Mankee Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 I've decided that I want a quicker steering rack than the 8% one that I currently have. Titan can't supply the parts to convert to 22% so referred me to Caterham, and Caterham don't stock or supply the parts on their own, so it's £300 for a new rack. Or go custom! From TechTalk searching, this is what I've found: A steel-cased rack (from a Mini?) is 2.25 turns lock-to-lock An 8% quicker rack 2.07 turns lock-to-lock A 22% quicker rack 1.75 turns lock-to-lock The above figures might be lower if the rack is travel-limited because of cycle wings hitting the bodywork, especially on narrow-track front suspension, like mine. As far as I can tell, the internals are the same bar the pinion, so I'm looking to get some new pinions made up for a quicker rack, maybe 1.6 turns or even 1.5 turns. So I've got two questions here: 1) Is it a crap idea to want a rack that's faster than 1.75 turns lock to lock? 2) If the answer to the above is "No", who is interested? Exact timescales and costs are difficult to predict, but 16 weeks and £100 are some VERY rough ballpark figures, leaving plenty of dosh left for a rack refresh as well as in time for a winter upgrade. And we'd need at least 20 to be made. I've not taken apart my steering rack so I'm hoping just a pinion change is all that's required. Cheers for any thoughts. (I'm not doing this to make money, but just trying to plug a gap in the market, much like Powerflex ARB bushes that don't correlate in size to any of the Caterham bushes!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 I had a 22% rack and 1.6 turns lock to lock, it was fine. VERY heavy at low speed, but once under way I just thought it round bends with a roll of the wrists. Less than this will make it very kart-like which you may want. It makes it a very focussed motor car though. I wouldn't want less than 1.6, let's be honest that's only just over 3/4 of a turn from straight ahead to either full lock. If you go much less it really will be like a soap box racer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeandlizzy Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 I'd be in for 22% or 30% in terms of buying a 'replica' pinion gear. Be great for sprinting with hairpins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mankee Posted June 21, 2011 Author Share Posted June 21, 2011 30% sounds like a good number. Good for hairpins at Snetterton and Mallory and various hillclimbs etc. But I need a rack to take apart to see how it works in terms of cramming more teeth on the pinion and retaining the standard rack or whether we go for a full rack and pinion replacement kit. Some quick rack conversion details for an Elise from Raceline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 I might be in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeandlizzy Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 If you can get them made up for a similar price to redline, that would be amazing! But I think <=£100 may get many interested. I assume swapping the pinion shouldn't require a a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering! I look forward to your notes on splitting a rack apart for this mod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mankee Posted June 24, 2011 Author Share Posted June 24, 2011 Been contacted by a few helpful L7C members with some useful notes and advice on racks etc. Also had a few real-world driving feel opinions, which is useful too. Doesn't sound like too bad a job, especially if the rack itself is staying put and only the pinion and bearings being swapped. Just hope that I/we don't get hammered by Caterham/Titan for copying a currently used design! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeandlizzy Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 We are just enhancing a caterham product in my opinion! We modify their car parts/engines/suspension/etc. etc. all the time! Why should we stop at the quick rack. If it is truly just the pinion, and looking at it today it seems an easy swap, then why should we pay quite a sum for a basic upgrade? Support the company? I think not! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonino Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 i may be in (30%) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 A few years ago I was in touch with Titan too, regarding an alternative steering rack. Titan openly told me that the one they supply to Caterham is built to a price. This explains why it does not have bronze bushes in important areas, running instead in the aluminium alloy, and why they wear out relatively quickly. Titan do a number of more bespoke steering racks and you can specify a number of options. These racks are far better quality items when compared to the standard Caterham item but cost considerably more money but, as Titan said, they'll last much much longer. I wonder, if we could get a bulk buy on a really good steering rack, whether the price might be pared down a bit. We might even be able to have an interchangeable pinion (or whatever part it is) which might enable the speed of the rack to be changed quite easily...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 A while back I spoke to Titan re getting parts for a friends rack and upgrading it from 8% to 22% they said they could not supply direct but could via CC. 22% pinion kit was £69 plus theft, young lady even gave me the part number of the kit, I'll try and find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mankee Posted June 28, 2011 Author Share Posted June 28, 2011 £69+VAT isn't too bad I guess. I'm still trying to get hold of a spare rack to pull apart and have a nosey around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virden Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 Hi guys I'm curious/interested, how far did you get with this project? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurence Wilson Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 Yup, I'd also be interested in hearing how far this progressed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mankee Posted September 26, 2011 Author Share Posted September 26, 2011 I'll be honest folks and say that I've basically been a slacker for the past few months on this project! I have spoken to some helpful people about how to improve the basic standard design, as well as possibly speeding up the rack from an 8%, but I haven't actually got any real information to give out in all honesty! That and the fact that I seem to have a rack with 1.75 turns lock to lock means that steering has been pushed further down the list of stuff to do. ☹️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 I,m interested too, hairpins hurt my wrists Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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