Hey all! Autocross season is over so it's time to tinker. I've found that 3.5 turns lock to lock on the steering is incredibly slow and makes slaloms a real hassle with larger tires. Is there anything I can do short of tracking down a GT rack to quicken up the steering? I've looked into adding an F-body rack but that's gonna be a TON of work... And expensive. I don't know if adding electric power steering would change the ratio at all, and I can't seem to find a definitive answer on that. So I'm left with quickeners. If they exist for this platform. Anyone have any advice?

I haven't got any advice, but I can certainly commiserate with you in regards to driving a challenging autocross course in a Fiero. I first drove my '84 and then my Formula at autocross events for 10(?) years. I'm no wimp, but it was quite a workout after a dozen runs or so on some days, due to all the wrestling with the steering wheel through slalom after slalom. When I eventually drove my Subie at autocross, with power steering of course... what a freakin' difference!

Steering Quickeners are "universal" - in other words, you will need to fabricated a mount and engineer a way to place it inline with your steering linkage. May or not be legal for your class in Solo II.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: I haven't got any advice, but I can certainly commiserate with you in regards to driving a challenging autocross course in a Fiero. I first drove my '84 and then my Formula at autocross events for 10(?) years. I'm no wimp, but it was quite a workout after a dozen runs or so on some days, due to all the wrestling with the steering wheel through slalom after slalom. When I eventually drove my Subie at autocross, with power steering of course... what a freakin' difference!

I could be wrong, but from what I see a steering quickener increases the gear ratio for fewer turns lock to lock, which would make the wheel significantly harder to steer, and more of a workout.

"Electric power steering", if it's what I'm picturing, (the under-dash unit) will not change the ratio. It will just allow you to crank the wheel with less effort.
To change the ratio, you will need a separate gearbox. Or a different rack and pinion.

quote Originally posted by Raydar: "Electric power steering", if it's what I'm picturing, (the under-dash unit) will not change the ratio. It will just allow you to crank the wheel with less effort. To change the ratio, you will need a separate gearbox. Or a different rack and pinion.

That's what I figured. I wasn't sure if the electric motor had a gearbox integrated into it or what.

A) You can swap in a Vette or F-body rack- I would then suggest using a 3rd-gen MR2 PS electric pump- mounting it up front for better weight distribution....The pump can simply be hooked up to power and the Fiero speedo-signal....

B) If you don't want to do that, I came up with a way of mounting the stabilizer bars so that their strength varies due to acceleration-squat and brake-dive...To give you an idea how much better steering response is, the first time I drove with the modded mounting, the hair on the back of my neck stood up because it felt like someone was turning the wheel BEFORE I did....here is a link to my post explaining what I did; https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/140674.html

I will say though, that the extreme I took mine to makes the rear slippery when nailing it out of a turn- I may back it off a little...but it is really nice having a completely "Neutral" car....

quote Originally posted by cvxjet: A) You can swap in a Vette or F-body rack- I would then suggest using a 3rd-gen MR2 PS electric pump- mounting it up front for better weight distribution....The pump can simply be hooked up to power and the Fiero speedo-signal.... B) If you don't want to do that, I came up with a way of mounting the stabilizer bars so that their strength varies due to acceleration-squat and brake-dive...To give you an idea how much better steering response is, the first time I drove with the modded mounting, the hair on the back of my neck stood up because it felt like someone was turning the wheel BEFORE I did....here is a link to my post explaining what I did; https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/140674.html I will say though, that the extreme I took mine to makes the rear slippery when nailing it out of a turn- I may back it off a little...but it is really nice having a completely "Neutral" car....

That's so insanely above my level of intelligence. I don't even understand how you figured that out. I thought I was hot **** putting a rear bar on my 86.

quote Originally posted by Additivewalnut: I thought I was hot **** putting a rear bar on my 86.

Don't sell yourself short. A lot of Fiero owners never get around to doing that very worthwhile suspension mod.

quote Originally posted by Additivewalnut: That's so insanely above my level of intelligence. I don't even understand how you figured that out..

It was above my level of intelligence also- until I retarded- whoops, I mean retired- and had lots 'o' time to let smoke pour outta my ears...

