Rack and Pinion mounted to a stock K-member

[RaisinBran]

Has anyone ever mounted a rack and pinion to a stock k-member?  Can't afford Bill's k-member, but do need to convert to rack and pinion steering do to the Hemi w/ custom fabed headers.  Stock steering will no longer fit.

[rokketride]

Saw this thread on another forum where a guy stuck one in the middle of his gutted K.  Dont know how it works though.

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=12203

[Jim_Lusk]

Not to be confrontational in any way, but if you're doing a hemi conversion you're already spending a small fortune. What's another $3-4k?

Now, bear in mind that I'm still running modified stock front suspension and probably always will. So I don't think every one of these cars needs an aftermarket suspension system, but you're going to spend a lot of time trying to re-engineer something and you probably won't save as much as you're thinking. Add up the cost of all the rack related parts and then the front end rebuild, new torsion bars, shocks, etc. I'd be surprised if you saved $1k.

[RaisinBran]

Thanks for the link thats exactly what I was looking for!

[bOb shingler]

 

[Jim_Lusk]

I'll bet it's got Ackerman problems...................

[blown71duster]

Here is a kit,

http://www.justsuspension.com/product/210

[rokketride]

Here is a kit,

http://www.justsuspension.com/product/210

Been plenty said about that one on other boards (mostly negative).  Here is the original source:

http://www.unisteer.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=UNISTEER&Category_Code=MOPAR+BE

[bOb shingler]

I'll bet it's got Ackerman problems...................

          it's made to go straight, has zero bump steer and not recommended for the street.

[bOb shingler]

Here is a kit,

http://www.justsuspension.com/product/210

  why

[RaisinBran]

Thanks bOb shingler for the pic!  This will be race only also.  It is for a customer, I can only recommend an alterkation, but ultimately its his money and decision.

[Prodart]

With that angle on the rack . I bet it bump steers like a Biatch too..................

[RaisinBran]

Shouldn't be a problem in a Drag car with no bumps right?  The car has allready been converted to a Hemi and custom headers built and installed without any room for the stock steering setup.  This will have to work.  Thanks for everyones help!

[blown71duster]

Here is a kit,

http://www.justsuspension.com/product/210

  why

I personally dont have one but , My guess would be for a street car that wants modern rack and pinion type steering (tight feel with power assist) with the tie rods in the factory location , just pointing out options. 

[RaisinBran]

Here is a kit,

http://www.justsuspension.com/product/210

  why

I personally dont have one but , My guess would be for a street car that wants modern rack and pinion type steering (tight feel with power assist) with the tie rods in the factory location , just pointing out options. 

I have no room in the factory location.  That is why I am looking into mounting it in the k-member.

[blown71duster]

I have no room in the factory location.  That is why I am looking into mounting it in the k-member.

 Understand, if ya wanted easy you would leave it stock (boring) , and worry about things like how did the factory paint this.

[RaisinBran]

 Understand, if ya wanted easy you would leave it stock (boring) , and worry about things like how did the factory paint this.

Thanks man, by the way speaking of not boring looks like you got a turbo on your mopar?

[bOb shingler]

With that angle on the rack . I bet it bump steers like a Biatch too..................

I'll bet it's got Ackerman problems...................

          it's made to go straight, has zero bump steer and not recommended for the street.

   didn't you read the entire sentence?

[chryco]

Checkout pics of early prostocks . The Motown Missile used a front K member very much like Bob`s . My original boxed unit is also very similar , also wasn`t for street use.
   Chryco

[loiq]

Checkout pics of early prostocks . The Motown Missile used a front K member very much like Bob`s . My original boxed unit is also very similar , also wasn`t for street use.
   Chryco

Here's a good article on bump steer for those who care:

http://home.bresnan.net/~dazed/bump

[bOb shingler]

i just read most of the article, well at least to the part they started to talk about mustang parts. getting bump steer out is a real pain in the a$$  but i was able to do it in just 2 weeks of working on it before i went to work at 1600hrs. well damn i did an immense amout of reseach on the subject before i installed the rack steering. when you all look at a picture it doesn't show all the angles to everything so in reality you can't make an intelligent comment on what it does or doesn't do until you put a toe gauge on it  and run it through it's full suspension travel. i even had a buddy come down and help with the toe gauge just to make sure my calculations were correct.   's rule   the bottom balljoints are not turned around or switched side to side, i made a custom steering arm and just cut off the stock one next to the balljoint.  's still rule.

[RaisinBran]

Thanks for the article on bump steer!  Hey Bob, do you have any pictures of the bottom of the k-member and/or pictures of the steering arms you made?

[bOb shingler]

yes i do.

[NYrr496]

The only thing I have to say about this is if one of those kits (that looks cheesy IMHO) is 1200 dollars, you're almost halfway to an Alterktion.

I think Bob's is the way to go if you want to retain the K frame, but if you're going to bolt it on with those big ass brackets, I'd look for something else.