5 replies to this topic

[ee601]

Thinking of replacing my steering rack at 72k, to reduce the final bit of play in the steering (rest has been done) and maybe to help with the bump steer. Anyone have any words of wisdom between the Elise Shop Hurricane http://www.elise-sho...58e5386f6ea8ee5 And the VX220 parts one http://www.vx220part...-steering-rack/ Could they both be the same design? I was led to the vx parts one from the Titan site, not sure how I reached the other one..? Not asking for anyone to slag off any suppliers, just anyone with a useful opinion based on any experience would be great. Thanks people... Ian

[Arno]

Having refurbed my Eliseparts quick-rack I know that they are indeed different than the normal Titan ones when it comes to the pivot points on the steering arms.

 

The basic rack is still a Titan, but the sliding rod is a little shorter and the steering arms are (as a result) longer than the ones Titan sell as a replacement.

 

Also (as a result) they use a smaller diameter cover for the steering arm balljoint inside the rack, because at full lock it now has to move partly inside the metal tube of the rack where the OEM rack stops with the balljoint cover just shy of the rack housing at full lock.

 

This means that the Elisepart steering racks move the pivot point for the steering arms more inboard compared to the OEM one and this results in a somewhat different geometry in the suspension. If this is good or bad for the bumpsteer setup I can't quantify yet, but even at fairly low ride heigths and with riser plates fitted the steering is quite stable even with un-even loading like ruts and bumps.

 

I don't know if the Elise-shop one uses the original geometry for the rack or not..

 

Bye, Arno.

[ee601]

Interesting, thanks Arno. Great response, much appreciated. Do you have driving experience from OEM to the EliseParts one.? Sounds from your description like it is an improvement, yes? Cheers Ian

[Arno]

For me it was an improvement over the OEM rack geometry.

 

Had the raiser plates already fitted with the OEM rack, but the Eliseparts rack seems to have helped remove some of the direction changes on single-sided bumps even with a decent amount of toe out on the front with my current geo.

 

Can pretty much let go of the steering wheel at any speed and don't have to worry it will suddenly veer to one side because of a bump or rut in the road.

 

Bye, Arno.

[davemate]

I have the hangar111 supplied one (which comes from Elise parts as far as I remember), a great improvement, having a quicker rack really makes the car what it should have been, in my opinion. Not sure if this helps, but I am delighted with mine.

[ee601]

Thank you Chaps. Very useful info, just what I needed. Car was initially intended mainly for the track, but I just can't resist taking it out for a nice sunny B road blast in this weather, so maybe the heavier parking would be a small price to pay. Cheers Ian