Board Logo
Go To Bottom

Printable Version  
[ Total Views: 167959 | Total Replies: 173 | Thread Id: 23861 ]
 Pages:  1  2  3  ..  6
Author: Subject: Rack and Pinion Steering
MemberBrad
Wolfsburg Elder
*******


No Avatar


Posts: 3764
Threads: 332
Registered: August 24th, 2002
Member Is Offline

Location: SE QLD, Mt Nebo
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Manx Buggy Building

posted on June 4th, 2004 at 12:10 AM
Rack and Pinion Steering


Well in my search to fit power assisted rack and pinion to my buggy I have learnt a lot about the subject. I did the reading and I bought the books... came up with my design and though all was pretty cool.

Then I found thsi picture of someone who has done it ......

Seems to me if thsi works then I have wasted many hours of my life ....

http://24.21.73.78/erik/images/BajaH2O/UpdateMay9/RackTop.jpg




Brad
Why copy when you can own an original ?
Meyers Manx Australia
Member1303Steve
A.k.a.: Steve Carter
Scirocco Rare
*********


Avatar


Posts: 8636
Threads: 559
Registered: August 27th, 2002
Member Is Offline

Location: Sydney, NSW
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Parrot Heading

posted on June 4th, 2004 at 12:19 AM


Hi

That looks like a Camira rack.

1302Steve
MemberDesert Moose
A.k.a.: Chris Hill
Veteran Volks Folk
Cut Cut Cut
*****


Avatar


Posts: 2098
Threads: 175
Registered: March 4th, 2004
Member Is Offline

Location: Perth W.A.
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Black
Mood: I don't know if I'm indecisive

posted on June 4th, 2004 at 01:42 AM


Not being rude but WTF. Go the bump steer



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/Moose906/Sign.jpg
MemberBrad
Wolfsburg Elder
*******


No Avatar


Posts: 3764
Threads: 332
Registered: August 24th, 2002
Member Is Offline

Location: SE QLD, Mt Nebo
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Manx Buggy Building

posted on June 4th, 2004 at 08:13 AM


Bump steer and I reckon the 30" tyres he has on the front will hit his rack ends.

It is teh best pic I could find of one actually setup.

Anyone got any better ones ? I an not putting my rack in this position but would like info from anyone out there who is running rack and pinion if possible.




Brad
Why copy when you can own an original ?
Meyers Manx Australia
MemberBaja Wes
Bishop of Volkswagenism
V6 Baja Pioneer
******


Avatar


Posts: 3119
Threads: 94
Registered: August 26th, 2002
Member Is Offline

Location: Brisbane
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Content

posted on June 4th, 2004 at 08:52 AM


That set-up would have less bump steer than the original steering box. Having the tie-rods as long as possible is a good thing.

It looks like it was power steering but is bypassing to itself. LHD so not Camira.




Wes - www.offroadvw.net - 200HP Quad Cam V6 in a VW Baja - with climate control... :)
www.taylorcycles.com.au - My DH MTB racing brothers shop.
MemberMikeM
Custom Title Time!
Buggy Head
*****


Avatar


Posts: 1429
Threads: 71
Registered: August 7th, 2003
Member Is Offline

Location: Brisbane North Side
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: :duh

posted on June 4th, 2004 at 09:26 AM


Quote:
Originally posted by Baja Wes
That set-up would have less bump steer than the original steering box. Having the tie-rods as long as possible is a good thing.


Hmmm, I won't say you are wrong, but I'm not sure I agree.

The suspension pivots at the torsion bars, for the steering to have no bump steer the steering should pivot at the same point. Ie. as close to the torsion bars as possible.

The setup pictured (and the one on the green buggy) both have steering that pivots further away from the torsion bars then the stock setup.

The best place to have the steering pivot would be right up the front at the torsion bars (where the adjusters get welded)

The rack used in the picture above, if moved right forward, would work well due to the long steering arms.

