New T3 Steering Rack

[Tweeds]

Techno Toy just sent out an email for their new, custom made S30 steering rack. Check it out: https://technotoytuning.com/nissan/240z/ultimate-steering-rack-240z

[duffymahoney]

Pretty darn cool. 

[thumpgun]

I ordered the T3 Ultimate Steering Package, you get their billet steering coupler and high clearance outer tie rods with the rack, but it hasn't arrived yet. 

[billgtp]

I think I will do the same. Finding parts for the old one is a pain

 

[tadslc]

Why would this be better than the deal Z Car Source has running now for their steering rack kit for $407.00? (Sorry for the long link)

https://zcarsource.com/steering-rack-240z-260z-280z-70-78-new/?utm_source=Z+Car+Source&utm_campaign=df4f5bb556-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_02_07_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e019922a90-df4f5bb556-28816032&mc_cid=df4f5bb556&mc_eid=2e500e7ede

[rturbo 930]

I'm skeptical that the Z Car Source rack is actually new as claimed. The one in the photo looks like a used rack that's been painted, and it looks like it had some surface rust on it that was cleaned up because the finish isn't perfectly smooth. Also, I am not aware of any reproduction rack of any kind other than the T3 rack, which is why they went to the effort of creating a new rack to begin with, because there wasn't one available before. Maybe the ZCS rack has new rack and pinion in an old housing? I'm surprised this is the first I'm hearing about it since getting an actually new/rebuilt rack and not just a repainted or resealed used unit has been a problem for years now. 

[Reptoid Overlords]

I have T3 coilovers on my ZX.  I like them a lot.  They are also very communicative regarding the specs you want, how long it will take to build etc.

Edited August 24, 2022 by Reptoid Overlords

[Yarb]

I bought a new rack a little over 2 years ago from a specialty company that strictly sells rack and pinion assemblies. I’d have to go back and find the vendors name in my records but they do exist.

[Lazeum]

My Z has always got some king of loose steering (3-5 millimeters of free steering wheel rotational movement). I was able to reproduce the mechanical play with rack on bench to exclude any problem with other components from my car. I could turn pinion by few 1/10th of degrees while rack was not moving at all by using a gauge in any direction.

So I've ordered an ultimate T3 rack hoping to get rid of this problem for good. Unfortunately, I end up with exact same problem as before 😞  

Has any of you have experienced same problem with their rack? Should it be this way? (I guess not!) Have you been able to solve it?

[duffymahoney]

Could it be tie rod roll?  

[Lazeum]

It is not, they are super tight (i.e. very hard to move by hand) with 0 play while I can clearly see input pinion moving. tie rod ends are also new on my car.

Old rack has been tested without tie rods on bench.

Edited January 2 by Lazeum

[crayZlair]

I got a new rack from T3 before the holidays. Just now took it out of the box. Being curious, I set up a test fixture of sorts to check for free play.

Using a 24" piece of aluminum, and a dial indicator, I came up with the following results:

I'm not very good at math, but I think that the rotation measured at 24" is very minimal. My results show no play.

After doing a little research, I am moving about .2 degree in my testing.

Edited January 11 by crayZlair