quick ratio steering rack

[Advancedynamix]

Yeah. It can be measured in distance of rack travel or in rotation of steering wheel.

[Sid_RallyX_82]

So, wouldn't a faster rack have either a longer throw with the same lock to lock, or same throw with lower lock to lock, or some combination of that? Cuz the Rio rack has a long throw traveled by fewer turns lock to lock, so it should be really fast, right?

[Fecomatter]

Nate already did the math for you. Also the rio rack has more throw distance total with a slightly smaller amount of total turns. Smaller turning circle with the rio rack.

[Advancedynamix]

Less turns lock to lock means less distance that you've got to turn the wheel to steer the car. This is a very good thing when driving the car on a race track or a really twisty road. My arms get really worn out with the stock manual festiva rack. The power rack is a nice upgrade.

[robotrob]

My "aspire" power steering rack is working beautifully, is 10mm longer each side so my tie rod adjustment was maxed out and barely had neutral toe. I chose to run the 10mm longer lower control arms and adjustment is within range and I scored some nice camber

[Advancedynamix]

What trans do you have and do you still have axle play without any binding? What axles are you running?

[robotrob]

F series 5 speed out of a 1998 WF Festiva (aspire) 1.5 glxi with matching driveshafts no binding at all

[Advancedynamix]

That makes sense. You've got the axles to match the control arms. I think the axles try popping out if you try that with the stock WA axles.

[robotrob]

From what I've cross referenced in Australian parts catalogues, the 1.3 5 speed "aspire" over here uses the same driveshafts as the WA, and auto and F series and Capri non turbo all use the same driveshafts

10mm is a minuscule amount of movement to the inner CVs, and with the longer LCAs it's stretching them not compressing them so no chance of binding

[Advancedynamix]

I consider it a bind situation if they hyper extend as well. But when they hyper extend they tend to pop out the tranny. That's what one of mine did when I ran aspire arms awhile back. I thought about trying aspire axles to remedy this, but I just put the fesiva ones back on. Over here the Festiva and Aspire 1.3 take different axles. The Aspire axles are a bit longer. This is because the Aspire control arms are longer. At least that's how I remember things to be. Lol. It's been awhile since I've had all the bits in front of me. I always wondered if it would work though, and it seems that's what you've done.

[robotrob]

Auto shafts seem to be the same length.. Maybe there's so many part numbers because the splines on the shafts themselves are different but dimensions into the hub and gearbox are the same?

[Advancedynamix]

Hmmm. According to that they are the same. Interesting. Maybe there is some difference between the F series axles. I know my short axle kept popping out with my stock 4 speed and stock axles and stock spindles. It was an original axle too. Maybe they changed something on the aftermarket axles. Now I'm more confused than before, haha.

[robotrob]

I was going to post again saying maybe the aftermarket manufactures allowed more tolerance in manufacturing so the same part can suit multiple vehicles..

What's even more interesting is that Capri non turbo uses F series 4 speed auto and F series 5 speed and the same driveshaft, but 1.5 4 speed auto WF uses same as Capri but the WF F series 5 speed uses different part numbers again

It confuses the hell out of me too and I think I've derailed this thread quite a bit... Though I have proven that running the 10mm longer WF control arms is a solution to the longer steering rack IF you use appropriate driveshafts and want the negative camber

[bhearts]

when Ryal says "just add festiva side rods", does mean inners and outers, or just outers.

[sketchman]

I asked that a while back. Don't recall the answer, but I do recall that another member just trimmed the Rio inners and got plenty of room. Since you need Rio/Escort outers anyway, and a used rack will come with both, it makes sense to me to just do that instead.