Straight axle steering

[Denee007]

Seeing as how bored I am waiting for a delivery truck for our new dishwasher, I've been sitting here at the computer looking at STUFF. I came across this rack n pinion steering for trucks, like ours. No limit engineering, I think supplies it. Looks pretty easy(easier) to install and another option for power steering.
Any comments?

[FFredo]

I dont see any V8 motor mounts so maybe it will fit a straight six only? I don't see much room for v8 exaust there. Do you have a link to where you saw this?

[mknittle]

I think it would be like driving a pinball. on top of being twitchy that shaft would be constantly extending and contracting in a radius so you have up and down and front to rear movement on that steep angle! I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole. Too much stress on the steering box and firewall. not to mention those little universal joints aren't designed to take a linear load like that..

just my opinion from 20 years of working for a company building scientific testing machines.
Mark

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by mknittle

I think it would be like driving a pinball. on top of being twitchy that shaft would be constantly extending and contracting in a radius so you have up and down and front to rear movement on that steep angle! I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole. Too much stress on the steering box and firewall. not to mention those little universal joints aren't designed to take a linear load like that..

just my opinion from 20 years of working for a company building scientific testing machines.
Mark

I'm not sure it would be any "twitchier" than any other rack and pinion setup IF the caster is properly set to whatever spec's No Limit recommends. No Limit has a pretty saavy Engineer for an owner and I've not known their products to be slipshod at all. As for stressing the box? THe truck isn't any heaqvier than other vehicles that use R&P. I guess I don't understand why the concern?

Anyone on the board have experience with this setup?

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

I'm not sure it would be any "twitchier" than any other rack and pinion setup IF the caster is properly set to whatever spec's No Limit recommends. No Limit has a pretty saavy Engineer for an owner and I've not known their products to be slipshod at all. As for stressing the box? THe truck isn't any heaqvier than other vehicles that use R&P. I guess I don't understand why the concern?

Anyone on the board have experience with this setup?

stressing the box from the weight of the truck wasn't my concern it's the steering shaft that i don't like. if it were if the expansion joint were to bind on a freeway at any speed something would have to give. And I would n' want to be the one holding the steering wheel.And just think of the violent shaking that box gets. Just go out on a freeway and watch how much the wheels on the car next to you move up and down and how quickly they change direction.

[Denee007]

I called the company that puts this steering system out and asked just that question! I was concerned about vibration coming up from the rack; vibration from the road,steering, bumps, etc., the person said the shaft leading down to the rack goes with the sways n dips as it's a slip Joint(for lack of better decription), that's where that little accordian looking boot comes in. I guess it has to be serviced like anything else to keep it sliding. I'm just looking at it, not buying it.

Originally Posted by mknittle

stressing the box from the weight of the truck wasn't my concern it's the steering shaft that i don't like. if it were if the expansion joint were to bind on a freeway at any speed something would have to give. And I would n' want to be the one holding the steering wheel.And just think of the violent shaking that box gets. Just go out on a freeway and watch how much the wheels on the car next to you move up and down and how quickly they change direction.

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by Denee007

I called the company that puts this steering system out and asked just that question! I was concerned about vibration coming up from the rack; vibration from the road,steering, bumps, etc., the person said the shaft leading down to the rack goes with the sways n dips as it's a slip Joint(for lack of better decription), that's where that little accordian looking boot comes in. I guess it has to be serviced like anything else to keep it sliding. I'm just looking at it, not buying it.

I can see that in the picture. That is one of the things that I do not like.The problem is that at that steep angle if that slip joint[that is what it is called you are right] were to bind when you hit a bump at speed! just think of pole vaulting. I hadn't even thought of vibration. You see as a slip joint wears it makes a groove at the top of the average travel. Then when it takes a harder jolt it hits that groove and stops making the shaft like a solid bar At this point the weakest link breaks or bends. Like I said just my opinion.


P.S. You won't gain better handling because a solid axle just has it's limits!

[Denee007]

I should have posted this earlier, I didn't know if I'd get in trouble or not. However, this is the link. Shows how it's installed etc. I like it! I would never drive like a bat out of hell, just to the Nifty50ees and back.

http://www.customclassictrucks.com/t...g/viewall.html

[tmoble]

I wouldn't do that at all. IMO the rack needs to be mounted solid on a crossmember. I don't believe there's ever been a production vehicle made like that.

[reinmeister1951]

Mounting the rack to a solid crossmember would give you bump steer.
Doug

[mbgmike]

We solid mounted a r&p in our 55 car and it eliminated the bump steer.

[mbgmike]

Have you considered the crown vic front end swap. You can get them pretty cheap. there is some modification required but we can install one for you.

[Denee007]

pm sent;
in the meantime, could I maintain at least a little height in my trucks stance with a frame swap? I'd just like it lowered maybe 3", I don't want it so low I have to crawl over speed bumps. IT's a truck!
Actually, I don't mind the way it sits now since I raised the back end a bit, just like to have power steering and the least expensive way out is like the way Orrie and others did it. I'm just looking at every option known, plus I'd just like to do it myself vs. outsourcing and paying someone to do the work.

why did they make them sit so high in the front end in the first place?

