Advice needed --> Responsive steering upgrade
 

Fellas,

One of the final touches to the 1972 911T ex Don Ramsay car apart from the ones pictured here:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/286274-upgrading-1973-rsr-ex-don-ramsay-pics.html

Is the one regarding the steering feel.

Now, as some of you may know, english is not my first language, and getting parts from US suppliers is kind of hard, specially when my mechanic does not know the specific part number, because trying to explain what I need in my limited english is a bit hard.

So, I hope I explain myself here. If I drive the car in a straight line, and move the steering wheel trom left to right rapidly; the car does not respond; I mean, the car continues in a straight line.

I need the car to be ultra responsive, a la go kart. I need a precise, direct feel, so that if I move the steering wheel even half an inch to the left, thefront wheels respond to that subtle movement.

I have been in touch with Leslie at Smartracingproducts.com and she has sugested 2 products:

-The "Smooth Steering Upgrade", and the
-"Bump Steer Kit"

Both of them have been discarded by my mechanic. He said that although they are good products it is not specifically what he is looking for, he mentioned something like changing the complete "Steering box".

Any pointers??

:confused:

Thanks in advance

cj

What condition overall is the front end in? Are the tie rod ends original? Has the steering rack ever been replaced? I am assuming your mechanic wants to replace the steering box because he has found excessive play in it? I don't think a bump msteer kit will fix your problem. All the front steering components have to be evaluated to see what is worn out of tolerance. Has the alignment been done recently?

I don't think the steering rack has ever been replaced; although I can't understand the difference between the steering rack and the steering box. The front suspension has new turbo tie rods, new ball & joints and new coil overs. THe alignment was done after the coilover conversion was finished.

thanks for any info regarding this.

cj

I have a factory ZF 2.5 turns lock to lock steering rack with factory turbo tie rods and boots installed. The rack has less than 15k miles(total) on it. It was built by ZF this way. Not a gear change with aftermarket parts.
Your steering rack should be the stock 3 turns lock to lock. Installing mine with dramatically tighten your steering responce. Even more so at higher speeds.
I will sell it complete with outer tie rod ends for $600.00 + shipping . Of course you will need to find out if this will help your needs. Im assuming your mechanic checked out the front end components (ball joints, tie rods, etc) and nothing is worn.
If your looking for a cheaper way to tighten it up just try a 330mm steering wheel.

Kurt Williams

thanks for the offer pjv, I will definately consider it, but the main problem is that i still do not know it that will actually help solve the problem...
Do you think the steering rack is the definitive response to the problem?

cj

could be your u-joints in the steering shaft, too.
can you measure backlash / play in your current steering box?

Maybe remove the bottom u-joint and see how much play you have in the box itself. see how much you can turn the box w/o any movement from the wheels.

Doug

Do you have any more info on that ZF steering rack?

There is no 'steering box' in Porsches. VW's had these, with a worm gear in them. Steering racks are all Porsches have. If you have play, you must look for the source of it. Jack the car up and have someone sit in it and move the wheel back and forth, then look underneath to spot the source of the play. If you move the wheel and check the car from underneath, you'll be able to spot the source of the slop. Replace parts as necessary.

ianc

thanks all!!

cj