Rack and Pinion
 

Hi,

Anybody converted to a rack and pinion power steering system? Was wondering how you liked it compared to original.

Marty

The only rack and pinion steering I have seen installed in a mopar car was used in conjunction with a new front cross member with coilovers, and tubular a-arms. Reason being the racks are in front of the cross member and the conventional set up is behind the cross member. All in all I would guess the rack and pinion will be tighter, and more respnsive, but...

What are you going to convert? It will matter.

Going to switch my 70 Roadrunner over to power steering, but am not sure whether I want to do the rack and pinion or go with original.

Marty

Major modifications for rack & pinion. Best option would be a firm feel power steering box to replace the original

Ya, well I think I will probably go with original setup. All said and done I think I can do it for about the same price as a rack and pinion kit anyways.

Marty

You don't HAVE to use a front mount rack. There are racks designed for rear mounting, which would mount in the same area as your present center link. Over at "A bodies" there's an old thread where someone welded brackets to the K member and put one in

This is not for the light hearted. Major surgery, and you can get yourself into trouble. IF you don't locate the rack correctly in relation to the steering knuckles, you can create a "bump steer" situation, IE the knuckles move up/down/ all around when hitting ups and downs in the road, and the changing arc of the tie rods moving up/ down, changes the relative position, steering the car.

I scored a new rack off a Mopar mini van, and it is "rear steer," but it may not have enough throw to steer the car as sharp as I'd like. I already know it won't move as far as the original.

These cars have a great turning radius as is.

I thought I saw an article about a bolt-in rack for our cars. Its out there. As far a turning radius...that is done with the REAR tires!

I guess you are trying to be funny, don't know. What I was referring to is that the rack I have won't angle the tires as "hard over" as the original box/ linkage

Years ago I had a 70 sixpack RR. I also had a 63? Ranchero, built then on the Falcon chassis

The RR would make a U turn where the Ranchero would not!!!

Well, like I said, I am probably going with original setup. I was only wondering if others had converted and how they liked it. I do believe that Yearone has a setup for just under a grand that doesn't require major mods.

Marty

Have you seen this: http://www.unisteer.com/search_by_pr...ar/b_body.html

The above is exactly what I was referring to, except at least one guy at "For A bodies only" built his own. Basically what you are paying for there is some very expensive brackets to mount the rack to your K member. Those go BEHIND, so no changes in spindles.

Thats the one I saw.