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SOLID BEAM
AXLE, RACK AND PINION STEERING This is the
first truck I've fitted with the Rack and Pinion steering. My own 1962 Champ 1/2 ton pickup with a 280Z engine.
Although it was a daily driver and my shop work truck it left much to be
desired in steering comfort. The power
rack is a wrecking yard removal from a Dodge Omni.
This rack is a rear mount unit. EG
it mounts aft of the axle. The pump
was a GM unit. To use it I
had to fabricate the rack mount frame, a new steering shaft and mount the power
steering pump, hoses and cooler. I
replaced the original steering column with a "stubby" from a Chevy
Citation. Let's look
at some pictures with some brief explanations in text: Inside the
cab showing the steering column mounting and the upper u-joints for the shaft.
A rack mount was fabricated from steel plate to mount the Rack to the aft side of the axle. Looking at
the axle from fwd to aft.
Looking at the mounted rack from aft toward forward
In the engine bay the shaft runs as shown here. Upper end of shaft with mid-span support bearing
Note the telescoping shaft segment.
The pump was mounted on the left side of the 280Z engine on the bracket normally provided for the A/C compressor. The most
costly item was the custom made sleeves to connect the 14-mm inner tierod ends
to the 1/2 inch heim joints used as outer tierod ends and the conical adapters
to fit a straight bolt into a tapered hole.
This, my
first effort resulted in an improved steering but left some room for
improvement. The rack, behind the
axle, caused the shaft to come up almost vertical through the firewall to the
steering column. This resulted in a
"harsh" road feel in the wheel, with every bump transferring right up
into the wheel even though the shaft was fitted with a telescoping segment to
allow absorption. I deduced
that a more gradual upward angle on the steering shaft would allow the u-joints
to absorb a higher proportion of the road bumps via flexing without sending the
shocks up the vertical shafting. Next project
will be a "front of the axle" mount. |
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