Steering Racks

[jmauld]

I've seen a couple references to people asking about running an altima steering rack. Supposedly it's better than the non-hicas rack, although not quite as quick as a hicas rack, it's a lot cheaper on ebay.

Has anyone done this, or know for certain that it won't go in the car?

Obviously the easy answer is to just get the hicas rack, but they are fairly expensive and difficult to find.

[racepar1]

Hicas racks expensive??? I got mine for free! Sorry just had to brag! LOL! I saw something about this on zilvia a while ago and I believe that the general consensus is that is was stoopid. I think the altima racks have less steering angle in them (since they are for a fwd car) and that is why there is less turns lock to lock.

[Cory]

Anyone have any hard data?

EDIT: NVM. I found a good source for them.

http://www.steeringrack.com

Part #: PR4065

The ratio of the HICAS rack is like 14.9:1 vs stock 17:1.

One thing I want to know is if the threading for tie rods is the same for HICAS and non-HICAS racks? I would like to keep my Tein tie rods.

[racepar1]

Pretty much all nissan inner tie rods of that vintage have the same threads, it'll cross right over.

[Cory]

I would think it general procedure to assume this considering Nissan, but I am over-cautious with everything.

[Longfellow]

If you do this on an S14 you will need S13 outter tie rods. S14 tie rods are have a larger thread diameter. Also you will need the S13 steering rack bushings. One is the same one is different.

This is one of the mods I have planned soon. I'm just going buy tien hard tie rods to make it all work.

[jmauld]

Anyone have any hard data?

EDIT: NVM. I found a good source for them.

http://www.steeringrack.com

Part #: PR4065

Have you (or do you know anyone) that has used this company before?

I've got my engine out so now would be a perfect time to upgrade. Is there any way to confirm that you have received a HICAS rack over a standard rack?

[djsilver]

The standard rack is 3.1 turns lock-to-lock and the HICAS version is 2.6

[a_ahmed]

Off topicish but... I always wonder what makes the s2000 have better steering feel hmm.. the s2000 CR model has a 'quicker steering ratio' than the regular s2000 and i found the steering rack ratio is 13.8:1 I dunno what the stock one is...

[Caithness]

From memory I want to say that steeringrack.com is not the place to go. I remember a thread on another forum that had several people complaining about steeringrack.com. Apparently steeringrack.com thinks that the HICAS and standard racks are the same thing and refuses to believe otherwise, and several people that ordered HICAS racks got standard racks. I'll try to find the original thread to back this up.

[Caithness]

http://forums.freshalloy.com/showthread.php?t=165234&highlight=steeringrack.com

I was looking at a couple of different sources for a good rebuilt HICAS rack. At first I was thinking of getting it through rockauto.com from A-1 Cardone for just over $500, but every A-1 Cardone part I got when I did my brake setup was absolute garbage quality and I will never purchase anything from them again.

Courtesy or West Covina or some such had HICAS racks for just over $600 and that's probably where I'm going now, unless I can find one in the junkyard and have it rebuilt locally- very unlikely since I've never seen a HICAS S13 in the local junkyard in dozens of trips over the years and 240s get stripped instantly. I question whether the Nissan dealer racks are new-old-stock or remans at this point and I would ask before I bought. Still, I'd expect a like-new quality reman if I was to buy it from them.

[a_ahmed]

FRsport.com...

http://www.frsport.com/Nissan-Power-Steering-Rack---Pinion--lefthand-S13--Rebuilt_p_3103.html

^non-hicas reman 300$

http://www.frsport.com/Nissan-Super-HICAS-Power-Steering-Rack---Pinion--lefthand-S13--Rebuilt_p_7724.html

^560$ hicas reman (they recently increased price I paid 500 shipped or so...)

[jmauld]

Quote from the link that Caithness posted

What is this new source? In case this source doesn't work out either, you can change the gears inside the steering rack yourself. Just get parts numbers from Nissan FAST program and get them from a dealer.

Anyone have FAST and can look up those parts numbers?

[pedroramosjr]

Quantity Part # Description List Unit Price Price
49271-53F60 Rack Assy-power $166.35 $126.76 $126.76
49220-53F60 Pinion Assy-pow $190.17 $144.91 $144.91

[SPiG]

The question is if the HICAS pinion and rack gears will go into the non HICAS assembly.

Since we are on the topic of steering racks, if someone wanted to fully convert to non power steering.

http://flyinmiata.com/tech/depower.php?x=1

http://zilvia.net/f/chat/215942-last-depowered-rack.html

Ignore the sources :P