RX8Club.com - Rack&pinion replacement

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Rack&pinion replacement

Hello everyone.
I have searched a good while and can not come up with a satisfactory answer.
My question is which rack is the best replacement for the stock unit.
Thanks

some details might help such as what engine you are trying to swap in

Thanks for your reply,
It is not a swap really, it is a project using the rx8 subframes.
Engine will be a 4 cyl. to be determined later,

are you planning on electric power steering or using a rack with a p/s pump. your question is very vague and i dont think you will get the answer you are looking for without more info

I am looking for a replacement for the stock electric one, preferably a manual rack since I will not be using P/S, or a disable hydraulic one.
Looking for the easiest one to mount,
I dont mind fabricating new mounts if I have to.
Thanks

maybe you saw this

but there were some comments to consider:

Quote:

Andrew Bailie

I have just removed all electrics from my rack. The issue with yours is that you have left the eletric worm drive setup in there. So you’re steering is going to feel the same as a faulty or disconnected rack. With mine i removed the whole rotating shaft setup, magnets etc. I then removed the bearing from the large housing and made up a nylon bush that presses into the bearing and sits hard against the housing end. the bearing holds it in place and centres it. Assembled with plenty of grease and back off the tension on the adjuster at pinion end. Its not in car yet, but it is fairly easy to turn just by hand and lighter again than your one.

Im only just prepping the replacement engine now, so it will likely be late this year before its up and running. the conversion is quite easy. the hardest part is undoing the nut that retains the bearing in the alloy end of the steering rack. i ended up cutting mine with an angle grinder and then punching the retainer out. Other than that its just a custom nylon bush between the bearing and end of rack to stop the shaft moving around.

Thanks Team for your reply.
I had not seen this video of his build, I had consider looking into this, but now I will look into it further as it will not require
fabrication of mounts or coming up with tie rod ends..
I have a manual rack from a Miata, that a friend will give to me if I can use it, but the mod of the original looks promising, again thanks for the video.
Have read many of your posts on suspension and set ups.
Thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chavelo (Post 4929347)

i have tried going NC miata as the track width is the same as the rx8

the NC rack is not a direct bolt on and requires mods to get it positioned and mounted on the RX8 subframe.

the one person I know of who did it with a depowered NC rack on a track RX8 ended up replacing it with a different setup (e-assist on the column shaft under the dash I think). Because the depowered NC rack was still too heavy and difficult to turn at low speed stuff; on/off the trailer, grid parking & maneuvering, etc.. At least that EPS setup does move the weight back closer to the CG of the chassis.
.

I'm guessing a Barra engine by the handle - must have been quite to accomplishment to squeeze one of those in the engine bay - if that's the case.

Noticed an LS 8 on a race car ads site the other day, running an FD rack. It was powered up though, with what I assume is an Astra remote pump.....you could do, the not entirely kosher depowering.....I'd expect some fabrication required either way.;)

sorry, there are NC hydraulic powered conversion kits out there, you shouldn’t de-power it though based on the previous comment

https://v8roadsters.com/product/eps-rack-conversion/

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