Rack & Pinion idea
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,871
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From: Coutts Canada
Rack & Pinion idea
So today when i was cruising the wreckers looking for a couple of interior pieces for my flareside to finish it off i came accross a mustang with the rack and pinion pulled out and sitting on the deck lid. I got to thinking that a rack and pinion steering setup could be very useful on solid axle rigs offroad by having the rack and pinion on the axle itself, bump steering would be nonexsistent in this type of setup and it could be made to work with high steer arms very easily.
BUT the one problem this has is with how to hook up linkage between the rack and the column without it binding and causing all sorts of problems like that, BUT if you went hydraulic an orbit motor could be mounted on the steering shaft easily, but then again something like that it would be easier to use a ram, this seem it would be useful offroad provideing that problem be solved (and providing that the rack and pinion is up to the task of turning a set of 44 boggers on the rocks or deep in the mud.
BUT the one problem this has is with how to hook up linkage between the rack and the column without it binding and causing all sorts of problems like that, BUT if you went hydraulic an orbit motor could be mounted on the steering shaft easily, but then again something like that it would be easier to use a ram, this seem it would be useful offroad provideing that problem be solved (and providing that the rack and pinion is up to the task of turning a set of 44 boggers on the rocks or deep in the mud.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,698
Likes: 4
From: Neenah, Wisconsin
1st...finding a strong enough rack and pinion would be the major problem, second, the linkage would be a nightmare. Good idea though, i'd just go with a hydro set up if you want something different.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,195
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio, Texas
I just looked at a 91 on old buddy of mine built and has 18" of custom lift with 44s and a rack and pinion from a mustang. he said the only time he broke it was when he put a bind on it on some rocks.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 18,423
Likes: 9
From: iowa
I have seen some of the Pro mud drag trucks using it, and I was gonna do it myself, but when i went to figure out he steering intermediate shaft it would hve had to go right through the engine mount frame perch so scrapped that idea but I still think it's an idea worth looking at, and if I end up going with a tube frame will revisit the idea myself.
