I am asking what racks have been used to produce power steering in Fieros? So far: 1) Chevette 2) Merkur XR4 3) F body (Firebird) what yrs??? others??? thanks in advance, Sandy
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10:06 AM
PFF
System Bot
CYNFIERO Member
Posts: 92 From: Northridge, CA Registered: Jul 2003
.......Sandy's car....... there's a Fiero in there somewhere.
Heheh! thanks, Gary.... Yeah, there still are 'some' parts of a Fiero in there, a manual Rack for one, that needs to be replaced! To answer 'CYNFIERO' 's question..., I'm getting old, fat and tired! My front tires are 255x45x17's(rears 275x40x17), sticky, and are a PITA to turn at a stop, or slow roll! So I'm, like others, are investigating POWER steering racks. So 'ruin a perfectly good sports car' is not a word for me, moreover, the word 'enhanced' comes to mind! Sandy
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12:48 PM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
I hear yah. P/s is the best route for large front tires. I too sport 255/30/19's up front. However, during a winter switch-back to smaller 225/40/17 I don't like the feel.
D1S rack.
[This message has been edited by madcurl (edited 11-08-2004).]
you guys are making me wonder if i should adapt a power rack to my fiero while i'll bolting in my 3400tdc since it came with the power stearing pump unit
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01:56 PM
cowans Member
Posts: 630 From: Gloucester, Ontario Canada Registered: Aug 2000
I hear yah. P/s is the best route for large front tires. I too sport 255/30/19's up front. However, during a winter switch-back to smaller 225/40/17 I don't like the feel.
D1S rack.
'Madcurl' tell me about your D1S rack, how much work, what's is it out of? etc.. looks great! Sandy
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02:05 PM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
could we adapt the electrohydraulic PS unit from a mr2? instead of running long hoses from and engined powerd pump what if we used a mr2 unit and whatever rack fits...
Ok, visited a rack rebuilding shop yesterday...Their suggestion, and from what I've seen so far, might be a good one, is to use a PS rack out of a 87>89 Dakota. The actual length is pretty much on (measured by eye), the rack ends use the same GM threads and looks pretty easy to bolt up to the Fiero crossmember. The intermediate shaft is different but last night I was looking at both the Fiero and Dakota intermediates, the Fiero uses a bolt clamp(to the rack) on the lower universal, the Dakota uses a splined joint with a roll pin, but as luck would have it, I believe they will interchange, by simply pressing out the universals, and switching them. No, I have not tried this yet, and no, I don't have any pics yet! I am just in a early search mode and will probably not attack this until the spring, car is in hibernation now! 'Madcurl' has offered his connections to this and I will follow up with this contact later this week..! 'TaurusThug", I did look at an electro-hydraulic unit but was a little apprenhensive with the contact points(to start/stop the motor) within the steering column. (the motor only runs when wheel is turned)I know that the NSX car uses one as well, but I shy away from the possible complexities of it! Anybody else.... Sandy
[This message has been edited by cowans (edited 11-10-2004).]
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07:56 AM
tesmith66 Member
Posts: 7355 From: Jerseyville, IL Registered: Sep 2001
Ok, visited a rack rebuilding shop yesterday...Their suggestion, and from what I've seen so far, might be a good one, is to use a PS rack out of a 86>89 Dakota. The actual length is pretty much on (measured by eye), the rack ends use the same GM threads and looks pretty easy to bolt up to the Fiero crossmember. The intermediate shaft is different but last night I was looking at both the Fiero and Dakota intermediates, the Fiero uses a bolt clamp(to the rack) on the lower universal, the Dakota uses a splined joint with a roll pin, but as luck would have it, I believe they will interchange, by simply pressing out the universals, and switching them. No, I have not tried this yet, and no, I don't have any pics yet! I am just in a early search mode and will probably not attack this until the spring, car is in hibernation now! 'Madcurl' has offered his connections to this and I will follow up with this contact later this week..! 'TaurusThug", I did look at an electro-hydraulic unit but was a little apprenhensive with the contact points(to start/stop the motor) within the steering column. (the motor only runs when wheel is turned)I know that the NSX car uses one as well, but I shy away from the possible complexities of it! Anybody else.... Sandy
hmm interesting - but whats the lock-to-lock on a dakota rack? (rack gear ratio compared to fiero)
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08:44 AM
cowans Member
Posts: 630 From: Gloucester, Ontario Canada Registered: Aug 2000
hmm interesting - but whats the lock-to-lock on a dakota rack? (rack gear ratio compared to fiero)
Sorry, meant to post that.... I believe it's 3 > 3.25 turns. So, it won't give any aggressive benefit, but for my case, (large wheels) it will do! BTW, there are spacers(blanks) that can be installed to limit the actual throw of the rack (stops) but the ratio will remain the same. Sandy
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09:31 AM
mrfixit58 Member
Posts: 3330 From: Seffner, Fl, USA Registered: Jul 99
I was in the U-Pull-It yard last friday and noticed that the 87 RX7 has front steer. The rack looks close but I did not have a measuring tape to verify. If anyone has time to check this rack out (sounds a little obsene ), let us know what you find out.
I did power steering in my 88GT for ONE reason, FAST RATIO. I liked the feel of the 88 even with my 215 45 17's. I hated the feel of my 87GT (I think pre 88's need power steering) at sub 5mph speeds. That was one nail that helped kill the Fiero. But in 88 the steering was much improved, but still had a slow ratio. I love the twisty roads and wanted a faster steering ratio in my 88 so I would not have to work so hard at the wheel. The "F" body power rack does exactly what I wanted it to do. Now my steering wheel is only 2.25 turns lock to lock from the stock 3.25 stock 88 Fiero. I know that the 88 is listed as having 3.0 turns lock to lock but that is conservative, it is more than that. This rack does not "hurt" the "feel" of the Fiero. It feels very good. The feel is not at all like a Caddy. I can steer the car with one hand at a dead stop but that does not mean it has no effort at 70mph. You need to drive one before you say it will "ruin a perfectly good sports car" Lots of VERY $$$$$$ sports cars have power steering.
BTW the Fiero is not perfect, I like to think that I am helping to make it better that is why I let other people drive my car. I like to show people that the Fiero is better with the right power steering system in it.
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Rickady88GT QuadCam 3.5 V6
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02:28 PM
Nov 10th, 2004
Rhino88gt Member
Posts: 718 From: Maumelle, AR Registered: Jun 2003
Thanks for the replys..... 'tesmith66' hmm, I already have 2 independant rad fans running in front of each rear wheel that draws a fair amount of current(60 amps((have a caddy alternator to handle this))), not sure in my case that I want another full-time draw! (have no idea how much draw that would require??)
'mrfixit58'... have to check out an RX7, but then the ??'s of metric shaft interchanges may apply... good idea though!
'bruce cornell' 1st I've heard of this, anymore info, pics?
'RCR' thanks buddy!
'Rickady88GT' I like your setup, nice job! Great for Autocross! In 'my' case, the rear wheels track SO much wider than the front (rearend is 2" under 8') that the car has pretty aggressive steering all on its own! I'm not sure that a quicker ratio would be a good thing.(Well, maybe for "doughnuts") Kudos to you, I certainly enjoyed your build and may still follow your lead...
), let us know what you find out.
that is why I let other people drive my car. I like to show people that the Fiero is better with the right power steering system in it.
