Rack And Pinion

[Jooboy]

I recently bought a KE20 2 door and as I'm sure you all noticed I don't really know squat about it (hence all the threads)

 

I have noticed that Rack and pinions setups can be done for enhanced steering but I'm just wondering how to go about it?

A) can I get a setup out of a later model corolla and transfer it over

B) Do I need to get a new setup fabricated (I hope not cause I like money in my wallet)

 

Also I live in Brisbane so if anybody does know a good place to go let me know

 

Cheers Ben

[BReNt]

  Jooboy said:

I recently bought a KE20 2 door and as I'm sure you all noticed I don't really know squat about it (hence all the threads)

 

I have noticed that Rack and pinions setups can be done for enhanced steering but I'm just wondering how to go about it?

A) can I get a setup out of a later model corolla and transfer it over

B) Do I need to get a new setup fabricated (I hope not cause I like money in my wallet)

 

Also I live in Brisbane so if anybody does know a good place to go let me know

 

Cheers Ben

 

There would be a bit of fabrication work involved. I reckon you'd be better off just upgrading your suspension.

Edited January 15, 2010 by BReNt

[white_sandshoe]

There is LOTS to take into account when setting up suspension and steering...

Generally rack and pinion becomes a necessary conversion when there is so much weight over the wheels, or oversized tires and wheels, make turning difficult.

 

When converting any steering to either rack and pinion, or power steering, you've got to make sure you aren't messing with the Ackerman angle, camber, caster, linkage arrangement, bump steer, scrub radius, toe-in, and trail.

 

Easiest way to go about it (and a high level of precision is necessary) is to follow the original path of the linkages. Make sure the pivot points for the rack and pinion are sitting at exactly the same hight, distance and arm angle as the original setup.

 

With the KE20, being narrower than KE and AE70s, this would mean re-fabricating the actual rack to have the same width as the track rod on the original setup. then, when mounting, you'd be looking to get the rack mounted in the same position as the track rod sits... Then comes the fun part of getting the steering column changed/modded to suit the rack and pinion...

 

I've just done a rack and pinion conversion on my T18 (which is heaps easier as the geometry is the same as the donor car) but, my AE71 steering, including crossmember, with all mounts attached is pretty much a bolt in. The steering shaft is a different matter... It required some decent mods, and i'd happily say that doing similar to a KE20 is going to be a darn sight bit harder.

 

Maybe weigh it up against other possible mods as well as your reasons for wanting the conversion...

 

if it's from a performance aspect, as in, you want to corner harder/faster etc... forget it... it's not necessary... you're better off stiffening and lowering and adjusting your camber, castor and toe. Lightness of steering isn't going to help you go quicker, it'll just mean you don't need to move the wheel as hard.

 

anyways, good luck. maybe let us know what you're intending to do with it, and we can point you in the appropriate direction.

[Jooboy]

  white_sandshoe said:

There is LOTS to take into account when setting up suspension and steering...

Generally rack and pinion becomes a necessary conversion when there is so much weight over the wheels, or oversized tires and wheels, make turning difficult.

 

When converting any steering to either rack and pinion, or power steering, you've got to make sure you aren't messing with the Ackerman angle, camber, caster, linkage arrangement, bump steer, scrub radius, toe-in, and trail.

 

Easiest way to go about it (and a high level of precision is necessary) is to follow the original path of the linkages. Make sure the pivot points for the rack and pinion are sitting at exactly the same hight, distance and arm angle as the original setup.

 

With the KE20, being narrower than KE and AE70s, this would mean re-fabricating the actual rack to have the same width as the track rod on the original setup. then, when mounting, you'd be looking to get the rack mounted in the same position as the track rod sits... Then comes the fun part of getting the steering column changed/modded to suit the rack and pinion...

 

I've just done a rack and pinion conversion on my T18 (which is heaps easier as the geometry is the same as the donor car) but, my AE71 steering, including crossmember, with all mounts attached is pretty much a bolt in. The steering shaft is a different matter... It required some decent mods, and i'd happily say that doing similar to a KE20 is going to be a darn sight bit harder.

 

Maybe weigh it up against other possible mods as well as your reasons for wanting the conversion...

 

if it's from a performance aspect, as in, you want to corner harder/faster etc... forget it... it's not necessary... you're better off stiffening and lowering and adjusting your camber, castor and toe. Lightness of steering isn't going to help you go quicker, it'll just mean you don't need to move the wheel as hard.

 

anyways, good luck. maybe let us know what you're intending to do with it, and we can point you in the appropriate direction.

 

 

Super helpful.

 

I'm thinking I may be better off to just upgrade what I have as it's just going to be a road car.

 

I was hoping there would be an easy conversion to do from a later model rolla. But if not I will just upgrade the stockies

[TE278U]

many people are looking at options for this, from trying to adapt starlet racks, to shortening ke70 racks.

 

also a problem on early celica's.

 

so far, nothing i've read has presented the perfect bolt in solution,

 

but there are some that have put all the bits together and have made it work, but things like bumpsteer haven't been sorted properly, so not reccomended.

 

if you do manage to do it properly, make about 10 kits, shouldn't have ny trouble selling them on here...