What to use for Rack and Pinion?

[Lavender Sidebottom]

Hello,

I would like to know what people use for rack and pinion steering. I'd like to buy a used one somewhere. Should I be looking for an old ATV rack and pinion or can I get one from a junkyard off a small car? And if so, what kind of car?

Thanks

[nutz4sand]

Cost and weight will play big factors on your choice. The looks may be important to you and you may not give a rats tailend about how it looks?

Not to many ATV's I have ever heard of or seen used racks. They use a wigwag or whatever its called lol (Its got a name that escapes me at this moment) Full size Car racks can and have been used and some "cut them down" to the right width. Others simply use the rack to get the steering movement (back and forth) and then make a simple adaptor bar that goes across. The bar connects to the rack to move. Then the tie rod mount holes are drilled in the proper place for minimum bumpsteer. Car racks are usually a tad heavy though. Not all are bad.

Some buy custom racks to save every ounce and look cool.

A steering box can be used to if its gonna connect to a swingset bar that locates the tierod ends too.

[Gene]

What are you building? Not many use ATV racks that I remember. Junk yard racks have been used but more common are billet steering racks.

Here is an example: Billet End Load Rack

[diirk]

SxS's like Rhino's and such have a rack. Stock ones can be found for around a hundy. Aftermarket jumps to $400+.

[Duden89]

Desert karts have em for around 100 bucks i believe.

[ProtoDie]

I use the one Gene listed.

Pretty well built, and the mount points are wider than others

[standfast]

Heavy abuse will kill one of those chinese racks (at least on a bigger car). On a smaller car they will probably last much longer. The ProAm rack that Kartek sells has served me well.

[voodoochikin04]

i used a gm rack and pinion from a buick or something... then i cut it down.. really easy once it was all apart. smooth action, built solidly. adjustable tension on the pinion to rack contact. it was a power unit also, but i just plugged the holes. in order to use any automobile R&P, they are gonna be very wide, so they will need to be cut down. i took out almost 14 inches from mine. the main body was aluminum, but the end where the power steering fluid ran through was steel, so i could cut and weld that part. then i drilled and tapped holes to mount it all back together. i retained the original ball and cups on the ends of the rack. took me about 5 hours, to dissasemble, clean, cut, weld, grease, and reassemble. measure carefully!!!

[atomicjoe23]

I have used the Desert Karts R&P and have been very happy with it.