Rack and pinion options

HOYBOY788

Club Member
Looking at doing a converstion to rack and pinion on my 2+2. what options are there with racks ive seen a few LHD racks for sale either as new or used is there any issues with fliping it to RHD or is it set in stone. I know with the s30 you can use a subaru rack is a option available is there something similar for s130
thanks in advance
 

Huw

Club Member
Rack, steering column and engine cross member is a straight swap from a 82 or 83 ZX.
 

HOYBOY788

Club Member
So is it just the matter of finding a donor car or someone selling parts. I keep just running into a wall with finding a RHD rack.
 

uk66fastback

Club Member
I am sure there is a Youtube video out there of a guy who made a rack from a 3-series BMW fit (I think it was a 3-series). And they are two-a-penny. I think it might have had to be shortened, or there was certainly fabrication involved, it wasn't a bolt-in thing.
 

Huw

Club Member
So is it just the matter of finding a donor car or someone selling parts. I keep just running into a wall with finding a RHD rack.
They are becoming super rare to find. Unfortunately the LHD rack will not fit
 

HOYBOY788

Club Member
Thanks for the info I'm just waiting for a reply from someone breaking a RHD zx just hope it's a 82-83
 

Huw

Club Member
That’s good news. If it is an 82/83 make sure you get the steering column as your original will bind when connected to the new rack as it is slightly too small. I made this mistake and delayed my conversion while it hunted for a suitable column.

You can still use the original pump, but it’s up to you if you want to have the newer pump as well. Just remember to ask for the mounting brackets for the pump as it’s different ( as always) to the pump you currently have.

Swapping the engine cross member is really simple. If you can get hold of an engine cross beam it make life easier than using a jack on the sump.

It’s a nice straight forward swap to rack and pinion from reciprocating ball steering.

Best of luck

Huw
 

HOYBOY788

Club Member
Had a reply sadly no rack but crossmeber as well as steering column should I get the pump as well since it is available?
 

Huw

Club Member
It weighs about half as much as the old pump, I swapped mine for the newer one. It’s worth doing. You need the mounting brackets as they are very different to the old pump. You will also need to use the 82/83 power steering belt. As the new pump has a smaller diameter pulley wheel.
 

HOYBOY788

Club Member
Just got these from Coventry so just need to find a rack to go with now.
 

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