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RWD Steering Rack
Minicooper - 16/4/24 at 09:45 PM

Hello all, anyone know of a rwd steering rack around 500mm between pivot points. I thought the MG Midget steering rack could possibly be suitable, but I can't any mention of the measurement between pivot points. maybe a morris minor rack again can't find any measurements, thanks in advance

Cheers
David


nick205 - 17/4/24 at 08:21 AM

Can't help with a rack suggestion.

However...

What's your application (might help people suggest something)?

When I built my MK Indy, MY Engineering modified the Ford Sierra rack to narrow it (i.e. bring the pivot points closer together to better align with the chassis width). Admittedly they had to dismantle the rack, modify parts on a lathe and then reassemble the rack.

Rescued attachment img_7.jpg
Rescued attachment img_7.jpg


nick205 - 17/4/24 at 10:26 AM

Smart car is RWD and small/narrow - could be an option.

Renault Twizy is very small/narrow, not sure on geometry, but might be worth a look.


MikeR - 17/4/24 at 01:58 PM

Didn't Russ recommend a rack he used in his furoe (or however you spell it) from an early cinquenenco (or however you spell that).

Might be worth checking the archives.


Minicooper - 17/4/24 at 03:22 PM

Thanks for the reply's.

I have looked at the suggestions but they are not suitable. I'm using top and bottom wishbones so a lot of the macphearson strut steering racks have extra long track rod arms so the pivot points are completly in the wrong position. The cinquenenco rack is behind the crossmember so turns wrong way.

As I am making the wishbones there is a certain amount of adustment available probably 475mm to 525mm but ideally 500mm.

Looks like nick's suggestion of machining a readily available rack like the escort to exactly what I need is the most likely solution.

Anyway before I do that I would like to rule out the MG midget steering rack, I shall continue to look for the pivot point distance of said rack

Cheers
David


russbost - 17/4/24 at 05:39 PM

What difference does it make whether it's RWD or FWD if the rack is the right dimensions?

The Cinquecento is same as Seicento & was the smallest readily available production rack I could find, distance between ball joint centres is approx 400mm

See this thread Thread


Minicooper - 17/4/24 at 07:46 PM

It's because most fwd racks are behind the crossmember so when you turn the steering clockwise the car turns to the right, put the same steering rack in front of the crossmember like most of rwd racks then the same clockwise turn of the steering will turn the car to left. I know you turn steering racks upside down and all that but it's far easier if there is a rack suitable that can be used in a conventional manner

David


russbost - 18/4/24 at 08:28 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Minicooper
It's because most fwd racks are behind the crossmember so when you turn the steering clockwise the car turns to the right, put the same steering rack in front of the crossmember like most of rwd racks then the same clockwise turn of the steering will turn the car to left. I know you turn steering racks upside down and all that but it's far easier if there is a rack suitable that can be used in a conventional manner

David


The Fiat rack, although RWC is behind the X member, so I turned it upside down, dead easy, you'd never know that's not how it was meant to fit, places the input spline to the left of the column


Minicooper - 18/4/24 at 11:06 AM

quote:
Originally posted by russbost

The Fiat rack, although RWC is behind the X member, so I turned it upside down, dead easy, you'd never know that's not how it was meant to fit, places the input spline to the left of the column


My car is right hand drive though, so the input to the steering rack would be on the opposite side to the steering wheel and also facing away from the steering wheel.

For use in a single seater width car like yours it's fine and can be made to work well, for me it doesn't and it's not anywhere close to 500mm either.

Cheers
David


nick205 - 18/4/24 at 12:41 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Minicooper
Thanks for the reply's.

I have looked at the suggestions but they are not suitable. I'm using top and bottom wishbones so a lot of the macphearson strut steering racks have extra long track rod arms so the pivot points are completly in the wrong position. The cinquenenco rack is behind the crossmember so turns wrong way.

As I am making the wishbones there is a certain amount of adustment available probably 475mm to 525mm but ideally 500mm.

Looks like nick's suggestion of machining a readily available rack like the escort to exactly what I need is the most likely solution.

Anyway before I do that I would like to rule out the MG midget steering rack, I shall continue to look for the pivot point distance of said rack

Cheers
David



Hi David,

Might be worth phoning a company that sells or refurbishes MG Midget racks. They may be willing to measure the rack for you.


jacko - 18/4/24 at 07:37 PM

From what I have found the midget mk111 1500 and the morris miner had the same rack
If this helps
It’s off google so may be wrong