The rack and pinion shown on the webpage below would work well as it is mounted up on the torsion bars. This would make it better than the stock as it would totally eliminate bump steer.

http://www.chirco.com/projectbaja/baja_10.htm 




MemberMikeM
Custom Title Time!
Buggy Head
*****


Avatar


Posts: 1429
Threads: 71
Registered: August 7th, 2003
Member Is Offline

Location: Brisbane North Side
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: :duh

posted on June 4th, 2004 at 11:19 AM
hmm


http://www.home.acenet.net.au/m.morley/manx/steering.jpg

I've done up this diagram to try and give everyone a bit more of an understanding of steering geometry and to try to explain why the rack and pinion setup shown will give significant bump steer.

This is a difficult topic to get your head around so if I don't explain it in a suitable way let me know and I will try and elaborate.

There are two triangles on the picture (A & B). Triangle B shows the geometry of the suspension and I will explain it's relevance first. Triangle A shows the geometry of the rack and pinion setup.

Triangle B
The beetle torsion bar suspension pivots along the torsion tubes (blue line). The torsion arms (yellow line) are a solid and run on bushes in the torsion bar. Therefore their geometry to the blue line cannot change. The point where the torsion arms attach to the steering knuckle travels up and down in an arc at 90 degrees relative to the torsion tubes. So as the suspension goes up or down the point where the red and yellow line meet gets closer to and further away from the front of the car but it's distance from the torsion tube does not change (the torsion arm is a solid object). Now if you imagine the triangle (B) to be a solid object you could take the point where the yellow and red lines meet and spin it around and around the torsion bar and the length of all three sides of the triangle would remain the same. IE. in real life you can spin a torsion arm around and around the torsion tube when there is no steering knuckle or torsion bars in the torsion tube.

Triangle A
Triangle A shows the geometry of the rack and pinion steering in this car. The yellow line is again the torsion arm, the blue line is the static line or pivot line of the steering, and the red line represents the tie rod. The first sign that this setup is not geometrically correct is that the blue pivot line is nowhere near the same location as the pivot line of the front suspension (Blue line triangle B). As a wheel travels through it's movement the torsion arm (yellow line) will pivot on it's arc around the torsion tube. As it moves up and forward the distance between where is meets the steering knuckle (yellow meets red) and the centre of the rack (blue meets red) needs to increase. Since the tie rod is a static object and cannot increase, the steering is pulled inward and therefore the front of the tyre will move outward. Bump steer.

The best geometry for steering is to be exactly the same as the geometry of the suspension. The geometry of the suspension is triangle B, so we need to make the geometry of the steering as close as possible to triangle B to eliminate bump steer. This could be achieved by having a rack and pinion setup mounted right up on the front torsion tube with it's tie rods pivoting where the red and blue line meet on triangle B.

If the rack pictured was moved all the way forward, flipped end to end, mounted on the torsion tubes, and had the tie rod mounts attached to the back (instead of the front) it would work well. Looking at the rack, the centre section may well be free to rotate and could be rolled over so the tie rods attached to the back.

Hopefully I've explained that correctly.

[Edited on 4-6-2004 by MikeM]




MemberMikeM
Custom Title Time!
Buggy Head
*****


Avatar


Posts: 1429
Threads: 71
Registered: August 7th, 2003
Member Is Offline

Location: Brisbane North Side
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: :duh

posted on June 4th, 2004 at 11:42 AM


I sent the picture of the rack to my cousin who owns a power steering and transmission shop.

He said that the rack is very similar to the racks used on Camiras and some Audis. But obvisously Camiras and the Local market Audis have a RHD version.

The center section cannot be modified to mount the tie rods on the other side (back) as the center section on the Camira racks is cast alloy. What could potentially be done though is a piece of u chanel could be mounted over the center section to bolt onto the stock mount on the front but allow the tie rods to be bolted to the back. We'd have to confirm with a blue plate officer whether this would be acceptable.

This rack would be dead easy to mount on the front torsion tubes, it just depends whether we can come up with a way to mount the tie rods to the back and get it all approved.

