My Truck has a Dakota Truck front end on it, The rack and pinion sits in front of the crossmember below, the angle of the shaft is in a bad location Since I using a V8 with Hugger headers. My qestion is this....

if I pulled the rack out 2-1/2" and offset the mounting holes by 1-1/2" and tilted it 10 deg toward the rear. Does any one know if there will be any problems with this change as far as geometry of the sterring? I would like some thought about it before I go further. I have made temp brackets (See pics below)to see how it fits and the angle is much better to work with.
Thanks for your input.

 

What pics you be talking about,lol. Could you work the rack to see how things move in different positions. I'm only guessing it wouldn't make a difference but I've never peeled back the rubber boot to see how a rack actually works. Sorry that I'm no help but hello just the same.

 

Actually, it will make a huge difference, and if you're describing what I think you are, you will induce bump steer like crazy. I can promise you that Dodge engineered all of the rod ends, joints and angles in the steering and suspension and put them right where they did for a reason. When you start changing angles and the location of pivot points, that's when you start asking for trouble.

While you might get away with pivoting the rack slightly for clearance of the steering pinion shaft, you don't want to move the rack fore or aft from the crossmember, and you really don't want to move it side to side at all.

 

I TOTALLY agree, tilting it a LITTLE will be ok, but moving it in any direction is a big NO NO. Bump steer is not something you want and moving the rack will bring it on bigtime. John

 

What do you mean when you say it's in a "bad location"? It interferes with the BlockHugger headers? Pictures would be of great help. Would the Stock manifolds clear everything?

 

Hello to you 56panelford!
Basicly the rack is tilted back about 10 degrees and pushed out 2-1/2 inches. no drop or moving it to one side or the other. I was affraid that was going to be a problem. I guess I will have to find another solution. I was tring to avoid having to many steering joint to make it work.

Fergussonicford, The rack shaft is at a steep pitch and the motor mount is in the way, Just looking for a better solution. Last picture is the rack and shaft with the adapter I made.

Thanks for the advise guys.

 

Can't seem to find a picture of the rack to engine but you can pivot the rack back around it's current center line ( in other words you can lean it rearward with no problems ) just don't change the location of the assembly forward or side to side.

Chuck