Altima rack in your 240sx! questions

[deuceforty]

I know there has been much talk about the altima rack being put in the 240sx, but i havnt gotten a clear answer from anybody yet about what year to get.

it will reduce your lock to lock to about the same as a s13 hicas rack, so its a great upgrade for anyone tracking their car.


i have a 95 s14, i have been told to just get the same year altima rack that i have, however the racks are listed as

93-97
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-93-97-Altima-112-Steering-Rack-and-Pinion_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1 247QQcategoryZ33589QQihZ002QQitemZ120151245188QQrd Z1QQsspagenameZWD1V
93-95
http://cgi.ebay.com/100-remanufactured-93-95-Nis-Altima-Rack-Pinion_W0QQitemZ270190498819QQihZ017QQcategoryZ335 89QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem
96 http://cgi.ebay.com/STEERING-GEAR-RACK-1996-ALTIMA-73391-MI_W0QQitemZ260234883724QQihZ016QQcategoryZ33589QQ rdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem


my question is
are the auto and manual racks the same?
will the steering shaft bolt right up?
are the steering rack bushings the same?


its pretty straight forward, but ill do a write up whenever i get it

[ManoNegra]

Really....??? Have never heard of this in my life.

[mtx450]

Interesting...let us know how it works out!

[bigOdom1]

id say theres like a 90% chance it doesn't work. i would not try it without a junk one for fitment first

[deuceforty]

Really....??? Have never heard of this in my life.


i heard it through the grapevine via jerry and a few other guys from LKT at an engine swap party thing. ive heard it from a few other people too, but i havnt talked to anyone who has actually dont it before...


im more than willing to be a guinea pig, the prices cant be beat, and 2.1 L2L beats the hell out of the 2.7 or 3 or whatever stock 240 is


ill probably order one this week, i dont want a brand new remanned unit because IF it doesnt work, im out a load of money. 70 shipped for a nice rack cant be beat if it works out <3

[KA240SX808]

Would our Tie Rods fit? Sounds like something I would do :)

[S14DB]

I would have to think the travel on a FWD car would be less. I can't think the altima has the same steering angle as a 240.

[deuceforty]

I would have to think the travel on a FWD car would be less. I can't think the altima has the same steering angle as a 240.

i believe thats the point of this mod, it reduces the steering travel, so lock to lock steering is done quicker, and the cornering is more precise and less sluggish

:bow:

ordering my rack tonight, ill let you guys know how it is, ive got another rack from a 95 s14 also, ill take comparison pics etc.

[98s14inaz]

I'm interested now. I really want to see how this turns out. :werd:

[S14DB]

i believe thats the point of this mod, it reduces the steering travel, so lock to lock steering is done quicker, and the cornering is more precise and less sluggish

:bow:

ordering my rack tonight, ill let you guys know how it is, ive got another rack from a 95 s14 also, ill take comparison pics etc.

You really missed my point or don't understand how a rack works.

I'm saying the ratio on the racks are the same. The travel on the altima rack is less cause the axles on the altima can not handle the angle that the 240 can run. Since the travel is less, the lock to lock is less.

I have to think installing this rack will reduce your steering angle.

[xplicit240]

^^^^ i believe he is right. FWD cars have less steering angle since they have shafts. resulting in a smaller lock to lock angle. but hey let us know if it works out.

[Devil Man]

my alty could never turn as sharp as my 240 if its life depended on it thats what s14db is trying to tell you, your going to loose steering angle. if you want to do a mod to your rack go get yourself a 300zx rack.

[deuceforty]

You really missed my point or don't understand how a rack works.

I'm saying the ratio on the racks are the same. The travel on the altima rack is less cause the axles on the altima can not handle the angle that the 240 can run. Since the travel is less, the lock to lock is less.

I have to think installing this rack will reduce your steering angle.

i dont understand the physics or mechanics behind it, i will readily admit that.

this mod i caught in passing by a few pretty respected guys in the drift community over her, ive never done it, just heard that its basically the same as the hicas rack, which a lot of autox/drift guys do.

i hope it works out, if not im only out like 60 bucks right? :love:

im all about risks :)

[naed240sx]

You guys aren't keeping in mind the likely spindle differences. Just because X car has more steering angle than Y car doesn't mean that this difference is due to the steering rack. It could easily be accomplished by different front spindle geometry.

[Devil Man]

but if the rack is unable to move from left to right as far as an s13 rack then you will loose angle... for 60 bucks and the pain in the ass that it is to replace a rack i would have gotten the 300xz rack or the hiacus rack.