Also my cousin mentioned that the shortest available standard rack (end mount not center) is actually a standard Commodore rack. These are around 20 inches long. Due to the number of varieties of commodores over the years the tie rods are available is many custom lengths so getting it the right overall length for the VW should be easy enough. I will look into this option a bit more as he has several commodore racks sitting in his workshop at the moment.

[Edited on 4-6-2004 by MikeM]




MemberBaja Wes
Bishop of Volkswagenism
V6 Baja Pioneer
******


Avatar


Posts: 3119
Threads: 94
Registered: August 26th, 2002
Member Is Offline

Location: Brisbane
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Content

posted on June 4th, 2004 at 11:57 AM


I never said it's good. Just probably better than stock.

Sure as it travels each wheel will toe out, be it will be even amounts.

The stock set-up weaves on big bumps cos the short tie rod and long tie rod are changing the toe different amounts on each side, causing it to make the car want to turn on big bumps.




Wes - www.offroadvw.net - 200HP Quad Cam V6 in a VW Baja - with climate control... :)
www.taylorcycles.com.au - My DH MTB racing brothers shop.
MemberDesert Moose
A.k.a.: Chris Hill
Veteran Volks Folk
Cut Cut Cut
*****


Avatar


Posts: 2098
Threads: 175
Registered: March 4th, 2004
Member Is Offline

Location: Perth W.A.
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Black
Mood: I don't know if I'm indecisive

posted on June 4th, 2004 at 11:58 AM


If you have (and I know you will) a copy of Jeff Hiddard's book baja bugs and buggies, have a look at page 66. In a box on the left All about bump steer I use this when I set up a car with howe or wright racks and have on prob's. maybe It can help you to..



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/Moose906/Sign.jpg
MemberMikeM
Custom Title Time!
Buggy Head
*****


Avatar


Posts: 1429
Threads: 71
Registered: August 7th, 2003
Member Is Offline

Location: Brisbane North Side
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: :duh

posted on June 4th, 2004 at 12:05 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by Baja Wes
I never said it's good. Just probably better than stock.

Sure as it travels each wheel will toe out, be it will be even amounts.

The stock set-up weaves on big bumps cos the short tie rod and long tie rod are changing the toe different amounts on each side, causing it to make the car want to turn on big bumps.


I agree with that. The toe in and toe out change with this rack would be signifigantly more than stock, but at least it would be even side to side. So the bump steer would be less than stock, but the toe in toe out changes would be greater.

Unless of course one wheel was up and the other side was near neutral. Then one side would have more toe out than the other causing bump steer.

:)

[Edited on 4-6-2004 by MikeM]




MemberDesert Moose
A.k.a.: Chris Hill
Veteran Volks Folk
Cut Cut Cut
*****


Avatar


Posts: 2098
Threads: 175
Registered: March 4th, 2004
Member Is Offline

Location: Perth W.A.
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Black
Mood: I don't know if I'm indecisive

posted on June 4th, 2004 at 12:13 PM


one more thing ????? while talking steering geometry. how do you guys go with the ackermans angle on your short wheel base Buggies



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/Moose906/Sign.jpg
MemberMikeM
Custom Title Time!
Buggy Head
*****


Avatar


Posts: 1429
Threads: 71
Registered: August 7th, 2003
Member Is Offline

Location: Brisbane North Side
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: :duh

posted on June 4th, 2004 at 12:16 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by Desert Moose
one more thing ????? while talking steering geometry. how do you guys go with the ackermans angle on your short wheel base Buggies


Hehe, yeah, they're not right. The tyres squel like mad when on a painted surface like a car park etc as they are not right. Not such and issue when offroad though.




