Power steering

Don Pamponi · March 04, 2007, 09:45:48 AM

Hi folks

As you know, I have been moaning on about the 1st gen\'s crappy steering.

Tony had a great idea involvolving transplanting the front crossmember, rack, brakes & shocks from an FC.

This would solve a whole bunch of niggles in 1 hit.

I\'m told it can be done without too much messing about (for skilled person).

All I have to do now is find someone to take on the project!

(go on Tim, you know you want to really:yes )

mpk490p · March 04, 2007, 11:25:07 AM

Don why dont you try and get a power steering system from a GSL model?
ok you might only get one for a left hander but it must be easier to convert than trying to put a s2 front end in?

heres a start ebay number
150095135667

ive seen other part pump etc on ebay before

Mark

Don Pamponi · March 04, 2007, 07:00:29 PM

Its only the front crossmember you have to replace, re-drilling the chassis rails. My 12AT has the same engine mounts as a 13B, so there\'s not too much to do except re-drill the hubs to 4 stud.

Don Pamponi · March 28, 2007, 12:19:08 PM

Ho Ho! At last Tim has caved to the presure & agreed to take on the steering conversion!

FC front end here we come! Will it be powered or not? Dunno yet, will keep you posted.

I expect, if the transplant is successfull, Tim at RXmotors will have a que of customers wanting rack & pinion conversions (& you get bigger brakes too).

shaunwil · March 28, 2007, 12:50:47 PM

We wait with baited breath

Shaun

Don Pamponi · March 28, 2007, 08:13:28 PM

Gonna get it dyno\'d again too. 235ish rwhp I reckon @ 1bar. It had 218 pre boost controller/water inj.

antnicuk · March 28, 2007, 08:38:58 PM

thats good news, it will transform the car.

mpk490p · March 28, 2007, 09:34:33 PM

sorry Don but i think your mad, i had just changed my top mounts to some uprated Tokico\'s its had new bushes last year new shocks and springs and handles like a dream no drifting and you can feel whats going on,
no i drive a new car too with all the toys and it takes the fun out of driving
are you going to change the rear end too? your looking to find a spare wheel which wont fit you new set up
think about it you will probably be putting in a steering system that is still 15 years old just refurb the one you have and it will work fine, i have had 4 RX7\'s and not had a problem with any of them, you just need the money spending in the right place i swear

Mark

antnicuk · March 28, 2007, 09:40:40 PM

I appreciate what you are sayng but i have had 4 first gens and driven many more, my elford has a 13b Turbo engine with a rack and pinion from an Egi and its superb.

The last first gen i had had less than 40k miles on it and was poly bushed throughout and although it was better there is just to much lock to lock steering although the play wasnt too bad.

This way he gets excellent brakes and more options with the suspension. My TII is 15 years old and the steering is tighter than my new car.

No point putting something back to stock when you can make it better for the same money.

I\'m sure that the wheel issue can be resolved, you can buy multi holed wheels or have them re drilled. My spare wont fit over my big front brakes so there is always a compramise somewhere

mpk490p · March 28, 2007, 09:45:21 PM

sure im not deniying it is probably a better set up but Don has be saying he wont drive the car because of it!!
just trying to say ive driven a lot worse and they must be something serious wrong with the steering he has to make him feel that way
Mark

antnicuk · March 28, 2007, 10:52:57 PM

i suppose it depends on what your expectations are, i\'m sure he wouldnt mind me saying that he has spent a Lot of money on the car. I would want it to be a pleasure to drive not a challenge. (thats why so much work has gone into mine)

Cycaduk · March 29, 2007, 09:57:32 AM

Hi, my last 1st gen used to be very vague on the steering. It improved a lot when I put in new steering bushes (Â£5.67 if I recall,) and got even better with new tyres and a wheel alignment.

mullins · March 29, 2007, 11:58:36 AM

Tim, i may be interested in some of your previous setup. I\'ll send you an e-mail. This sounds like an interesting conversion. Just be careful when changing the geomerty of you suspension! Small changes in angles obviously have a big effect on the handling and saftey of the finished setup!

have you tried increasing your castor like i suggested?

mpk490p · March 29, 2007, 12:09:47 PM

Quote from: CycadukHi, my last 1st gen used to be very vague on the steering. It improved a lot when I put in new steering bushes (Â£5.67 if I recall,) and got even better with new tyres and a wheel alignment.

Cycaduk, you back, are you down near me again?
this is kinda my point, im sure it may be worth trying a couple of small things before going all out and having problems with the car crabing and aligment etc etc
maybe its just my style of driving ive done a lot of rally and circuit days in cars worth 10 times mine but in some cases i like the way mine feels
just 10 penith each to there own :cheers
Mark

antnicuk · March 29, 2007, 06:00:02 PM

Quote from: mullinsJust be careful when changing the geomerty of you suspension! Small changes in angles obviously have a big effect on the handling and saftey of the finished setup!

have you tried increasing your castor like i suggested?

Thats the whole point of translplanting the whole subframe, you retain the TII geometry complete, the only thing that you need to do is locate the top of the shocks the same distance apart as they are on a turbo II which is easy as the towers are the same width on both cars. The geometry doesnt change that way.

I have done a similar conversion and its worked really well.