ReSpeed rack & pinion conversion

[ian65]

A great thread here that shows the amazing quality of the ReSpeed rack & pinion steering conversion for the 1st gen RX7....

http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t ... light=rack

.

[Arvika]

I made this modification in June.
Just a brief explanation and a few pics...
I did mount the control arms with new ball joints, rack of Mustang with 1:15 gear ratio and also the new control arms from Re-speed made ​​of aluminum.
And apparently it is also a new motor mount included in the kit.
All bushings are Powerflex type, so it will be a bit sturdier than the original.
For those of you who are paying attention ... Lower control arms are now sitting on the side opposite to the original.
Why I will explain later!







Photos from mounting the "thing" in the car!

The first part to dismantle was the steering column.

Here is the steering wheel gone


Had to struggle a bit with the hated screws that hold the ignition lock


All dismantled, note odometer reading ...
210000km (130 488 miles) and still it is a unopened engine, Wankel rules! 136 701 miles at todays date...


Old front end down and in comparison with the new


Emty with all the old steering parts gone


The steering column pulled out of the "house" and the new axle there to fit the new u-joints.
Originality it's fitted with some type of hot melt adhesives, just to heat properly and pull apart.
New base is riveted, plus adding a shrink tube on the top of it.


Tucked into the tube again, and new bushings in the lower section.



New bushings in the rear control arm...


Everything including new sway bar in place


I had to cut off the ends of the rack from the Mustang a bit ...
Here is everything in place including new spindle and steering joints.


New bracket to the steering column


You were aware farther up the old mounting holes for the stabilizer bar was empty.
It's now fitted in the same bracket as the rear control arms ...
Here are all sprung out, so the angles looks weird.


Caster brace bracket sits in the old holes where the steering gear and auxiliary control arm used to be.
Here you also have the reason why I changed place of the lower control arms.
You avoid cutting the plates used in the original end stop positions.
The picture is then taken from behind!


Right side from rear. There is also an extra brace between these brackets.


And from the front...


The u-joints between the steering column and the rack. No cheap stuff...
It was a bit messy before I got all the measurements right, the middle piece rod need to be cut to the right length!


Right side front view



Finally, I can after a few months of intensive testing just love this conversion.
Go-kart feeling is probably the best way to describe the car, so much more directly controlled.
No backlash and a gear ratio of the steering gear at 15:1, considerably shorter than the original.
The gym next if you're going to do a lot of parking...

On twisty country roads the car come to it's best, extremely distinct and with much better road feel.
Another plus is that it does not behave like a snake on the Stockholm rutted highways.
The only downside I found is as I feared a little missing of some relevant Ackerman angle.
On the other hand, I do not turn the wheel much at the speeds which I like best!

I am so pleased!

[DB RX63]

Great thread, it would be great if Re-Speed offered a RHD set up of the rack and pinion kit.

Has anyone ever sourced a rack that would fit the FB in RHD form ?

[mpk490p]

A gen 2 rack and frame can be done Tim at Rxmotors did doms
Search on ausrotary as I'm sure there is stuff on their to

[DB RX63]

Chaps,

There is a blanking plate approx 90 degrees from where the steering shaft inputs to the rack.

Does this mean that the rack can handed and therefore used on a RHD car ?

[DB RX63]

The problem I have is that due to rally regs, I cant use the S4 FC front susp set up. I can however fit a rack, as the works cars did have them later on. What I am trying to understand is how it would work with the existing steering arms, tie rods etc as well as the size of rack. Ideally a Mk1 or Mk2 Escort one would be best as that way I can use a quick rack.

Most of the info I have found on Aus Rotary is concerning power steering, which is not what I'm after.

What I really need is access to a Gp B RX7 that has a rack fitted..............

[shaunwil]

I asked them about it and the biggest issue is getting a compatable rack for RHD for reasonable money. They felt all the bits could be used for RHD but the rack was the issue.

Wonder how much it would cost to send them the escort RHD rack to make fit !

Shaun

[Arvika]

I asked them about it and the biggest issue is getting a compatable rack for RHD for reasonable money. They felt all the bits could be used for RHD but the rack was the issue.

Wonder how much it would cost to send them the escort RHD rack to make fit !

Shaun

Just bring the rack and take a short flight with RyanAir to Stockholm, and you can measure on my car...

[ian65]

Just re-read this thread.... that's a great post by Lars

It's a pity we can't get hold of one of these Respeed setups.... I'm sure we could reverse engineer it and get something fab'd up to suit RHD.... plus there must be a plethora of rhd racks that would fit if we had the basic subframe

[Chud]

Nissan Micra racks fit but don't give you spectacular lock.