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Hi, so most of you guys know about my lancer turbo project, I'm now contemplating a rack and pinion conversion for it as I'm in the process of doing the front suspension.

I'm quite keen on the conversion but there is two things that I don't know enough about to start hunting around to see if its worth while.

- Mounting the rack in relation to lower control arm pivoit points, to get the bump steer correct, I'm aware i need the correct width rack etc etc.

-getting the steering joints from the coloum to the rack with out them ending up on a large angle and the uni joints binding up.

I's thinking either 323, ke70, or escort racks, will have to get the tape measure out and suss it out.

Anyone done this to a lancer before?

I have heard of someone putting a mirage non power steering rack and pinion into a galant so maybe that is worth checking out

I'll be doing one in the next 6 months, but haven't really looked at it in details. Other parts of the car to sort out first.

Quaife do quick rack conversions for ke70/ae86 and escort racks. They will probably be a good starting point at about 2.5 tltl.

possibly a bit big for a lancer but turbosigma (i think) was planning to use an s13 and someelse mentioned wrx sti quick rack

mine has modified commodore rack and pinion mounted to gj sigma suspension gear.
can try take some photos if you want?

On my to do list as well... so over the flogged out steering box.

I've got a non p/s rack from a CE (Mirage/Lancer) here and to my eyes look pretty close - Just have to get around to a test fit

Also worth a mention - the early FWD colts had a short rack. & the '85 model Corona used a rack & pinion set up. Suspension wise these things look identical to a sigma, so could be worth a look for some ideas.

Dean, do you know what model commodore the rack was from? must be a tight squeeze in there? would love some pictures!

could you get some measurements of the mirage rack? pics?

Yeah man, can take some pictures and measurements tomorrow afternoon time permitting.

gday all
you may want to look at camira racks I have used these in a few hotrod conversions as the pivot points for the arms are at the centre of the rack the ends of the rack mount and the centre moves making the angles more suitable

koolLA wrote:gday all
you may want to look at camira racks I have used these in a few hotrod conversions as the pivot points for the arms are at the centre of the rack the ends of the rack mount and the centre moves making the angles more suitable

Good suggestion for ease of mounting. These are the same set up as used in the Daewoo Cielo etc as far as I'm aware. They can get away with having the pivot point in the center (hence not mimicking the lower control arm at all) as the tie rod for these vehicles is mounted very high on the strut, so during suspension travel that point is only affected by vertical movement, no real side to side. If this type of rack was used to replace a box/drag link in a galant/sigma/lancer etc you would end up with some epic bump steer.

Here is the manual rack from a CE Mirage (lancer). Had the old drag link from the GD hanging around, so it's there for a comparison. moved the arms to there max pivot so you can get a rough visual idea of where the pivot points are in comparison to the drag link, there not perfect at all, over 20mm further out per side than the mounting point for the tie rods on the drag link (the tapered holes in the drag link are where the tie rods mount - opposite to sigma from memory). But, in my opinion, would be a huge leap forward compared to what I'm currently putting up with lol.




Measurements are with the arms inline to the main body:
-Dark blue (end of threaded section to end of threaded section) - 1100mm
-Light green - 420mm
-Red - 45mm (this is the centered to the main body, does not take into account the angle the steering spline comes up on)
-Light blue (pivot point to end of thread) - 135mm

Measurements are approximate; & there is 55mm of thread on each end (easy enough to change that though.

Any other questions just ask.

Nick.

PS: Just noticed my attention whore of a spaniel has got his paw in a couple of the pic's

sorry about the poor quality pics, quite hard with no room to take the pics
cant remember the exact specs on the setup, have it written down somewhere, just need to find it all
when i find it, i will let you know....

Looking forward to reading the specs on this setup. It is something I have been considering for a while.

any updates? i'm looking for suggestions for a rack and pinion coversion for my 1977 dodge colt thanks

I think a rack out of a fwd colt would be suitable (for a Galant or Lancer). Roughly the same front track width and the pinion is on a slight angle, should help with lining up with the steering. Given this some though too but not sure how to set up the connecting rod from the steering column to the pinion...

been crawling around under the front of my VC recently, looks like an early Commodore rack could be an option for a Sigma/Scorpion?
Keeping in mind I haven't been under my Scorpion in a while so it could be a bit wide, I dunno.
KE70 maybe?

thanks guys this would be a cool up grade. out with the old..........

Hey 77galantv6 how does your Gally "feel" now? Have you driven a Galant or Lancer with stock steering since driving yours?

i have driven a few, mine feels more "modern" i think.
hard to explain but you dont get as much feel and pressure coming back through the system,
but it is more precise if you know what i mean?
75wagon has driven mine, he may be able to put it into words better....

Dave, jumping from the wagon into 77galantv6's Galant what are your initial impressions of the steering? Do you think it is worth the effort?

thread revival...

anyone got any further updates on this.
after putting in my adjustable LCA in the scorpion, i have some steering issues. at full adjustment length and the wheels are still out of alignment
so looking at just going to a rack & pinon conversion. thinking the CE mirage manual rack looks the most viable option at the moment

I got stealth a festiva manual rack as it was the best measurement wise at work (work at a 9acre wrecking yard so a few to choose from) When it gets bumped up on priority on the list hes going to be the test subject to see if it can be viable on hulk, then if successful mine will get the same treatment. Considering going with a power steering conversion though, with a P/S festiva rack would be terribly hard. Use a pajero/magna pump (on a 4g54), festiva rack and get the lines made to suit. Will see how it pans out though

Power steering is easy these days........ Astra or Vectra (same as porsche GT3 only cheaper)or Mazda 3 remote electric pump & reservoir with lines.

These are other options like using a Suzuki steering column that has the electric motor connected to it. Stewart Wilkins does a kit that bolts the column straight into any early Datsun.

That's the easy part compared to choosing and fitting the rack!

yeah it does seem that way, choosing the ideal rack seem difficult. I've looking in VW racks at the moment
I'm still tossing up between manual or power steering this is a track car not registered (I have a complete P/steerign set up from a sigma in the shed somewhere)

I'm still reading up on suspension geometry and the effects of bump steer/ackermans etc. but with my very limited knowledge...
Would i be right in saying the most ideal R&P would be 539mm long (main shaft to where the tie rods meet) and mounted on the same axis/level/line as the bolt holes for the Lower control arms?