Steering question

[Joe Haggard]

I noticed some people mount the rack in front of the "front" A-arm mount and a couple mount it behind it. In my situation if it's behind, the tie rods are perpendicular to the center line of the frame, if it's in front it has more angle. My question is do I want it perpendicular or is there a reason others mount it in front of the A-arm mount. Any advice would be appreciated.

[greasemnky]

Depends if your steering arms are in front or behind the spindles. On my buggy, to keep the tie rods in line with the arms etc, to prevent bump steer, I actually mounted my rack completly outside the frame! Its actually bolted to the very front of my buggy. And I had to build a little box around it to protect it. Ideal set up, is to have your arms, and tie rods, all pivot in the same motion, to reduce bump steer.

[Joe Haggard]

Thanks for your response Grease Monkey, the steering arms are in front of the spindles, I think they line up better behind the "front" A-arm mount, I just wanted to make sure that there wasn't anything wrong with doing it that way.

[Bugpac]

if the tie rods angle back, you want them to stay angled back all the way threw the steering, If the get straight or angle forward they will lock up on you, same goes for if they start out angled forward, they must have that angle before or after center at all times, now the key is to have the right rack so when you turn right the tires turn right, you cant mount the same rack, in front or behind the wheel... Unless it is able to be flipped upside down...

[Bugpac]

As i see it in your pics, your steering will lock up when turned... When you try to push a rod straight it will go either way front or back, when it is at an angle it will steer and go that direction it is being pushed...

[greasemnky]

can you give us a front on shot as well?

Put it up on jack stands, turn it full lock either way, cycle the suspension up and down, and see if it binds etc, or wants to force the tire side to side

[Joe Haggard]

I just have it mocked up right now, the rack is just zip tied to the frame so I can figure out whether to mount it in the very front or right behind the first upright, I'd rather have it behind the first upright (A-arm mount), so as soon as it's tacked I'll get a picture from the front. So far it looks like the rack is too short, the pivot points won't be the same as the A-arms.
Hey Bugpac, which one of those pictures look like it's going to bind, the first or second?

[Bugpac]

second, it needs to move forward more..

[CARLRIDDLE]

1st pic is in front, and 2nd behind that upright? Front shot would be good too. I think most mount steering in front to save space for feet and pedals. Is that a Panther design??

[Joe Haggard]

Ok thanks bugpac, that way worked good. Here's some front shots, I checked for binding throughout steering and suspension travel.

Hey Carl, yes to answer your first questions. I ended up mounting it up front, everything seemed to work better. Yes it is from the panther plans, I built it about 5 years ago with a low budget and in a hurry.