MemberDesert Moose
A.k.a.: Chris Hill
Veteran Volks Folk
Cut Cut Cut
*****


Avatar


Posts: 2098
Threads: 175
Registered: March 4th, 2004
Member Is Offline

Location: Perth W.A.
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Black
Mood: I don't know if I'm indecisive

posted on June 4th, 2004 at 12:36 PM


something to look into if your making front stubs but



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/Moose906/Sign.jpg
Memberlexm
Commited Dubber
**


No Avatar


Posts: 57
Threads: 0
Registered: April 5th, 2004
Member Is Offline

Location: Brisbane Qld
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )

posted on June 4th, 2004 at 03:00 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by MikeM
[
The best geometry for steering is to be exactly the same as the geometry of the suspension. The geometry of the suspension is triangle B, so we need to make the geometry of the steering as close as possible to triangle B to eliminate bump steer. This could be achieved by having a rack and pinion setup mounted right up on the front torsion tube with it's tie rods pivoting where the red and blue line meet on triangle B.

.

The best geometry for eliminating bump steer - YES.
The best geometry for steering -NO because the ackerman will be wrong.

The best compromise would probably put the inner ends of the tie rods about the same distance behind the front beam as standard, assuming the VW steering was optimum on the original and that the track and wheelbase was unaltered.

In the case of a shortened wheelbase, moving it back or forward could be used to correct the ackerman error (possibly at the expense of bump steer).

The bump steer characteristic would also be affected by any other changes to the front suspension such as raising or lowering.





[Edited on 4-6-2004 by lexm]
MemberMikeM
Custom Title Time!
Buggy Head
*****


Avatar


Posts: 1429
Threads: 71
Registered: August 7th, 2003
Member Is Offline

Location: Brisbane North Side
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: :duh

posted on June 4th, 2004 at 03:15 PM


I see Bump steer as a much bigger issue than Ackerman. As long as the Ackerman angles are close to stock (which they would be with the rack mounted on the torsion tube or just behind) I don't think it would be a concern.

http://www.auto-ware.com/setup/ack_rac.htm 

Here is a cool reference on car handling. Actually relates to RC model cars, but hey a Manx is just a big toy car :)

http://rctek.com/handling/index.html 

This is pretty cool, gives some info on how Ackerman can be set.

http://rctek.com/handling/ackerman_steering_principle.html 

This is actually a bit simplistic as it does not take into concern the arc travelled by the pitman arm or the steering knuckle.

Having now read a bit of info on Ackerman I believe that putting a rack and pinion on the humble VW may actually fix the Ackerman rather than make it worse. Is the Ackerman on a VW actually correct? It will be at one point, but probably not at all points due to the swing of the pitman and the issues with a short and long tie rod. At full lock I'd say a VW has incorrect Ackerman.

If I get enthusiastic I will look into this more. There must be some equations relating to this somewhere.

[Edited on 4-6-2004 by MikeM]




Memberducky
A.k.a.: Christine
Custom Title Time!
Believer in Buggyism
*****


Avatar


Posts: 1238
Threads: 101
Registered: August 11th, 2003
Member Is Offline

Location: Gold Coast: Southport
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: always groovin

posted on June 4th, 2004 at 06:25 PM


love this stuff



Baby Loves to Mumbo
MemberBrad
Wolfsburg Elder
*******


No Avatar


Posts: 3764
Threads: 332
Registered: August 24th, 2002
Member Is Offline

Location: SE QLD, Mt Nebo
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Manx Buggy Building

posted on June 6th, 2004 at 06:17 PM


mmm looks like some people have gone and gotten some big words........ hehe

If all goes to plan I should have a Power assisted R & P on a ball joint front end in the next few weeks. Just sorting out exactly what the engineer wants before he will approve it.

The above does make for very interesting reading though... so where are all your pics of setups though ??




Brad
Why copy when you can own an original ?
Meyers Manx Australia
MemberMikeM
Custom Title Time!
Buggy Head
*****


Avatar


Posts: 1429
Threads: 71
Registered: August 7th, 2003
Member Is Offline

Location: Brisbane North Side
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: :duh

posted on June 6th, 2004 at 06:24 PM


Cool

What's that going on Brad? Last I checked the Mega manx was using Link Pin?




