steering rack.. - 8 tooth pinion - fun??

Scottd · Post by **Scottd** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 8:27 pm

Need my steering rack refurbished so am gonna get the 8 tooth pinion while it's at Titan.
Anyone here done this? Good?? I'm sure I read somewhere that Lotus designed the Elise with the 8 tooth pinion but then gave it more normal sterring so as to not scare Joe public.
Saw a couple of reviews on Seloc / BBS and they were glowing to say the least.

cheers

BiggestNizzy · Post by **BiggestNizzy** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 8:56 pm

If memory servs me right the Lotus engineers wanted a 8 tooth pinion fitted in the first place, but the powers that be felt it would be to quick for the road, I was going to do it up until I found out that my Rack wasn't a Titan unit but that off an S2

Scottd · Post by **Scottd** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 9:04 pm

Yup... that's what I said

Good point tho, I'm just assuming that mine is still the original. IIRC tho there were no reciepts from the previous owner having had the rack done, and I'm guessing only a Lotus dealership would of changed it to the S2 version.

tut · Post by **tut** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 9:14 pm

Scott

Tis almost a matter of taste. I have known some who fitted it and did not like, others who did.

Personally with experience on road, track and competition, although I fitted a new steering rack on N1 last year, I stuck with the standard ratio.

tut

Scottd · Post by **Scottd** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 9:27 pm

Exactly, I'm not used to it so am a bit concerned. Plus when searching reviews I am aware they tend to be skewed towards the positive ones. Can't imagine everyone shouting about the fact they paid to get an 8 tooth only to change it back again.

But can you get to full lock without lifting a hand off the wheel? I'm just thinking how much fun that would be, even if it takes a while to get used to!

Aint it twitchy on the motorway!?
Will I have to stop driving with my knees.... (when eating, changing CD's, smoking etc etc? lol)

mckeann · Post by **mckeann** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 9:29 pm

i think a quicker rack will upset the balance of the car too much on turn in. You need to be smooth during this traansition to keep the tail stuck, i'm wary that a quicker rack would make you less smooth. How often do you really need more than an armful of lock anyway. Just learn rotational steering.

Scottd · Post by **Scottd** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 10:04 pm

mckeann wrote:i think a quicker rack will upset the balance of the car too much on turn in.

Wont you get used to the extra sensitivity so in theory turn in as smoothly.. but just without moving your hands as much?

mckeann wrote: You need to be smooth during this traansition to keep the tail stuck, i'm wary that a quicker rack would make you less smooth. How often do you really need more than an armful of lock anyway.....

True.
It's only cause I'm gettin the steering rack done anyway I'm thinking about it. Maybe it's not as popular as I'd thought?

When I first got the Elise a few years back I had a couple of 'over correcting' moments

so this'll probably put me right back to those early days. But still, people saying things like 'best upgrade ever' did make me think (that was on SELOC tho

)

tuscan_thunder · Post by **tuscan_thunder** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 10:30 am

The TVR Tuscan S with the quickest rack is the fastest rack on a road car I've ever used - with the wheel at TDC it'll only go about 130 degrees either direction.

There is no slack whatsoever and it really is a case of sneeze and change lanes. With just over 400 horse it makes it worrying in the wet. As it's front engined I think it'd be calmer than the Elise might be.

You might get used to it but I think it'd be hard work a lot of the time especially in the Elise with it's more mass-laden rear. In the wet I do not think it'd be fun as I think you'd get a some horrendous fish-tailing.

Dry day on track however, I think it'd be great.