FFR manual racks

[Joe Campbell]

Are there any identifying part numbers on these? I bought one on the forum from another builder, but although it works great, the ratio is way too slow for my liking. FFR says theirs are 15:1, but this one doesn't seem like it can be anywhere near that quick. It takes what seems like double or more distance turned at the wheel to get any amount of turn-in at the front tires compared with the power rack it replace, which I think was a 2.25 or 2.5 turn LTL rack.

It works great, but with my epowersteering kit I don't need the reduced ratio at all. Looking for a quick ratio manual to buy, or trade this one for someone going true manual.

[mike223]

I believe the two available Flaming River manual racks are 15:1 + 20:1, with 15:1 being far more common.

I also use electric power steering with a manual rack and found it to be a little too slow - especially for autocross.

I mounted my EPAS unit behind the dash, and fitted a steering quickener above the pedal box - actually between the pedal box and the firewall.

A 2:1 ratio gives me about 360 degrees lock to lock and is a little too much for the big road, and is a very heavy load for the EPAS (it will work, but not at all well trying to park).

A 1.5:1 ratio is what I generally run, and gives me about 2 turns lock to lock and is easily pulled by the EPAS.


But if you fit a steering quickener between the steering wheel + the EPAS - the EPAS operates off a torque sensor on the steering wheel side - it will read the added resistance from the steering quickener as driver input and you will probably lose any self centering / self return of the wheels to "straight" that you currently have.

I don't know where your EPAS is mounted, but most seem to have them down near the steering rack in the engine compartment.

It would be best to get the quickener between the rack and the EPAS unit if you wanted to speed it up that way.


https://keysermanufacturing.com/product/1-51-steering-quickener/?dTribesID=0dc3b9f03c6849fdaabc0441c18ea6cb%7Cadtr ibes%7C8094&utm_source=Google%20Shopping&utm_campaign=Keyser%20Products&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=8094&gclid=CjwKCAjwzruGBhBAEiwAUqMR8CzYrfNAlnnarIdxsH0i bN-PYFuB094jMzMGioAK-kj40v0qIvW8VBoCQNcQAvD_BwE

[rich grsc]

Keep in mind, ratio and LTL are not the same thing. Ratio is how fast or slow the rack moves when you turn the wheel, also how far it moves with one turn of the wheel, LTL or 'lock to lock' is how far the rack moves from full left to full right. You can change a 2.5 LTL to a 2.25 LTL by just adding plastic stop shims in the rack. Ratio is fixed by how the rack gear sets are machined.

[ggunter]

Jst saw this on line to explain steering ratio. "Moog Parts defines "steering ratio" as the ratio of how far the steering wheel turns to how much the wheels turn. For example, if a 360-degree turn of the steering wheel causes a car's wheels to turn 20 degrees, then that car's steering ratio is 18:1 (360 divided by 20)."

[Hoooper]

If its the FFR one it should be Unisteer 8001070 and should have a sticker on it that says that

[Joe Campbell]

Good points, I shouldn't use LTL and ratio interchangeably. I definitely want the quicker rack though, even though this one is pretty nice for easy highway cruising.