BurntRubber

Where can i get a manual RACK AND PINION steering for a 1st gen rx7?



my recirculating ball is super sloppy. If i'm going to replace it, i'd might as well UPGRADE at the same time to rack and pinion. Does anyone know of a bolt in rack and pinion? if not... has anyone successuflly taken one from say a VW rabbit, or MR2 or something? I have a welder... but i'm just curious about length etc



thanks in advance

FB MAZDATURBO

Well CP offers one but i would not deal with them personally from experiences i have had with them but they do use a VW rack in their kit. The other option is to a Fc front subframe swap into the first gen car.There are writeups on that on here too!

Slammed_GSL

I've been running a 82' VW Rabbit manual rack for 3 years now, go with a Jetta or GTI to get a better ratio.

Download the CP Racing installation instructions for their rack and buy a complete rack and the steering column with the link. You will need all of those to do the conversion. It took me 10 hours to fab mine up. I got mine on blocks so I'll take some shots and post them in the next day or so. You will need a wire welder, cutoff saw, wirewheel and grinder....lot's of smarts to work through some of the details.

Better have a second DD in the driveway.

Once you pull the old steering box you are commited.......mine busted so I had no choice.



Also, you might consider converting to front steer and use a FC rack.....that's my next maybe project.

Gotta get the new tranny, coilovers, camberplates and altenator relocation installed first.

BurntRubber

are you getting alot of steering angle? which tie rod ends/knuckles are you using? did you sleeve the steering colum when you welded the 2 together?

Slammed_GSL

I just posted pics and a small write:



http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=511015

FB MAZDATURBO

nice work slammed

Slammed_GSL

I did not sleeve the shaft, I used stock rod ends(new with grease fittings)



Angle/turning radius is about the same as a truck , not good. I gotta do 3 point turns in tight spots....I now plan my turns and have no problems, first 2 weeks I looked pretty stupid a couple of times because of the wide radius. I plan on fixing this, reading up on chassis design and suspension setups.

I'll post whenever that happens, just trying to get my camber plates powdercoat right so I can get them installed with the new GC coilovers . May 5th is getting here way to quick.....Apple Blossom Festival-Rotary Rally in Wenatchee, WA.

stevehoover

Check out the crossmember and rack setup from Respeed

dayton

i've been to the apple blossom festival before!!! i haven't thought about that in years!!! i was stationed in bremerton, but one of my best friends was and is from wenatachee... i could drive the passes both stevenson and crystal with my eyes closed ( and as many a night crossing those passes asleep behind the wheel as we made it, we are both living proof!!!) glad to be here!!! thanks for letting me remminess...