I highly recommend swapping to a faster ratio rack with power steering. I used an F-Body rack and it made my Fiero a dream to autocross. I've also had experience with a quickener (2:1 ratio) in a MG we built (with a BMW power steering rack) and it was really twitchy, which was fine on track, but totally schizophrenic on the street. It would have been better with a 1.5:1 ratio. Both options probably have the same level of fabrication required, but I would definitely recommend the power rack over the quickener.

quote Originally posted by Zac88GT: I highly recommend swapping to a faster ratio rack with power steering. I used an F-Body rack and it made my Fiero a dream to autocross. I've also had experience with a quickener (2:1 ratio) in a MG we built (with a BMW power steering rack) and it was really twitchy, which was fine on track, but totally schizophrenic on the street. It would have been better with a 1.5:1 ratio. Both options probably have the same level of fabrication required, but I would definitely recommend the power rack over the quickener.

I'm considering getting the WCF hydraulic steering kit. My only point of concern is how to make lines to run from the front of the car to the power steering pump on the 3800. I know an option is to do an MR2 pump but those are basically unobtainable for any reasonable price.

I actually have one of those 3rd-gen MR2 pumps- and am not going to use it....If you want it, let me know...

quote Originally posted by cvxjet: I actually have one of those 3rd-gen MR2 pumps- and am not going to use it....If you want it, let me know...

I'd be VERY interested in that. Wiring it would be an experience to say the least. Is there a benefit to that over finding a way to make 72 foot lines for an engine mounted flavor of pump?

The pump is variable, so you get lots of assist at parking-lot speed, but very little when you are over 25 mph.....All you need to do is run a large power wire and a small wire from the speedo sensor....the mounting bracket will be the only difficult part. And that reminds me- one of the mounting arms is broke off.....I will take a pic so you can see what I am talking about.

The other thing this does is allow you to mount it up front- no long hydraulic lines- and better weight distribution; C&D magazine was doing their Lightning lap testing at Virginia International speedway....they tested a Cayman and also a 911 Carrera....Same lap times even though the 911 had a substantially better Power-to-weight ratio...Three other testers tried to improve the 911's lap time- could not do it! The critical thing that allowed better lap times was that while the 911 has a 40/60 weight distribution, the Cayman had a 47/53 weight distribution- making it handle much more neutral/benignly.

quote Originally posted by cvxjet: The pump is variable, so you get lots of assist at parking-lot speed, but very little when you are over 25 mph.....All you need to do is run a large power wire and a small wire from the speedo sensor....the mounting bracket will be the only difficult part. And that reminds me- one of the mounting arms is broke off.....I will take a pic so you can see what I am talking about.

That's probably not too horrible. Nothing a little flux core booger welding couldn't fix... probably. Feel free to PM so we can work out a deal. That would be really cool to have before the season starts up again in March.

Here are the pics I took today- I was planning on adding PS to the car back around 2018, but with Lupus (Contracted in 2019) destroying my body, there isn't much reason to do the mod- and it would be difficult for me to do now....

[This message has been edited by cvxjet (edited 01-10-2025).]

quote Originally posted by Zac88GT: I highly recommend swapping to a faster ratio rack with power steering. I used an F-Body rack and it made my Fiero a dream to autocross.

I completely glossed past this. What did you do for the pump? It sounds like I'm buying one off Mr.Jet, but I'd love to see how you have yours set up. No such thing as too much info.

[This message has been edited by Additivewalnut (edited 01-21-2025).]

I used the stock pump on the northstar for mine. The steering rack and pump both came with some of their original hard lines. I just cut them down to what would work for me and took them to a hydraulic shop and said I needed xx.x" of hose in between them and they made up the pressure line. The return was the same idea but just with hose clamps and oil cooler hose.

quote Originally posted by Craig71188: Steering Quickeners are "universal" - in other words, you will need to fabricated a mount and engineer a way to place it inline with your steering linkage. May or not be legal for your class in Solo II.

quote Originally posted by Raydar: "Electric power steering", if it's what I'm picturing, (the under-dash unit) will not change the ratio. It will just allow you to crank the wheel with less effort. To change the ratio, you will need a separate gearbox. Or a different rack and pinion.

Yes, there are steering quickener gearboxes. Yes, they increase steering effort.

I have been thinking that I'd need to try to marry up an EPS unit with a steering quickener in a package that would replace the stock steering shaft that connects the bottom of the steering column to the rack.

quote Originally posted by Will: Yes, there are steering quickener gearboxes. Yes, they increase steering effort. I have been thinking that I'd need to try to marry up an EPS unit with a steering quickener in a package that would replace the stock steering shaft that connects the bottom of the steering column to the rack.

Other than MR2 pump + firebird rack, I feel like that would be the most ideal setup possible