[nani]

^^^^ i believe he is right. FWD cars have less steering angle since they have shafts. resulting in a smaller lock to lock angle. but hey let us know if it works out.

they have CV Joint not shafts, and FWD cars do have less steering ratio. I think this could be a good mod for a daily!

[timtiminy]

interesting stuff... i havent heard of swapping an altima rack or 300zx rack...

[deuceforty]

sigh..

mods can delete or lock this thread, whatever they choose, i asked a buddy of mine who is tight with jerry and he said
"i dont think s14s can use the altima racks. i tried, jerry said he only heard of it on s13"

has anyone else heard about z32 racks in 240s? especially s14?

[TougeLabs]

Why not just install a steering quickener ? I was under the impression this does the same thing if not better.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/p/2030,177_Small-Body-21-Steering-Quickener.html

[TougeLabs]

I mean unless your rack is shot or something i think this may be your best bet for track. It will make your car like a shifter kart :)

[deuceforty]

I mean unless your rack is shot or something i think this may be your best bet for track. It will make your car like a shifter kart :)

my seals are completely gone, at half lock there is a solid stream of fluid coming out :(

[projectRDM]

sigh..

mods can delete or lock this thread, whatever they choose, i asked a buddy of mine who is tight with jerry and he said
"i dont think s14s can use the altima racks. i tried, jerry said he only heard of it on s13"

has anyone else heard about z32 racks in 240s? especially s14?

S13 and S14 racks are interchangeable.

[deuceforty]

S13 and S14 racks are interchangeable.

see thats what i thought too..


maybe its just one of those urban legends that dont work..

my buddy matt tried out a few different altima racks and he said that none of them would line up right :(

[DJ_Sunrise]

Devil Man - He means that the SPINDLE can PHYSICALLY affect the TRAVEL of the rack.

Shell out the money.. no biggee. Worst case scenario you can always sell it to someone. Let us know how it turns out.



-Bart

[S14DB]

To do it right, buy/rent/borrow a steering angle gauge and measure with the stock rack and the altima rack.

[KA240SX808]

Why not just install a steering quickener ? I was under the impression this does the same thing if not better.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/p/2030,177_Small-Body-21-Steering-Quickener.html

I like that Idea :)

[Devil Man]

I have read that a z32 will work.. i just cant remeber what the ratio is. I do know its a hair bit better then the s13 hiacus. gl let us know what happens

here is something from my local drift forum that someone did some work researching

Well, I been checking some shit out.
z32 rack vs s13/14 rack vs s13 hicas rack
The z32 sems the be the deal!!
Which means less turns lock to lock. They use the same steering rack bushings too. And the tie rods are interchangeable as well.
z32 not sure which one this is for yet. It may be the TT or the NA. I am researching now.
Steering type Rack/ pinion, power assist
Ratio 14.8:1
Turns, lock to lock 2.4
Steering type Rack/ pinion, power assist
s13 non hicas ratio is 17.1:1 (same for S14)
3.1 turns lock to lock
Hicas rack 2.6 turns lock to lock
Ratio for hicas is 14.9:1
So all in all z32 = the shit!!!!!!!!!!
I havent tried installing the z32 rack yet. But when my solid steering rack bushings get here (thank you rinkya.com) I will.

[!Zar!]

Does it really matter?

Don't you have more important things to be doing than swapping steering racks for no reason?

I mean yeah, it is cool to have a quicker ratio.

But that would not make DDing easier like someone said.

Just rock with what you got till you need to replace it.

[timtiminy]

interesting... sounds like the z32 rack will fit. Has anyone done this? i know they had a z32 hicas as well... wonder if that is any quicker as well...

[mifesto]

timytiminy i think you're referring to the nonturbo z32... those have a quicker rack then the TT

[timtiminy]

mifesto, do you know if they can be put on an s13?

[mifesto]

well that i do not know... i just know alot of z32 TT guys disable the hicas and put in the nonturbo rack

[Devil Man]

yes it was concluded that the z32 hicas rack was complete baller has the best ratio.

[deuceforty]

Does it really matter?

Don't you have more important things to be doing than swapping steering racks for no reason?

I mean yeah, it is cool to have a quicker ratio.

But that would not make DDing easier like someone said.

Just rock with what you got till you need to replace it.

if your talking about me, there IS a reason, my rack pissed out fluid constantly after i flushed the fluid to install my new line, the old fluid was apparently nothing but stop leak.. at the last drift event it was tough because my pump started to die from the lack of fluid and i would get bursts of manual steering..

i got another s14 rack because i didnt have time to deal with shit not lining up, plus i need a pump now (arg)

the z32 rack is looking tempting though... if for some reason this s14 rack starts to leak ill probably head towards a NA z32 rack

[Mikey213]

OMG SEXY... NA z32 rack drops right into s13???