rack and pinion

For all your questions, problems and DIY stories
Post Reply
healeyneil
Upcoming E21 fanatic
Posts: 187
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 1:45 pm
My E21(s): '81 318is Baur - ahead of its time !
Location: Glasgow Scotland

rack and pinion

Post by healeyneil »

Having converted a couple of cars to rack and pinion steering before ( Healey 3000 and Sunbeam Tiger replica ) I reckoned I could do the same with my Baur.
I used a Mk 2 Ford Escort rack - standard one is 2.9 turns lock to lock, but you can go as low as 2.4. I took out the original power rack, having measured where it sat in relation to the subframe. i made a subframe for the rack
Image

from 3mm steel plate with tube uprights to fit into the holes where the original rack bolted up, then added clamps to hold the rack in place. To suit my M42 exhaust manifold I offset the rack by about 40mm and added a 40mm extension to one side of the rack (readily available in pairs from folk like Rally Design)
Image
The steering column extension was a combination of original E21 and Ford Cortina :D
With the whole lot bolted up it worked beautifully and smoothly, with only one problem - turn the steering wheel right and the wheels went left e_surprised
Once I figured what I'd done wrong :bag I bought a LHD rack and fitted that instead, and it now seems to work fine. As my cars not a runner I havent been able to road test it yet, but pushing it down my drive to put it on a trailer it seemed fine. When I rebuild the front suspension I will measure bump steer, but the new rack is very close to where the original was.
I wont be able to get photos of the rack fitted, unfortunately, as the car has gone into storage while we move house
Neil


User avatar
Jeroen
Site Admin
Posts: 29994
Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 12:23 pm
My E21(s): '81 323i Baur
Location: The Netherlands
Contact:

Re: rack and pinion

Post by Jeroen »

healeyneil wrote:With the whole lot bolted up it worked beautifully and smoothly, with only one problem - turn the steering wheel right and the wheels went left e_surprised
Hahaha

Sounds like a lovely project though!
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
Post Reply