Z32 rack and pinion into S13 steering rack? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

Def · 10-24-2008, 05:45 PM

Can a Z32 twin turbo rack and pinion drop straight into an S13 non-HICAS steering rack?

I'm having my steering rack rebuilt at a local shop who assured me they could find a way to quicken the steering ratio on my S13 non-HICAS rack by swapping in different rack/pinions - well, come to find out they said the best they could do now is to install stoppers to stop the rack short of full travel to give less "lock to lock turns." Uhhh.. not what I really wanted. They're leaving the research up to me, so I'm a bit annoyed at the whole process now... Hoping there's something I can do to get the steering ratio a little quicker.

turtl631 · 10-24-2008, 10:44 PM

Haha...idiots.

No other input here. Why are HICAS racks more expensive and hard to find than HICAS S13s?

sillyvia13 · 10-25-2008, 10:21 AM

I got a hicas rack from junk yard $76.50

Call junk yards for days.

you can get knuckles to shorten throw, well rack will be same but will feel more responsive

gl

*brndck* · 10-25-2008, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turtl631

Haha...idiots.

No other input here. Why are HICAS racks more expensive and hard to find than HICAS S13s?

hicas cars are far less common, therefore mucho dinero.
kyles (soreballz) gf nicki has a hicas rack in her coupe. its awesome.

D.Bo · 10-25-2008, 10:52 AM

so a hicas rack would be better?

ryguy · 10-25-2008, 11:06 AM

Hicas rack is quicker. Make sure you're actually getting a hicas rack though, because people buy hicas racks and send their non-hicas cores back to the rebuilder, who then mistakenly sells them as hicas racks.

Def · 10-25-2008, 04:31 PM

So does anybody know about swapping in a different ratio rack and pinion like that of a Z32 TT?

BustedS13 · 10-25-2008, 09:22 PM

Steering Quickeners - summitracing.com

Def · 10-25-2008, 11:48 PM

I know what a steering quickener is, and I don't want to install one in the car, otherwise I'd be asking about one.

The pinion gear and rack from a HICAS S13 is about $310-320 new, but at that price I think I'm just going to forget about a faster steering ratio.

soreballz · 10-25-2008, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brndck

kyles (soreballz) gf nikky has a hicas rack in her coupe. its awesome.

Srsly. Her rack is amazing. It just feels so good.

sillyvia13 · 10-26-2008, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soreballz

Srsly. Her rack is amazing. It just feels so good.

which rack is this?
Cause I got a rotten mind...

lol...

Hashiriya415 · 10-26-2008, 12:49 AM

have the shop cut your knuckles were the tie rods bolts on and shorten them. It's like no more then $100 for a shop to do.
My opinion is find a different shop, that is so dump install stoppers to get quicker ratio

ryguy · 10-26-2008, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hashiriya415

have the shop cut your knuckles were the tie rods bolts on and shorten them. It's like no more then $100 for a shop to do.
My opinion is find a different shop, that is so dump install stoppers to get quicker ratio

How is that going to quicken the steering?

Hashiriya415 · 10-26-2008, 12:05 PM

your knuckle is a lever, shorter the lever the less your tie rods move to give you the same angle and giving you quicker ratio. Let me know if I have to make a video so you understand it should be very basic for you to see it in your head and understand.

Def · 10-26-2008, 02:45 PM

Thought about that, but I don't know if I trust welding a cast piece for track usage. You'll stress your knuckles way more at the track than drifting.

Hashiriya415 · 10-26-2008, 02:58 PM

you can weld it together 4x stronger if you know how, add additional metal plate all the way around. I mean just be creative

Def · 10-26-2008, 03:04 PM

Cast iron just doesn't weld all that great. They should really be TIG welded to get close to the original strength, and I only have a MIG welder. Plus there is no way you're going to get full penetration on such a large square piece.

I was going to go for a quicker ratio when it was $150 as the shop first said, but at $330+ or quite a bit of labor to mess with the knuckles and potentially weaken them I'd say it's not worth it for me. It'd be nice to have a quicker ratio, but it's not all that necessary on the track IMO.

For anybody that's curious, I looked into the Nissan parts catalog and the 300ZX pinion gear looks too long to fit in the S13 rack.

tastyratz · 11-17-2008, 11:30 AM

I've done some looking at the z32 rack today too. I know this is an old thread but I wanted to add some information for people who search.

From what I heard from a rack rebuilder the 300zx rack is a different length, is a much larger diameter (overall, even though the part where the bushing goes is the same since the bushings are interchangeable), and uses different pressure fittings. The 240sx has O ring type fittings while the z32 has banjo fittings. He also mentioned the sensor on the body as well.
"You could certainly try stuffing it in there and see if it would work I guess, but I wouldn't try it myself"

No free lunch there.

