Steering Quickener?

Ok this is probably a stoopid question and I probably should get out of my box more often but in talking with a friend about room for power steering or lack there of he suggested a steering quickner. Can you guys enlighten me? This is the first I've ever heard of such a thing.

 

check the roundy round guys, but it will reduce your leverage to quicken, so turn it around.

 

When I raced, I had a quickener in-line before the steering box. It would turn the car lock to lock in less than one rotation of the steering wheel, whereas stock would be about three turns. It made the steering very sensitive, I thought about putting one on my roadster.

 

Power steering often has a quicker ratio than the manual equivalent for the same car. So hypothetically, if you take a power-steering box or r&p and disable the power-steering gubbins you've got a quicker-ratio manual box or r&p. You get direct feel and quick responses at the cost of steering effort.

If you're fabricating from scratch there are a lot of things that determine the final steering ratio, e.g. pitman arm length, steering arm length, etc. If the front end is light your steering can be set up to be a lot quicker than it was in the application the box or r&p came out of and still not require excessive steering effort.

 

From what your saying it might be a little too sensitive for the street.

 

As ned ludd says, first comes geometry.

The guy with that great 14 year roadster put a quickner on and thinks he has a problem with control.

What kind of car you doing this to.? And why fast steering? sometimes that can get you into trouble, too.

 

I might have a chance to obtain a 5 window body and frame so I was thinking ahead. My sedan is manual and is just fine but I thought if this was a way to improve it then it might be worth a try on my next build.

 

If you really need fast steering,your better off making pitman longer or spindle arm shorter=it will speed up steering with out adding the extra play in and add-on.

 

Not sure why you would want to make the steering react more quickly;especially if you plan to do a lot of freeway speed driving.I had a friend who bought an ex-M***achusetts State Police car(65 Dodge wagon)that was designed for high speed pursuit and actually had slower steering than normal(accomplished mainly by longer steering arms).It was a bear to drive around town but had incredible control at highway speeds.

 

I had "quick" steering in an OT car. Every twitch of the steering wheel can bring you halfway across a lane on the highway. Can't relax and pretty much have to hold at a constant 3 and 9 o'clock.

 

i think a diff ratio steering box will do it, like changing rear ends gears

 

Wow. Ok this idea is definitely scratched. Until yesterday I didn't even know of theses and thought the guy was fooling me. Thanks for the input guys.

 

Me too.

 

I believe I read that all the General Lee's had really quick ratio steering.

 

Yeah, too fast for the street. Even some factory boxes were fast if you weren't prepared for driving one. I recall driving a '71 Vette for the first time and grossly over-steered the first corner I took.

Bob

 

A friend of mine broke his lag And had trouble driving. I drove his car with a power rack to the York pa. show The steering was so sensitive I had trouble keeping it in line on the hi way. I finely found if I open the window and lock my elbow on the window sill and hold the wheel I could keep the car in line. At one time I had thought of changing my manual rack to a power rack now I love my manual rack except in parking lots.

 

Bonnevile racers sometimes will use one and run them in reverse to slow down the steering.

 

I used a 8:1 sprint car box in my hot rod...I put a quickener in reverse to take some of the effort....Worked great!

Pat

 

I'd be inclined to favour quick steering, and find high-speed stability in a tad more caster. That way the response is there at the lower speeds at which most corner-carving is done.

 

Check Howe Racing Equipment. That make a 2:1 and a 1.5:1.

I have a 2:1 I bought, but I haven't run it. New they're about $150. I took mine apart. It's a quality piece rhat's ya' can adjust for wear.

A 2:1 is probably good for something like a mid-50s Ford or Chevy that had about 5 1/2 turns lock to lock.

The later GM manual boxes, I think 525, ya' could use the quicker ratio Corvette guts. Used to be able to buy them from Chevrolet in a cardboard round tube. I still have a new one on the shelf. Think they were about $100.

Steering too fast is no good for the street. Easiest way to fix that problem is to install a larger diameter steering wheel and run low tire pressure on the front. Lower pressure will give you more steering feel (torque), better directional stability (less wander) and reduce response levels.

 

I've read that a lot of factory boxes (not racks) were variable ratio, meaning slow steering in the centre, straight- ahead area, and quicker as they get closer to lock. Obviously this gives better road feel at speed, and quicker manouverability for parking.