puma, Smart,
whatever.
Cheers,
Alf
|
|
|
chrisf
|
| posted on 27/10/04 at 12:50 PM |
|
|
Alf:
Can you not find a rear steer RHD rack in NA? Most FWR cars came with this. I considered a Honda CRX rack and planned on flipping it.
--Chris
|
|
|
chrisf
|
| posted on 27/10/04 at 12:51 PM |
|
|
Alf:
Can you not find a rear steer RHD rack in NA? Most FWR cars came with this. I considered a Honda CRX rack and planned on flipping it.
--Chris
|
|
|
paulf
|
| posted on 27/10/04 at 08:06 PM |
|
|
I think that it has been discussed in the past that a RHD mini rack is suitable for use in a lhd car , MGB is also supposed to be a suitable donor
and is front steer. I have considered shortening an escort rack as i have some bump steer but found that it is not a major issue .
Paul
quote:
Originally posted by SilverFox
Dave,
Was about to order a LHD Escort rack but note your comment that it is a compromise. Is the shortened Sierra a better option.
If my thinking is right, a UK "rear steer" RHD rack would work for a "front steer" LHD lcost when inverted/turned around. Has
anyone seen a rear steer rack in the scrappies that they would think is perfect "if only it were a front steer" e.g. Ka, Puma, Smart,
whatever.
Cheers,
Alf
|
|
|
Peteff
|
| posted on 27/10/04 at 08:59 PM |
|
|
I'd thought of something like this.
I don't know how feasible it is but I'd thought of connecting the column extension to the rack by a sprocket and chain arrangement. You
could vary the ratio without cutting the rack up but you would need to support it with a couple of bearings along its length. I did a sketch to remind
me of it and this thread just clicked it. You could use an inverted rack and still have right hand drive. It would get you round the collapsible
column thing as well.
[Edited on 27/10/04 by Peteff]
 
Rescued attachment chainsteer.jpg
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
|
|
|
Bob C
|
| posted on 27/10/04 at 09:11 PM |
|
|
I once saw a lancia hf delta turbo with a chain going across to convert steering to rhd.
In the flesh it looked SO frightening. Nothing would induce me into that vehicle.
Rationalising the initial gut reaction of horror - I guess it's cause there's a lot of links with no failsafe - any little thing would
simply result in total lack of steering. Your normal column UJs would still transmit torque even when almost totally sh@gged.
Maybe it's an unfounded prejudice. Still makes me shudder though.......
Bob
|
|
|
SilverFox
|
| posted on 28/10/04 at 12:01 AM |
|
|
Chris,
Other than the Brit car collector group, the only RHD cars I see is the odd JDM front clip brought in from Japan. I have a Triumph rack per the
original 7, but it is 27" between knuckles and difficult to shorten so it's no good for the Locost. The MGB might work but they are not
exactly a dime-a-dozen. Was hoping to look at a Suzuki RHD Swift next. I had a faint hope that the UK scrappies may have something cheap. May try
Andy Hewing,
Alf
|
|
|
chrisf
|
| posted on 28/10/04 at 12:13 AM |
|
|
I was in the same boat last month.
I suggest you look into the North American Civic SI or CRX SI steering racks. They are pretty close to what you need. You can flip them upside down
and it should work well.
Look at it like this: The rack will cost you half what postage would cost from the UK. Give it a try if nothing else.
Also have a look at the NA festiva and Meto bubbly cars.
|
|
|
SilverFox
|
| posted on 28/10/04 at 12:27 AM |
|
|
Thanks Chris,
If I understand you correctly, the LHD rear steer CRX will work in LHD front steer when inverted. I will go out looking - the CRX was a bit of a rust
bucket so there should be a few in the wrecking yards.
Thx again,
Alf
|
|
|
.jpg)
