Rack & Pinion Steering for our Mavericks/Comets?

Hello to all,
I spend a fair amount of time lurking on this website, but I don't respond too much. I appreciate all of the great information posted here, and the friendly atmosphere.

I did try a search through the forum for this subject, but I didn't come up with anything more recent than 2005 (possibly 2007), so here's my question:

Has anyone been successful at adapting manual rack & pinion steering to our cars?

I wonder if there is a factory rack for another car that can be adapted.

During my search on this forum I saw C**vy Cavalier, Ford Granada and Dodge Omni systems mentioned as possibilities - but no threads that seemed to indicate a successful installation.

I don't want to do the Mustang II suspension installation - just change to rack and pinion.

I don't want to spend $1400 to $2500 for a Total Control Products kit (no offense intended - I just want to do more of it myself).

Thanks in advance for any replies or insight.

Regards,
BaldEagleMav

 

i dont know of anybody who has done a "junk yard" rack and pinion swap. if you want to give it shot you need to goto the salvage yards and start looking and taking measurements. the conversions usually use a rack and pinion that usually move a center link located under it. the stock tie rods then goto that center link. or its something like that. its been a while sence i looked at one. you will want to look at cars with the rack and pinion behind the front axle center line. i rember seeing a few cars whos rack and pinions are mounted to the fire wall and move the center section. these are the ones that i think could work. i am not sure but im thinking it was a pontiac sunfire. heres a pic i found of one. you should be able to work with it. it is a center motion style.

 

I don't think a rack will have enough travel using Maverick spindles. You will need a 10 acre field to turn around.

 

that could be very possible.

 

Hi,

I just want to bump this back to the top to see if I get any more replies:

Has anyone been successful at adapting manual rack & pinion steering to our cars?

Thanks for your indulgence,
BaldEagleMav

 

I was looking a an aftermarket kit on a Mustang over the weekend, I took some measurements. But I still have to compare them to a Mav, and see, it looks like it should work. Some parts will need to be modified, but they all unbolt.

 

i've been working on this myself, but am looking to do P.S. rack. being a mechanic i see alot of cars and have been trying to find what is doable haven't found the right one yet, still looking. but has to be post spindle set up cause pre spindle left turn would go right and visa-versa!

 

I remember someone was working on making a Tempo one work. Maybe someone should measure one.

 

Am working on a cavalier/grand am rack now for my mav. I have the rack set up under the car and the mounting brackets are made. I am waiting on the u-joints to arrive before I do any final welding, for repositioning if needed. I modified the factory column and added some 3/4DD rod and a bearing to the end of the column. I think this will work great, I have installed this same setup in my 55 fairlane and my 65 fairlane and the steering is sooo nice. I do, however need to fix some bump steer in the 65 and am hoping the Pro-Motorsport bump steer kit will fix that. Will update later.

 

Take some pics of it please! I have a pontiac sunfire's rack in the garage That I was thinking about playing with it.

 

Oh yeah, I will have patterns for those who are interested, once it is finished......and pics too

 

Is it a center steer rack? I've looked at a few different ones, and they look like they would work. I just wish I had the time to mock it all up. I'm interested in seeing how it comes out.

 

yes, its a center steer rack, from a cavalier, grand am, the latest I saw one on was a 98 grand am. When I went back to get it the car had been crushed, bummer!! It is the same as the one pictured in the post above by bryant

 

does that rack have enough travel to give the same turning radius as the stock steering?

 

Short answer.......NO, but both my other fords are the same way, and the only time I have to deal with the larger radius is parking, so I just plan to take it wide and back up and go again.

The Pro Motorsport bump steer kit is "supposed" to help with that by repositioning the tie rod end closer to the center of the spindle and an inch lower to help eliminate bump steer. Now I havent tried this system yet, but do have one on order for my 65. Will post how that does when I get it installed