10-24-2008, 05:45 PM	#1
Def Post Whore! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,701 Trader Rating: (16) Feedback Score: 16 reviews	Z32 rack and pinion into S13 steering rack? Can a Z32 twin turbo rack and pinion drop straight into an S13 non-HICAS steering rack? I'm having my steering rack rebuilt at a local shop who assured me they could find a way to quicken the steering ratio on my S13 non-HICAS rack by swapping in different rack/pinions - well, come to find out they said the best they could do now is to install stoppers to stop the rack short of full travel to give less "lock to lock turns." Uhhh.. not what I really wanted. They're leaving the research up to me, so I'm a bit annoyed at the whole process now... Hoping there's something I can do to get the steering ratio a little quicker.

10-25-2008, 11:06 AM	#6
ryguy Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chicago Suburbs Age: 35 Posts: 1,544 Trader Rating: (5) Feedback Score: 5 reviews	Hicas rack is quicker. Make sure you're actually getting a hicas rack though, because people buy hicas racks and send their non-hicas cores back to the rebuilder, who then mistakenly sells them as hicas racks. __________________

10-25-2008, 09:22 PM	#8
BustedS13 Post Whore! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Phoenix AZ Age: 39 Posts: 10,287 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Steering Quickeners - summitracing.com __________________

11-17-2008, 11:30 AM	#18
tastyratz Zilvia Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: nh Posts: 995 Trader Rating: (4) Feedback Score: 4 reviews	I've done some looking at the z32 rack today too. I know this is an old thread but I wanted to add some information for people who search. From what I heard from a rack rebuilder the 300zx rack is a different length, is a much larger diameter (overall, even though the part where the bushing goes is the same since the bushings are interchangeable), and uses different pressure fittings. The 240sx has O ring type fittings while the z32 has banjo fittings. He also mentioned the sensor on the body as well. "You could certainly try stuffing it in there and see if it would work I guess, but I wouldn't try it myself" No free lunch there. __________________

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10-24-2008, 10:44 PM	#2
turtl631 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Milwaukee WI Posts: 900 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Haha...idiots. No other input here. Why are HICAS racks more expensive and hard to find than HICAS S13s?

10-25-2008, 10:21 AM	#3
sillyvia13 BANNED Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: nh Posts: 1,645 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	I got a hicas rack from junk yard $76.50 Call junk yards for days. you can get knuckles to shorten throw, well rack will be same but will feel more responsive gl

10-25-2008, 10:52 AM	#5
D.Bo Zilvia Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Orleans Age: 35 Posts: 284 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	so a hicas rack would be better?

10-25-2008, 04:31 PM	#7
Def Post Whore! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,701 Trader Rating: (16) Feedback Score: 16 reviews	So does anybody know about swapping in a different ratio rack and pinion like that of a Z32 TT?

10-25-2008, 11:48 PM	#9
Def Post Whore! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,701 Trader Rating: (16) Feedback Score: 16 reviews	I know what a steering quickener is, and I don't want to install one in the car, otherwise I'd be asking about one. The pinion gear and rack from a HICAS S13 is about $310-320 new, but at that price I think I'm just going to forget about a faster steering ratio.

10-26-2008, 12:49 AM	#12
Hashiriya415 Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: San Francisco Age: 36 Posts: 1,007 Trader Rating: (22) Feedback Score: 22 reviews	have the shop cut your knuckles were the tie rods bolts on and shorten them. It's like no more then $100 for a shop to do. My opinion is find a different shop, that is so dump install stoppers to get quicker ratio

10-26-2008, 12:05 PM	#14
Hashiriya415 Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: San Francisco Age: 36 Posts: 1,007 Trader Rating: (22) Feedback Score: 22 reviews	your knuckle is a lever, shorter the lever the less your tie rods move to give you the same angle and giving you quicker ratio. Let me know if I have to make a video so you understand it should be very basic for you to see it in your head and understand.

10-26-2008, 02:45 PM	#15
Def Post Whore! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,701 Trader Rating: (16) Feedback Score: 16 reviews	Thought about that, but I don't know if I trust welding a cast piece for track usage. You'll stress your knuckles way more at the track than drifting.

10-26-2008, 02:58 PM	#16
Hashiriya415 Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: San Francisco Age: 36 Posts: 1,007 Trader Rating: (22) Feedback Score: 22 reviews	you can weld it together 4x stronger if you know how, add additional metal plate all the way around. I mean just be creative

10-26-2008, 03:04 PM	#17
Def Post Whore! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,701 Trader Rating: (16) Feedback Score: 16 reviews	Cast iron just doesn't weld all that great. They should really be TIG welded to get close to the original strength, and I only have a MIG welder. Plus there is no way you're going to get full penetration on such a large square piece. I was going to go for a quicker ratio when it was $150 as the shop first said, but at $330+ or quite a bit of labor to mess with the knuckles and potentially weaken them I'd say it's not worth it for me. It'd be nice to have a quicker ratio, but it's not all that necessary on the track IMO. For anybody that's curious, I looked into the Nissan parts catalog and the 300ZX pinion gear looks too long to fit in the S13 rack.