MemberBrad
Wolfsburg Elder
*******


No Avatar


Posts: 3764
Threads: 332
Registered: August 24th, 2002
Member Is Offline

Location: SE QLD, Mt Nebo
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Manx Buggy Building

posted on June 6th, 2004 at 09:26 PM


:cool:



Brad
Why copy when you can own an original ?
Meyers Manx Australia
Memberseagull
Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber
*******


No Avatar


Posts: 4979
Threads: 752
Registered: December 25th, 2003
Member Is Offline

Location: PerthWA
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )

posted on June 6th, 2004 at 09:29 PM


the center mount race rack no good Brad .I know where there is two of them .Not power but very good $$ :alien



Looking for that special lady : PM me for coffee & cake
MemberDesert Moose
A.k.a.: Chris Hill
Veteran Volks Folk
Cut Cut Cut
*****


Avatar


Posts: 2098
Threads: 175
Registered: March 4th, 2004
Member Is Offline

Location: Perth W.A.
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Black
Mood: I don't know if I'm indecisive

posted on June 7th, 2004 at 02:18 AM


Quote:
Originally posted by Buggy Brad
so where are all your pics of setups though ??

G'day Brad
No pic's now but I will have some for ya soon. I use a S.O.R.E rack, non power (like a wright rack) which is center mounted and a power steering servo out of a forklift up near the S/wheel. the pump runs off the crank with a small pulley and a type III bolt. the pump came from Kartek in the U.S. with the mount for Type 1 motor (3 nuts on the alt stand and one case stud)




http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/Moose906/Sign.jpg
MemberDesert Moose
A.k.a.: Chris Hill
Veteran Volks Folk
Cut Cut Cut
*****


Avatar


Posts: 2098
Threads: 175
Registered: March 4th, 2004
Member Is Offline

Location: Perth W.A.
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Black
Mood: I don't know if I'm indecisive

posted on June 7th, 2004 at 02:50 AM


This is the pump its not the best pic but I will replace it later with a better one and also one of the rack and servo..

Error
Sorry, you must be a registered user in order to download attachments.




http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/Moose906/Sign.jpg
MemberMikeM
Custom Title Time!
Buggy Head
*****


Avatar


Posts: 1429
Threads: 71
Registered: August 7th, 2003
Member Is Offline

Location: Brisbane North Side
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: :duh

posted on June 7th, 2004 at 11:49 AM


Quote:
Originally posted by Buggy Brad
:cool:


Ahh, the ever mysterious Brad.

Well when you get it approved can you give us a brief run down on what the engineer required to get it past? I am interested in running a Rack and Pinion in the SubaManx so I'm curious as to the engineers requirements.

Mike.

http://www.off-road.com/vw/wright/rackpic2.jpg

[Edited on 7-6-2004 by MikeM]




MemberBaja Wes
Bishop of Volkswagenism
V6 Baja Pioneer
******


Avatar


Posts: 3119
Threads: 94
Registered: August 26th, 2002
Member Is Offline

Location: Brisbane
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Content

posted on June 7th, 2004 at 03:18 PM


now that's a steering damper!



Wes - www.offroadvw.net - 200HP Quad Cam V6 in a VW Baja - with climate control... :)
www.taylorcycles.com.au - My DH MTB racing brothers shop.
MemberSecoh
Fahrvergnugen
****


Avatar


Posts: 926
Threads: 97
Registered: September 20th, 2002
Member Is Offline

Location: Newcastle
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Rarin' to

posted on June 7th, 2004 at 04:01 PM


FWIW that first picture IS using the same rack setup as Camira. Remember Camira is an Opel and was sold all round the world as the GM "J" car, so you can do the same setup here using the camira rack. JD and JE were available with power steering.



