rack &pinion
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 113
Likes: 3
From: Prescott Valley AZ
I was told by a shop in town that No Limit and CPP can't get Toyota boxes. No limit says they don't last and leak. The rack is suppose to be the hot new setup. I know someone that is putting one on a 57 Panel but it won't be done for awhile so I can't tell you if it's good or not.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,199
Likes: 4,809
From: Burbank, WA
I'll throw in my 2 cents, fwiw. Someone would have to explain to me why the Toyota box would suddenly spring leaks and fail when used our truck application, as opposed to the stock usage. That doesn't make a lot of sense to me, unless someone is trying to promote their product over someone elses.
Having a rack and pinion unit that bolts to the straight axle, moves with the suspension, and has a sliding, constantly moving connection between it and the steering wheel seems fundamentally wrong, to me. It has the unit working 100% backwards from how it is designed, and they were never engineered to take that kind of road shock and abuse. My personal opinion is I wouldn't give you 2 cents for that setup. Given these as my options, I'd go with the Toyota.
Having a rack and pinion unit that bolts to the straight axle, moves with the suspension, and has a sliding, constantly moving connection between it and the steering wheel seems fundamentally wrong, to me. It has the unit working 100% backwards from how it is designed, and they were never engineered to take that kind of road shock and abuse. My personal opinion is I wouldn't give you 2 cents for that setup. Given these as my options, I'd go with the Toyota.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Toyota boxes are virtually bulletproof, and just because a company cannot get REBUILT ones that don't leak (sounds like a problem with the rebuilder, if it actually is a problem at all) don't paint the design with a wide brush! Who are the companies saying this, anyone who ISN'T selling a competing product? Gives a bit of a whiff of limburger to me...
There are still plenty of perfectly good used boxes out there at reasonable prices just do a search on Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market you don't need to spend hundreds for a rebuilt box! Mid Fifty has the conversion kit without the box, it bolts in on a 53-56 but will work on 48-60 by drilling a couple new mounting holes in the frame. the early axles require a couple extra parts. Check here for details: Toyota Steering Box Swap For 1948-1960 Trucks .: Articles
disclaimer: I have no vested interest, I never received a thin dime or even a T-shirt for the above article, no expectation I ever will.
I have no personal experience with the R&P conversion, but I too don't like the concept.
There are still plenty of perfectly good used boxes out there at reasonable prices just do a search on Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market you don't need to spend hundreds for a rebuilt box! Mid Fifty has the conversion kit without the box, it bolts in on a 53-56 but will work on 48-60 by drilling a couple new mounting holes in the frame. the early axles require a couple extra parts. Check here for details: Toyota Steering Box Swap For 1948-1960 Trucks .: Articles
disclaimer: I have no vested interest, I never received a thin dime or even a T-shirt for the above article, no expectation I ever will.
I have no personal experience with the R&P conversion, but I too don't like the concept.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,511
Likes: 1
From: peyton, colorado
I've got a Jag IFS so I don't have a dog in this fight, but..I don't like the rack and pinion kits out there, either. I have some difficulty with the steering shaft and u joints moving with the suspension travel. The Toyota looks like a good option running through otherwise stock linkage, which works fine without bump steer. If rack and pinion is really what you want, I'd look at the unisteer r+p. You'd have to mount it farther forward, near the axle and change to a cross steer linkage, among other things, but that's the only way I'd see a r+p working on a solid axle. If you're interested in the unisteer, we can explore it.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 113
Likes: 3
From: Prescott Valley AZ
Just saying what we were told by No Limit. They say the boxes are hard to find???? I know a friend that ordered the kit from CPP and got everything but the box and they never sent it because they couln't get one. He sent the kit back.
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
I don't know what their definition of "hard to find" is, but doing a quick search on car-parts.com (see link in my previous post) for 83 Toyota truck/steering box power/4x2/any area gave me 2 pages of hits with used in mostly the 75-150.00 range, and at least one reconditioned one.
I have only heard of one person having problems with a used box (probably damaged on the OEM truck in front end collision IMHO).
I have only heard of one person having problems with a used box (probably damaged on the OEM truck in front end collision IMHO).
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,776
Likes: 2
From: springfield il
i am in the process of tweaking on paper and soon in actuality , a xmember mounted rack as that axle mount doesn't appeal to me and just seems dangerous if ya get in a wreck or ... as it would seem after it's hit it's travel limits wheres it gonna go ? up into your chest ??????????? i was using the k member from a 91 bird i parted but have run into many little clearance problems with the flatty , so im back to square one , or just be smart and if and when i do the irs / ifs just get an m2 , but i did wanna add a rack to the straight axle , manual , to eliminate some of the bump steer issues with lowering it due to the pitman arm . toyota boxes aren't so dain' easy to find here in the rust belt , or im not kicking over the right rocks here .............as far as durability problems , my buddy norm has two of the toy trucks he beats the daylights out of , one with over 600,000 miles on it and the frames and bodies rust out way before the mechanical parts ever will so .....
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
i am in the process of tweaking on paper and soon in actuality , a xmember mounted rack as that axle mount doesn't appeal to me and just seems dangerous if ya get in a wreck or ... as it would seem after it's hit it's travel limits wheres it gonna go ? up into your chest ??????????? i was using the k member from a 91 bird i parted but have run into many little clearance problems with the flatty , so im back to square one , or just be smart and if and when i do the irs / ifs just get an m2 , but i did wanna add a rack to the straight axle , manual , to eliminate some of the bump steer issues with lowering it due to the pitman arm . toyota boxes aren't so dain' easy to find here in the rust belt , or im not kicking over the right rocks here .............as far as durability problems , my buddy norm has two of the toy trucks he beats the daylights out of , one with over 600,000 miles on it and the frames and bodies rust out way before the mechanical parts ever will so .....
Any bump steer with the stock or lowered axle can be minimized fairly simply. Bump steer is pretty minimal by design with parallel leaf suspension.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,776
Likes: 2
From: springfield il
welp ax i am not a freakin' expert here , and no i'm not being a smart a-- , just what i've been able to find read here and abroad points to some MAJOR BUMPSTEER { remember this is my first straight axle equipped daily , the work trucks don't count as i'm not lowering them changing things ... } . i mean hades it could be as simple as it seem's but rarely is it that way . so skool me on why an x member mounted rack is going to be a problem or point me to an article that will explain it . hades i had the guys at flaming river swear that a rack on a straight axle isn't gonna work worth a d-m- anyway creating even more bump steer so .... 
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Bumpsteer is the unintended change in wheel steering angle (direction the wheels are pointed in) vs the steering wheel position as the vehicle passes over irregularities in the road due to mismatch in steering component/suspension geometry thus causing the vehicle to wander and/or require steering input to correct. Almost all vehicles exhibit some bump steer, deliberately designed ( or comprimised) in or unintended. To discuss bumpsteer theory we need to assume that all steering and suspension components are in perfect condition and we are not talking about drunken monkey wander or tramlining effects of worn components or alignment/tire issues that are often (erroniously) grouped into bumpsteer.