Steering rack

[jps]

Originally Posted by TalonMotorFabrication

If you compare standard steering rack mounts which are little more than 3mm thick pressed steel strips and rubber blocks to the heavily over engineered blocks of ali for use in rallying then yes U clamps with be more than up to the job. The U bolts are only there to stop the rack from falling off, the chassis mount it's self stops the rack from moving side to side. The rack is not there to be used as structural brace for the chassis so why use over priced parts?

At the wheel end of things - I have welded the offside part of the steering column mount onto a piece of 3mm plate - which is welded onto the top of the upper chassis rail. I did this so that I could leave a return on the GRP sidepanel when I come to fit it - to leave some strength in the panel...

My point is - someone looked at it and said 'that's not going to be strong enough'.

My view is that - the forces exacted through the steering rack/column/etc are controlled at one end by the grip of the wheels on the road - at the other end by the pair of human hands gripping the steering wheel. I suspect that the human hands end will give way long before something like a welded frame rips itself apart...!

I'd be interested to hear if i've thought wrongly about this!