Power Steering Install

Lifer · Post by **Lifer** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 1:17 pm

Master Yota wrote:Rack and Pinion style steering WILL NOT work on a solid axle...

Why not?

Master Yota · Post by **Master Yota** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 10:45 am

Lifer wrote:
Master Yota wrote:Rack and Pinion style steering WILL NOT work on a solid axle...
Why not?

Rack and pinion was designed to work with IFS suspension. If you think about how a solid axle moves up and down and then think about how a rack steers, you'll soon discover why it won't work.

A rack has two fixed length links - one on each end that transmit steering force to the steering knuckle. On an IFS vehicle, as the suspension cycles, it travels in an arc - keeping the same distance between the steering knuckle and the rack, hence the fixed length link can operate without binding.

A solid axle moves up and down in a straight line (hit a speed bump too fast or jump the truck and bottom the suspension out). This linear movement shortens the distance betweent the knuckle and the end of the steering rack. This only way to compensate this is to shortent the link (bend it) force the rack to steer (massive bump steer) or shear the tie rod end off. Any of these outcomes would make the vehicle either inoperable, or unsafe to operate.

Lifer · Post by **Lifer** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 12:26 pm

I see what you're saying, but if the rack were mounted directly to the axle housing, seems to me that it would cease to be a problem.

On the other hand, that would require a rather long slip joint in the steering column to allow for suspension travel. Maybe it's best not to second-guess the Dodge engineers after all!

Master Yota · Post by **Master Yota** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 8:10 pm

Yep... Anything can be made to work - the real question is: Should it?

Mounted directly to the axle I suppose would work, but it would be so vulnerable to obstacles that it wouldn't last very long. Plust the linkage from the coloum to the rack would be pretty hinky (although I think I've seen it done on one of those "scary steering" websites...)

I suppose that if a double ended hydraulic ram can be made to function (as in full hydraulic steering) then a rack could too... Just not in the traditional manner of having the steering device bolted to the frame...