The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Rack n Pinion steering on a custom big bolt axle?

Hey Guys, I'm going to be doing what Grigg did and put a newer set of axles in my truck. I was working the other day (I work at a garage) and saw that the New Dodge 1500's are now using Rack and Pinion. I was wondering if that wouldn't be an easier set up in a custom axle setup than doing the worm drive stuff and all the tie rods? What do you guys think? It'd certainly save space I'd think, and plumbing and linkages would be a breeze....

Hy deerefanatic, as long as it was heavy enough to stand up to the loads and stresses of a big bolt. Do they make a 3/4 or 1 ton version?

If you aren't going to add power steering, forget the rack and pinion gear. I personally don't like rack and pinion steering, and I wouldn't go to the trouble and expense of converting a good worm-and-sector gear in anything, let alone one in a large truck. I know all the arguments in favor of rack and pinion steering, but underneath it all, the advantages are mostly on the side of the manufacturer, for saving in both cost and weight. As far as a mechanical advantage, you can get the same quick steering response in a worm-and-sector gear by using a longer Pitman arm and smaller steering wheel- like the early Corvettes. Then add power steering if there is any weight to the vehicle at all. Or get your daily work-out trying to steer the thing.

If you go to rack and pinion, you usually have to increase positive caster (I think) on the front wheels, to aid in returning the wheels to straight ahead after a turn. The increased caster causes higher turning effort, which is one reason you rarely see a vehicle with rack and pinion steering without power steering. Also, rack and pinion gears tend not to straighten from a lock position- you have to turn the steering wheel from that position. A worm-and-sector gear tends to return to straight from the lock without steering wheel assistance.

My opinion on the matter-- keep the worm gear.

Harvester

Ditto, keep the worm gear. A rack woudln't work very well with a beam axle anyway, as you would have to have some sort of way for the steering shaft to not only flex with the suspension motion, but it would also have to have some sort of plunge joint to accout for the length changes during that motion (like a driceshaft does). Nevermind the fact that available racks would be far too light to handle the stresses. That's wht you don't see them on anything larger than 1/2 ton. They're just now starting to use them on 4x4s, because of the strength issue.
I would like to note, rack cars do not run any more caster than cars with a tradional steering box. Average caster setting is rign at about 2-2.5 degrees. It's not unusual to run a car with a steering box at 3-4 degrees. Trucks do tend to run deeper, regardless of steering system, 3.5-5.0 degrees is common.

Cool. Nice stuff to know. I WILL be going power steering, that's for sure... Looks like I'll stay with a worm box then......

I've seen a rack and pinion setup on a semi truck front I-beam axle at a trade show, looked interesting, but I'm not convinced it's a good idea.

The normal Steering gear boxes, particularly Saginaw with the ball screw and rack and sector (not a "worm box") that has the integral PS valve and a cylinder or two work just fine, and are cheap and easy to work on.

Stick with a normal PS gear box.

Grigg

Ok, will do......