[Slickriffs]

No-Limit engineering now offers a power steering kit for my 55-59 Chevy application...It's a rack and pinion setup that mounts directly on the straight axel. Looks nice. I want to drop the axel 3". The literature says it will work with any spring or axel height but it seems to me that if the axel is dropped 3", then the tie rod ends would end up 3" lower than the steering arms. Anyone have any experience with these kits or rack and pinion?

Here's the kit:

http://www.nolimit.net/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=61

 

[54truck]

57 chevy truck

I saw one some years back. The donor vehicle was a Dodge Dakota. The axel, if I am remembering correctly, was dropped a few inches, but I think they came that way. The owner said it worked okay and was much better than the original steering.He had also installed a later model tilt steering column. Bud

 

[davedeltadog]

?

I guess I don't understand your question. If the rack is bolted to the axle and the steering arms are bolted to the spindles and they are attached to the axle, then the whole assembly would be relocated 3". By dropping, do you mean you are using dropped spindles? If so than you do have a problem, unless you can relocate the steering arms. If the rack and the steering arms are not close to the same plane you will have a bad case of bump steer.

 

[39Hemi]

If the rack bolts directly on the axle then dropping the axle will not cause a problem. Bumpsteer will not be a problem because the rack will move with the axle and the relationship of the rack to the steering arms will be constant. The question I have is how do you account for the movement of the rack relative to the steering column. The length of the steering shaft will have to change as the axle moves up and down. If there is a well engineered solution for steering shaft then it is a very simple system.

 

[woodz428]

Not familiar with that kit, but it maybe that after a certain drop that the rack ends may have too much angle for good leverage.

 

[Slickriffs]

Thanks everyone...

Just to clarify when I say dropped axel..I mean sending the axel to Mor-Drop
and dropping it 3". Since the the rack mounts to the lowered portion..the rack ends would about 3" lower than where the tie rods end attach to the steering arms.

Are the rods that come out of the Rack fixed?..or can the be angled?

I think I'll go to plan B..which used to be plan A. There's a power steering conversion that mounts a Toyota powr steering box within 3/4" of the original..comes with a special pitman and drag link..I have more confidence in that setup.

Thanks again everybody.

Keith
www.keithlebo.com