I will say this, I have no idea how the truck rides with the stock front leaf springs. How would it ride down the freeway at 65mph and swaying to miss some crazy driver. The odometer says 85k, so it must have been ok for all those years!

So far, the least expensive way to lower to a more appealing height would be a mono spring(a better one), and the steering supplied by a saginaw gear, all of which I could do here in my garage.

dne'

[Trucknut57]

I'm in the same boat as you are.

I have looked at both the R&P setup and the other types (saginaw, toyota) of power steering setups. All of them have there +'s and -'s.
The saginaw unit, which mounts on the outside of the frame, MAY limit your turning radius and you have to cut your inner fender to clear the steering shaft.
The Toyota setup, mounts in the same location as the original gear box. This setup MAY limit your exhaust manifold options.
The R & P setup, not enough people have used this setup and given +'s and -'s for me to take the leap and install it in my truck. From what I can see from the picture you posted I see some of the same issues that the other setups have.

All are very close in cost (for new kits). I myself have decided to go with the toyota setup, mostly because it works the best for me.

[Denee007]

hm, i didn't know the Toyota gear goes where the orignal gear goes! I'll be using stock manifolds. How do I go about learning about this install? are you doing it now?

Originally Posted by Trucknut57

I'm in the same boat as you are.

I have looked at both the R&P setup and the other types (saginaw, toyota) of power steering setups. All of them have there +'s and -'s.
The saginaw unit, which mounts on the outside of the frame, MAY limit your turning radius and you have to cut your inner fender to clear the steering shaft.
The Toyota setup, mounts in the same location as the original gear box. This setup MAY limit your exhaust manifold options.
The R & P setup, not enough people have used this setup and given +'s and -'s for me to take the leap and install it in my truck. From what I can see from the picture you posted I see some of the same issues that the other setups have.

All are very close in cost (for new kits). I myself have decided to go with the toyota setup, mostly because it works the best for me.

[Trucknut57]

CPP has the complete kit. I'm getting ready to buy the kit probably in the next month, still working on the firewall issues.
I did a search on the internet and if I remember correctly one of the classic truck mags did a write up on the install.

Once I get the kit I will do the install with pics and post it on here.

[Denee007]

How exciting Trucknut, to actually have chose a direction! I found this while on the net~ for me and I know most would be against it, I personally kind of like that rack setup. I'm not buying anything anytime soon, but this Toyota gear looks really neat! heck, they all look neat! lol I won't be driving my truck all over creation, just to local car shows and to starbucks!

http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/sh...hp?tid/246847/

[Trucknut57]

Ha, thats funny. Thats me in that forum also. I completely forgot about that site and that question.

I was going to make it into a 4x4 but changed my mind and of course direction of the rebuild.

The picture in there shows where the gear box mounts and how it uses the original whole in the frame. That setup also uses the original parts on the front axle, so no making or bending of brackets needed.

Plus using the toyota setup will allow me to run a pressure hose from my pump to the hydroboost unit, under the floor, then right to the gear box and back to the pump. Helping me keep all the lines nice and neat.

[Denee007]

I didn't realize that was you on that site! my how we all get around! In that photo, why can't the gear be taken further away from the engine? looks like there's quite a gap. Wouldn't one want a straight shot to the gear? In that case, why can't one move the steering column over that one/2 inch to match it up?


I borrowed this photo from that site, I hope it's ok to do so~

[hsdropout]

I have the unit mounted on my '59. I like it.
It might not hold up to road abuse..........we'll see.
It may be a couple years before I get a chance to test it.
I'll let you all know how it goes then.

[Denee007]

Finally someone chimes in that actually has one! Thank you! you made my day! ; ) So far what do you think? Looks like yours is off to the drivers side a little more? or it's just the angle of the photo. Looks very clean and simple!

Originally Posted by hsdropout

I have the unit mounted on my '59. I like it.
It might not hold up to road abuse..........we'll see.
It may be a couple years before I get a chance to test it.
I'll let you all know how it goes then.

[reinmeister1951]

Mike a 55 car doesn't have a solid axle so mounting the rack to a solid crossmember is the way to go, but with an I beam axle the rack must move up and down with the axle or bump steer is inevitable.
Doug

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by reinmeister1951

Mike a 55 car doesn't have a solid axle so mounting the rack to a solid crossmember is the way to go, but with an I beam axle the rack must move up and down with the axle or bump steer is inevitable.
Doug

Yeah I didn't think very much about it before posting. It would not work well at all. I am interested now on how well this setup works

[mknittle]

This is the main reason that I went with the mid 70s camaro firebird clip.also gives me lots of clearance for my big pontiac motors.also there is tons of after market parts for them!

[hsdropout]

There is some interesting/positive feedback on the No Limit straight axle R&P kit on the Ford pickup forums (if you can stoop so low). Search: No Limit Rack & Pinion Kit-Report
I like it because it gets rid of all the old bs, arms, rods etc.
It's compact and the steering shaft comes up in a perfect location, clear for exhaust.
I have mono-leafs & disc brake kit. I have replaced wheel bearing and kingpins also.
It might not be the best option and I am not trying to sell it but it is interesting to me, I hope it works.