Following the success of our manual steering rack

I have been asked by Thurston to put together a LHD version with a little more travel for the drift cars. The work is being started next week, and should take approx 4-6 weeks for the rack to emerge.

The new rack will be the same speed, but have approx 40% extra travel. This will allow you to avoid using complicated methods of achieving extra lock.

If anyone is interested then I will order a couple more.

Jon







Photos courtesy of Gordon

 

Gordon,

To put it another way, assume that your stock rack will turn your front wheels to a 45* angle. This modified rack will allow them to go to, say 52*. On a drift car, this extra angle will allow the car to be even more sideways in a slide becasue the front wheels have the range of motion to continue pointing in the intended direction.

On a street car it would/should allow you to make an even smaller turn radius. You may have to trim the fenderwell to accommodate this though. The OP can probably verify that though.

Hope this helps

 

Couldnt have put it better myself

 

No problem, sir

 

Manual rack for drifting sounds painful.

But I do have a suggestion. Since everyone's setup is different (ie wheel widths, offesets, etc) it might be a cool idea to make an adjustable travel rack. Basically you could make the rack travel so ridiculous that wide body + super spaced out wheels would be required to not hit the LCA or sway bar. Then add in adjustable stops (rather than using the inner tie rod as the steering stop). Maybe drill the rack at certain intervals so that the "adjustable stop" can be bolted down.

Not sure if those bolt holes in the rack would kill its strength either, but it's an idea. The adjustable stops I imagine would just slide over the race before installing the inner tie rod and they would have holes to bolt down to the rack.

 

it doesn't feel like a manual rack at all..

 

Never tried drifting without power steering, can anyone chime in on how it is especially since quick steering input is crucial. Also, how much are we looking at to order one of these? I was looking to get my steering knuckles modified, but that would be awesome if you guys could fab some

 

i installed the rack yesterday and i was doing some minor drifting in a empty parking lot to test it out and the rack is very very smooth and responsive just point and turn

 

Due to the extra machining required for both the extended rack bar, housings and pinion bar the new rack will be £890.

 

I am the person who requested this rack be made.

A manual rack for drifting or anything for that matter should not be hard at all. My ae86 has a manual rack and I have no problem with it. Granted the fd is heavier but if your setup is correct I don't believe it will make a difference. Remember not to run too wide a front tire, use a good sticky compound possibly a semi slick in a 215 or 225 and you will have more front grip than 99% of you will need for drifting.

I was also looking at modifying my knuckles but this rack is an infinitely better option.

 

i run 245 up front and i felt fine for me.. but i also got big arms and forearms

 

Will this rack be included in the group buy?

If not, where there be a group buy for drift racks?

 

I will add the drift rack into the discounted group buy yes

 

Are the extended/drift racks wider at the ball joint where the steering arm attaches or is the steering arm just longer?

I have a bumpsteer problem that I am hoping can be helped with a wider width between the 2 ball joints (under the rubbers) at the end of the alloy billet section