Has anyone done a conversion to a rack and pinion?
I`ll be ordering my k-member soon and was thinking
this would be the best time to do this. I belive i can
get the member uncoated, so fabarcation would not
ruin any finish. maybe a fourth gen rack? steer shaft?

http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/487725

 

i was thinking about this too just have been too lazy to post about it. Based on the fact that i havent heard of anyone doing it i bet you would be looking at 100% custom fabrication and welding because if it was simple wed all do it.

 

go to www.thirdgen.org/techbb2 and use the search button it gives you a ton of info. Apparently all you would need is a custom K member which spohn.net sells but theirs is not intended for street use its drag only forget why some safety concern. Theyre supposed to be makeing a k member with the accomidation for a 4th gen rack and pinion setup this year. Im going to send them an e-mail and ask whats going on with that.

 

you can with pa.....i don't think it's a matter of can you more or less can you afford it and do you really need it. i plan to change it over very soon, just don't have the time.

 

I`m really looking to chop some wieght off the front, my car with the big block has over 1 ton on the two frt tires. im thinking that steer gear has to be 40 pounds alone? I know the racks; I can twril in one hand like a battion. If the rack conversion is even half the cost of aluminum heads set up for .700 lift solid roller cam , it will be worth it. I have seen the pinto rack conversion and I know that is track only, but I`d like to have some power assist.

 

Can someone give me a quick rundown on the advantages of rack/pinion steering?

Also, I too heard about the Spohn K-Member that will accept a 4th gen setup.

 

I have very limited knowledge of the specifics of the two but what we have is reciprocating ball stering or something like that and basically its completly out of date. The types of cars that still use that type of steering are things like big caddies where the steering feels completly unconnected to the road. Anything today even vaguely resembling a sporty car has rack n pinion steering because the feedback from the system to the driver is far more precise and allows you to feel way more connected to the road. I recently drove an infiniti G35 coupe and the difference between the steering on that car and the steering on my camaro is rediculous this is what makes me really want to switch over to rack n pinion

 

I was recently going to do this with the stock kmember but it was too big and required too much cutting.

I bought a kmember from pa and and it would have made it much easier but I still haven't done it. I was going to do it basically because the original gear was taking up the space my ATI wanted to occupy. I have had the blower for almost 2 years now and can't put it on for this reason. I am in the process of making a new bracket for it to overcome this problem.

If I knew how to do it myself it would already be done but I don't. Rack and pinion is so much better.

The guy that said he would do the fabrication says I should make the blower work with the stock in case he can't get the rack just right.

The angles are all messed up because of the fourth gen rack length. The place where the inner tie rods pivot is way outside where the control arms do. If spohn makes one that utilizes the stock 4th gen stuff, I may sell my current one and go with it. I already have the rack and steering shaft.