If it aint broke,
Make it go faster!! http://loud-noises.com/Forumstuff/Dakdak.gif
MemberDesert Moose
A.k.a.: Chris Hill
Veteran Volks Folk
Cut Cut Cut
*****


Avatar


Posts: 2098
Threads: 175
Registered: March 4th, 2004
Member Is Offline

Location: Perth W.A.
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Black
Mood: I don't know if I'm indecisive

posted on June 7th, 2004 at 06:05 PM


Hey Mike, I know where you got that photo you posted...... lol

the Wright place




http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/Moose906/Sign.jpg
MemberJenny
Officially Full-On Dubber
***


Avatar


Posts: 352
Threads: 20
Registered: June 26th, 2003
Member Is Offline

Location: Brisbane south
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Is it Friday yet?

posted on June 26th, 2004 at 10:42 AM


A fellow Eureka owner has used a R & P out of a Hyundai not sure on how legal it is but I'll see if I can get pics.

There was an old 1980's vintage article on R & P steering for VW based kit cars. Go to the Nova site here

http://www.nova-international.net/home.htm 

then on the left bar click ‘data’ when the page loads, scroll down the Right hand side and click ‘The chassis’ then when that loads scroll down to "an alternative steering system to the VW"
MemberBaja Wes
Bishop of Volkswagenism
V6 Baja Pioneer
******


Avatar


Posts: 3119
Threads: 94
Registered: August 26th, 2002
Member Is Offline

Location: Brisbane
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Content

posted on June 26th, 2004 at 09:38 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by Jenny
http://www.nova-international.net/home.htm 

then on the left bar click ‘data’ when the page loads, scroll down the Right hand side and click ‘The chassis’ then when that loads scroll down to "an alternative steering system to the VW"


I just looked at that. That guy has no idea what he is doing, and his set-up sucks. Problem is he is thinking 2D, not 3D. The susp arms actually swing in an arc out of the page of his pic. macpherson strut susp design doesn't work on torsion bars.

I've been running some calcs for Brad. I have found the stock set-up can get nearly no bump steer at all if set-up absolutely precisely accurately perfect. The problem is this is very unlikely to occur in the real world. error's in exact steering box angle, eccentric camber adjustments and other things eventually lead to the stock set-up being prone to bump steer.




Wes - www.offroadvw.net - 200HP Quad Cam V6 in a VW Baja - with climate control... :)
www.taylorcycles.com.au - My DH MTB racing brothers shop.
MemberDesert Moose
A.k.a.: Chris Hill
Veteran Volks Folk
Cut Cut Cut
*****


Avatar


Posts: 2098
Threads: 175
Registered: March 4th, 2004
Member Is Offline

Location: Perth W.A.
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Black
Mood: I don't know if I'm indecisive

posted on June 27th, 2004 at 03:38 AM


Hey Brad I don't know if this will help you but a long time ago when I was fitting racks I made a toe beam. What’s this you ask, it one step up from a tape measure...lol. I got a 25mm piece of Polly pipe 6" short of the inside of both front tyres (about 1100mm long) then a 12” bit of broom stick and a 24mm spring that was about 10” long. Drill a hole in the stick 2” away from the end and put a bolt though it. But the broom stick in the pipe with the spring between the bolt and the pipe. On the broom stick at about 5” and up to 7” mark it off in millimeters this is where you read your toe change. Take you torsion bars out and use a jack to lift and lower the front of the car to check the bump steer. With the rack tacked you can move the rack up, down, back or forward to get the right bump steer before you weld it. This cool backyard tool can be used as a bodgie wheel aligner as well. When the car is back together but it at the front of the wheels then roll the car forward till the toe beam is at the same height at the back this will give you your total toe reading e.g. the difference between the to reading. Bodgie but it works. (I use a laser aligner now to setup but it takes longer).

Moose
:thumb




http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/Moose906/Sign.jpg
 Pages:  1  2  3  ..  6


  Go To Top


Powered by GaiaBB, © 2011 The GaiaBB Group
(C) 2001-2024 Aussieveedubbers

[ Queries: 40 ] [ PHP: 20.7% - SQL: 79.3% ]