Learn me the hicas steering rack.

[Black R]

I get a weird vibration in my steering wheel at speed.

I've already replaced most of the usual suspects, and am thinking maybe a new hicas rack would be a nice upgrade anyway.

So far I have replaced the following:

steering rack bushings
tension rods
inner tie rods
outer tie rods
wheel bearings
hubs
calipers
rotors
wheels
tires
*and got an alignment and balanced.

The shudder is diminished somewhat with the new wheels bearings, hubs, and wheels and tires but still noticeable.



How many turns lock to lock is the hicas unit?

*from 240sxforums:

HICAS Steering Rack Ratio: 14.9:1
Non-HICAS Steering Rack Ratio: 17.0:1

Turns From Lock to Lock:
HICAS - 2.6
Non-HICAS - 3.1

No matter what S-Chassis your putting it in, you need S13 Rack Bushings. Other then that it's Bolt-On.

If I buy one off eBay or craigslist or whatever, how do I know it is indeed a hicas unit? Are there certain markings that belie them?

How much is reasonable to pay for such?

Or if I pull one off a junkyard donor, is the hicas denoted in the vin#?

Thanks.

[Tower240sx]

The hicas is denoted in the massive ABS type pump underhood and a completely different Powersteering Pump..

Per the FSM there is no way to read hicas vs non hicas in the vin or ID numbers

[Def]

They look the same. Only way to tell is put inner tie rods on them and check the lock to lock.

[Black R]

Thanks guys, that being said; anybody got one fs?

[Nissankat]

On the subject of your vibration.... Are your wheels hub centric?

[Black R]

Yes. And I'm not using spacers.

[TorqueSpec]

Low offset wheels? My car varys on how much it vibrates with tire selection since I went to a low offset wheel and everything else has been replaced.

[KA240SX808]

I'm gonna ask are they balanced? I know simple thing but sometimes it's over looked. Also check your Rack bushings, and make sure every thing is tight/trq'd.

Also just noticed that's my Sticky in the FAQ on 240SXF, glad it makes use

[Black R]

I'm running 350z wheels currently, +30 and +33 respectively.

Yes they are recently balanced.

[KA240SX808]

Does it occur twice and go away or does it just get worse that faster you go?

[Black R]

it seemed to get worse the faster i went. that was before changing most of this stuff out.

now, it seems like i get a little shudder at a certain mph and it doesn't really go away...

i guess i'll change to coilovers now and pillowball mounts. i've triple checked every single thing in the front suspension so idk...

[WorkInProgressK]

Have you gotten the alignment done?

Did you check if your rims are not out of shape. They can be balanced but if they are oval it will always feel unbalanced.

[Black R]

Honestly I think it was the tires...

Anyway, I got the hicas rack but haven't installed it yet.

I checked it while it was still in the donor car: its a little over 2.5 turns lock to lock.

Anything I else I'll need before installing?

I'm hoping its plug and play...

[KA240SX808]

I'd change the bushings (Both Rack & Steering Column/the Round/Circle Bushing, I'd go aluminum there) and tie-rods while your doing this but other than that nothing else.

[Beejis60]

I'd change the bushings (Both Rack & Steering Column/the Round/Circle Bushing, I'd go aluminum there) and tie-rods while your doing this but other than that nothing else.

On the topic of steering bushings, I know there's some ozland and, I think, british company that makes reinforced rack bushings. Know if anyone makes them in the states? IIRC, the british company is Driftworks and the ozland company is Driftshop. Or do you guys just prefer the ES bushings?