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Quick Steering
Nitrogeno25 - 19/8/05 at 04:53 PM

I read somewhere some time ago that someone provides a box that consist of two gears and reduce the steering turns. As there are't quick racks for mine, how safe are this devices and what do you think?

It looks simple.

JoelP - 19/8/05 at 04:57 PM

id be a bit paranoid myself, you would want to be VERY sure that it was failsafe

Fred W B - 19/8/05 at 06:36 PM

Has been discussed here before, avalible form USA circle track parts suppliers. Think they are called "steering quickeners"

cheers

Fred WB

Peteff - 19/8/05 at 07:10 PM

Rorty posted about one that was adjustable, not sure where it was from though.

NS Dev - 19/8/05 at 07:12 PM

a lot of autograssers used to use a chain drive, commonly a duplex timing chainset from a mini or the like, probably a bit crude for on road use though.

It's not too hard to make a rack remember though.

Fred W B - 19/8/05 at 07:22 PM

Chain drive -

I saw two sprockets and a chain used like that once , but as a dodge to connect a steering shaft to the rack input, when a transplanted engine got in the way of the original steering shaft position.

If I had a photo I would post it to start a thread titled "Worst detail seen on a modified or fabricated car"

Cheers

Fred WB

britishtrident - 19/8/05 at 07:49 PM

"Only one will be left at the quickening"

Peteff - 20/8/05 at 07:13 PM

Connor McCloud it is then

Rorty - 22/8/05 at 05:35 AM

I haven't looked it up, but I do seem to remember posting some details of steering quickeners before. Look for quickeners made by Afco, Coleman Howe, Pro Lite, D&M etc. The most common ratios are 1.5:1 and 2:1.
I have used the Pro Lite on some of my cars, but most of the quickeners are designed for heavy Yank cars and are built proportionately. Some run multiple gears, some use paired planetry gears and some use 3/8" sprockets and simplex chain.
Two 1/4" hub sprockets and a length of 1/4" chain have worked well for me in the past in sub 1760kg cars.

NS Dev - 22/8/05 at 08:00 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Fred W B
Chain drive -

I saw two sprockets and a chain used like that once , but as a dodge to connect a steering shaft to the rack input, when a transplanted engine got in the way of the original steering shaft position.

If I had a photo I would post it to start a thread titled "Worst detail seen on a modified or fabricated car"

Cheers

Fred WB


I have seen this on many autograss cars, as I said. Whilst it isn't a setup that I would aspire to have, I have NEVER heard of a failure, and these cars use their steering pretty violently during the average race!!!

On these cars it is always done to speed up the steering, and cam drive sprockets are very handily timed at 2:1.

On my autograss car I use a special rack, from GB Engineering in Nantwich (as do most grassers) which gives 1.5 turns lock to lock and costs £150 brand new and is centre drive and fully diy rebuildable. I also use modified Cortina uprights (steering arms shortened and altered in height) which gives me 0.8 turns lock to lock and about 75 degrees of lock on the "tighter side" wheel.

Fred W B - 22/8/05 at 08:48 AM

Re chain drive in steering

Fair enough - It just didn't strike me as a particularly elegant detail.

Do you not get a bit of slop in the system though? I suppose it doesn't matter so much on dirt. I found in karting that once the track rod ends develop any sort of slop you had to keep making small steering corrections through a long sweeping bend. Of course, karts do have very direct steering which would emphasise the effect.

Cheers

Fred WB

NS Dev - 22/8/05 at 11:45 AM

yes, there is a small amount of play, even with the chains kept nice and tight. As you say, it's not really noticeable on dirt, but would be on tarmac I guess.

Rorty - 22/8/05 at 01:25 PM

It's no more noticible on the road than some conventional systems. The D&M quickenerI mentioned above is chain drive and is for bitumen use.
Here in Oz, one of the most common (and approved) methods used by conversion companies on LHD cars and trucks imported from the US is to run a chain drive behind the dash to the original RHD steering box. Don't knock it until you try it!
I've designed my own racks now though, so chain drive reduction is a thing of the past.
FYI, some private conversions here use RHD steering boxes and racks (where available) from the RHD Chevy and Ford US street sweepers/utility vehicles etc. which virtually bolt straight into the C10, C15, C20 and F100, F150 and F250 pickups.

Nitrogeno25 - 22/8/05 at 01:35 PM

First of all many thanks to all for your replies!!!

Now the question should be, Is It worth?

I'm building with a Chevette rack and it is like 20 turn to each side but who knows when I finish the car what would happend!

Gonzalo

NS Dev - 22/8/05 at 02:56 PM

chevette as in Vauxhall chevette?

if so, quick racks are available off the shelf for these anyway.