Steering rack vs steering box....

[RomanV]

Okay, now something I havent heard much about before is a steering box.
I only learnt of its existence apon finding that my carina has a box instead of a rack.

Now, the consensus appears to be that the Steering rack is the superior setup. *BUT*

The steering rack for the *A6* cars sits ever so slightly higher than the steering box arms apparently, and so causes clearance issues with a 3S sump.

So i'd rather use the steering box, for the sake of convenience... but if the rack is far superior, I'll change to that, and sort out the associated problems.

Is there enough of a difference between the two to justify the headache of going with the rack?

I've heard that the steering box feels more vague, but are there any bushings etc that I could replace or beef up to make the steering more precise?

Or is it not even really worth worrying about.
The steering does feel quite floaty in the carina, but I attributed this to the suspension rather than the steering system.

So, what say you, Toyspeed.

[big_boy]

its a huge improvement is like a good race clutch & a old slipping one kinda difference its alot of slop verses drect drive

[fangsport]

there are a heap more joints that wear out and cause 'vagueness' as well as vibrations .

there seems to be a few ST14# coronas , as well as TT Celicas being wrecked, get the crossmember and rack. not too sure whether you'll end up modifying firewall for the different steering colunm or not. you need to with the TE corollas when converting R+P steering.

[KinLoud]

????? Dave are you sure?
Weird - only seen TA142 Coronas with steering box (reciprocal ball).
Any chance of pics?
You should be able to convert to rack and pinion with minimum fuss... just bolt on the crossmember and rack and maybe change steering column.
COMMENT - before you change, check whether steering box gives you and easier job bolting the 3sge in.

Ken
Ham
021 408 863

[fangsport]

Weird - only seen TA142 Coronas with steering box (reciprocal ball).

TT142 coronas are box. SOME ST14# (oz assembled, 1S RWD) are R+P. Corona,Carina and Celica share a lot of chassis and mechanicals, so the R+P crossmember from this family are usually interchangeable

You should be able to convert to rack and pinion with minimum fuss... just bolt on the crossmember and rack and maybe change steering column.

with the TE/KE/AE rwd Corollas, you need to get a firewall section, as well as crossmember and steering column to make it all work.

COMMENT - before you change, check whether steering box gives you and easier job bolting the 3sge in.

in theory, the R+P setup will give you more room for exhuast and sump due to being more compact, and attached to an already fixed point?

[RomanV]

????? Dave are you sure?
Weird - only seen TA142 Coronas with steering box (reciprocal ball).
Any chance of pics?
You should be able to convert to rack and pinion with minimum fuss... just bolt on the crossmember and rack and maybe change steering column.
COMMENT - before you change, check whether steering box gives you and easier job bolting the 3sge in.

Ken
Ham
021 408 863

No I'm not sure.
For all I know at this stage, it might be a non p/s rack and pinion.
It's a bit hard to see down where I'm talking about, sot ot ,ay pm;y be a[[aremt wjem O tale tje engfine/gbox out. p.s. I'm boozxed. happy new year.

Dave/ "D

[RomanV]

Did I say recirculating ball? must have been a typo, supposed to say that my carina has a non PS rack and pinion.

I just checked today while under the car, after reading up the 'howstuffworks' on rack & pinion vs. steering box.

[KE20]

go rack, its heaps better. the box has moving parts uder the engine and they get in the way,

[no_8wire]

my carina has a non PS rack and pinion

He already has a rack...wait that doesnt sounds quite right...