'04 Chevy rack & pinion??

[Billy_the_Kid]

Does anybody out there have a '00 or newer 2 wheel drive Chevy prerunner? If so, what are you using for the rack and pinion, stock? or after market?

After looking at it real close this weekend we figure a stock rack will not survive in a CORR race. And being in the Stock class I'm not sure we have too many options. Anybody have any words of wisdom?

Thanks

[Kritter]

Stock rack doesnt survive a street driven truck with 33 inch tires. The backlash starts to get bad aenough that it goes back through the steering wheel...crappy. Find a diff set up.

[ntsqd]

Have a look at the HD's steering. Still has wimpy inner TRE''s, but at least it has a Saginaw power box.

[gosouth]

I'm probably going to jinx myself by saying this but, I probably have three very hard years on my Chevy with 35's and haven't had any problems with the rack or those amazingly small tie rods. Under the dust boot were the tie rods attach to the rack they reduce down to less than a 1/2" diameter. I know alot of people weld or bolt clevises to the ends of the rack and then run beefy tie rods with heims on the ends. Let me know what you find because I'm getting ready to upgrade my steering and haven't come up with any worth wild ideas yet.

GOSOUTH

[Billy_the_Kid]

Yeah but aren't the HD's all built on 4wd frames? We have a 2wd 1/2 ton frame and the cross member is to far forward to put a standard Saginaw gearbox in there (pre '99).

I like everything else about this frame a lot, I think it has a lot of possibilities. But I really think that puny little stock rack and pinion ain't gonna cut it. And it isn't so much the size of the TRE's as it is the size of the cast aluminum housing right behind where the pinion gear meets the rack gear. One hit in the wheel (or a big rock or rut) and that things gonna snap.

[hoeker]

bill, you better check with corr, the way the rules are worded all you can do is reinforce the unit you have.

some things i'd try. tie the tie rods together with a bar other than going through the rack and add a ram assist, this will take most of the load off the rack. 2nd, add additional mounts to reniforce the factory cast aluminum hsg.

innovation is the secret to success, especially in a stock class. that rack can solve lots of stock truck steering problems.

good luck