Anyone got any info on this modification to a lowered BJ front end?
McRae (the manufacturer of my Spyder replica) used a Barrina rack narrowed, and he also tweeked the arms off the spindles?
I guess he was narrowing the rack to have as long a tie rod (is that the name) as possible? And the arm tweeking was to keep the tie rods a flat as possible.....does this sound a solid theory?
I would like to set my car up for hillclimb and circuit.
Any help would be appreciated.
Please don't turn this into a flaming section.....

I know that CBPerformance http://www.cbperformance.com/catalog.asp?ProductID=899  offer a rack and pinion kit for offroading. It's a nice small tight unit. I'm assuming being a new racing product that it could offer abit of adjustment and so on.
They also offer tie-rods to mate up with the R&P and their front ends. Other than that... I've heard of Porsche parts being used and even one out of a Gemini. But not sure on the ins and outs of the conversion as yet.

Woh have you ever opened a can of worms, no the rack has probably not been narrowed but from where i sit that is pretty hard to see, but they have prob moded the arms out to the tie rods, and then have modified the distance between the pivot of the ball joints and the tie rod end(it is illegal to modify steering components by the way) to get the ratio right at the steering wheel.With out seeing the car and what the wheels do in the steering department threw full suspension i'mm sorry but this is as much as i can tell you. ANDREW

I am looking into using a 89 Corolla (AE92) r+p. Thought about it after changing the one on the missus car.

Todd :jesus

My Spyder still has the original VW steering box, the mod I would like to do is fit a R&P.
I think the steering arms are "bent" up so as to keep the tie rods parrallel with the ground at a neutral stance. (it also has lots of + caster at the moment!)
The narrow rack is mounted in the centre so as to have equal length tie rods.

Being an ICV then suspension or steering mods just need to be accompanied by both NDT results and engineering signatory approval.
cheers

A gemini rack won't work as it is on the wrong side of the axle.
Look at a camira, same side and has the long tie rods that meet at the centre. This is what I'll be using.
Cheers

Pete

Get one of the R/P set ups like in the new drag car. Vintage has them

Flinstones do your self a favour before buying a camira rack that the ratio is right for the distance between ball joint pivot and tierod end, as if this is not right you could end up with either half a turn lock to lock or 10 turns lock to lock,either way not nice JAN . A few years ago when i was thinking of going this way i heard a tip that a Honda Civic rack was good for the ratio's, hope this helps. ANDREW

Keeping the rack tie rods as level as possible is intended to reduce the amount of front wheel toe in/out changes as the suspension moves up and down in its travel.
If the arms droop down from the rack to the spindles with the suspensin at rest then when the suspension drops, say under braking then with the spindles being steered from the rear, as it the case with a kraut, the wheels will toe in heavily.
The reverse is true if the rack arms are rising up to the spindles and this will produce pronounced toe out under brakes.
Both of these conditions in excess will contribute to bump steering, instability over bumps and gross tyre wear and the toe out will also produce straight line instability under braking.

The settings can be fiddled with a certain degree to get different characteristics but as a baseline point, having them level at rest is a good start.

L8tr
E

wow , am about to get a rack and pinion to set up on race car, didnt realise there was so much involved.
I wonder if the front end on this new car has any suspesion travel?
-
so thanks guys, gives me something to check and ask about.