how to make steering rack and rear trans mount spacers for $6
04-19-2009, 10:06 PM
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how to make steering rack and rear trans mount spacers for $6
this is a do at your own risk mod as is all my idea's are...
for a long time now i have been considering making my own spacer for the steering rack as well as for the rear trans mount, so i finally got a guy who does machine work and he needed me to work on his car. so he told me to "find out what works" before we machine something! well the best thing for temporary research was to use washers or some type of bushing... then i figured the washers will be easier to work with while fine tuning the size of the spacers...
so i went on over to lowes and bought a few different sizes and thickness of washers (hardened of coarse)
so this is what i came up with so far... i went with 7/16 flat "fender" washers for the steering, 4 on each side = approx 1/2 in slightly less.
then for the rear mount i used a combo of 3/8 in fender washers for the bottom were it goes against the sub frame, then just regular 3/8 in washers for a total of one fender and two reg's per bolt = approx 3/8 in tall.
then for the mount's i also had another idear for that one... im getting sick of all the vibes but need stronger than stock inserts so..... i decided to mod my poly ones while i was at it. i used a 3/8 in drill bit and drilled 4 holes in the poly across from eachother leaving room for more if needed or bigger holes.
why am i sharing this with all of you? well i just got back from the test drive and i just cannot get this grin off my face
im so impressed with the results it unbelivable... the holes made a big difference but i think i might try slightly larger holes maybe 7/16 cause with the a/c on at idle it still shakes just a bit but not with it off.... and for bump steer, what bump steer? lol its completely gone! it even eliminated my trq steer which used to be terrible, also the tilting/rotating of the rear mount i think made the biggest difference out of everything i can now launch the car at 3000 and above with the wot box on the street and it takes off so smooth now its crazy it just spins the tires with out a hop at all not one.
i even decided to go as far as to dump the clutch (which felt so silky smooth) which i could never do. before i had to ride it out or it would hop just a little bit, now nothing at all. so then im like well this is to good to be true
so i stop and rev to 3500 and dump then lift then hammer it!!! this was always good for a bucking bronco before... now like butter just rolls the power in and out spinning not hopping
so how much did i pay for all this? $6
ok i know enough talking heres the pics... now i do warn that this is not the best route for the steering as it puts more stress on the bolt and a upgraded grade 5 or higher is recommended if you intended to leave it this way for good...
i will try less washer on the steering rack also. im gonna try 3 next... and maybe drill the holes bigger!
thread will be updated as testing is done, the end product will be aluminum one piece spacer's that will have recess for the steering rack locator's... and longer grade 8 bolts. pm me if interested in that...
for a long time now i have been considering making my own spacer for the steering rack as well as for the rear trans mount, so i finally got a guy who does machine work and he needed me to work on his car. so he told me to "find out what works" before we machine something! well the best thing for temporary research was to use washers or some type of bushing... then i figured the washers will be easier to work with while fine tuning the size of the spacers...
so i went on over to lowes and bought a few different sizes and thickness of washers (hardened of coarse)
so this is what i came up with so far... i went with 7/16 flat "fender" washers for the steering, 4 on each side = approx 1/2 in slightly less.
then for the rear mount i used a combo of 3/8 in fender washers for the bottom were it goes against the sub frame, then just regular 3/8 in washers for a total of one fender and two reg's per bolt = approx 3/8 in tall.
then for the mount's i also had another idear for that one... im getting sick of all the vibes but need stronger than stock inserts so..... i decided to mod my poly ones while i was at it. i used a 3/8 in drill bit and drilled 4 holes in the poly across from eachother leaving room for more if needed or bigger holes.
why am i sharing this with all of you? well i just got back from the test drive and i just cannot get this grin off my face
im so impressed with the results it unbelivable... the holes made a big difference but i think i might try slightly larger holes maybe 7/16 cause with the a/c on at idle it still shakes just a bit but not with it off.... and for bump steer, what bump steer? lol its completely gone! it even eliminated my trq steer which used to be terrible, also the tilting/rotating of the rear mount i think made the biggest difference out of everything i can now launch the car at 3000 and above with the wot box on the street and it takes off so smooth now its crazy it just spins the tires with out a hop at all not one.
i even decided to go as far as to dump the clutch (which felt so silky smooth) which i could never do. before i had to ride it out or it would hop just a little bit, now nothing at all. so then im like well this is to good to be true
so i stop and rev to 3500 and dump then lift then hammer it!!! this was always good for a bucking bronco before... now like butter just rolls the power in and out spinning not hoppingso how much did i pay for all this? $6
ok i know enough talking heres the pics... now i do warn that this is not the best route for the steering as it puts more stress on the bolt and a upgraded grade 5 or higher is recommended if you intended to leave it this way for good...
i will try less washer on the steering rack also. im gonna try 3 next... and maybe drill the holes bigger!
thread will be updated as testing is done, the end product will be aluminum one piece spacer's that will have recess for the steering rack locator's... and longer grade 8 bolts. pm me if interested in that...
Last edited by hungryhip-ccp; 04-20-2009 at 04:27 PM.
04-19-2009, 10:19 PM
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well see, there only 50 bucks a set lol
seens how i was gonna throw em in the trash
i might as well experiment with em...
seens how i was gonna throw em in the trash
i might as well experiment with em...
Last edited by hungryhip-ccp; 04-19-2009 at 10:19 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
04-19-2009, 10:33 PM
#6
Should be able to have a local machine shop make everything you need (all 3 parts) for around $30-50 for a 1 part run off. Make 10 of each and the price will drop a lot.
Last edited by TurboTechRacing; 04-19-2009 at 10:33 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
04-19-2009, 10:42 PM
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if your lowered then you are now riding approx 1- 1 1/2 in lower than what it was designed for... causing minor bump steer, this eliminates it completely.
04-19-2009, 10:43 PM
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Some don't like vibs, which is fine, that is why GM designed the stock setup to be soft, as *most* car buyers dont care about performance...
Should be able to have a local machine shop make everything you need (all 3 parts) for around $30-50 for a 1 part run off. Make 10 of each and the price will drop a lot.
Should be able to have a local machine shop make everything you need (all 3 parts) for around $30-50 for a 1 part run off. Make 10 of each and the price will drop a lot.
pm replied
04-19-2009, 10:47 PM
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Adding washers actually rotated the rearmount enough to eliminate wheel hop?
can you see a differince in the engine/trans/axel geometry?
cool stuff, way to be motivated, screw the haters.
can you see a differince in the engine/trans/axel geometry?
cool stuff, way to be motivated, screw the haters.
04-19-2009, 10:50 PM
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the ottp rotated mounts use it... its just one piece.
04-19-2009, 10:53 PM
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there should not be any issues with strength at all, but when were talking about somthing as important as steering its my best intentions to make all aware of the "possible" dangers...
04-19-2009, 10:54 PM
#16
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yeah this is not about hate. first you only did half the job and secondly you risk your life sticking washers under the steering rack. your choice. dangerous stuff like that is a liability, but then Aaron suggests a sticky. Should do that. do a sticky on mild steel sway bars as well. sad. good luck you will need it. and by the way you did none of the due diligence engineering. you talk about rip off?
04-19-2009, 10:55 PM
#17
Haz l33t wheelz.
the mounting point is not in the center of the mount, its more than just the spacer. I didn't engineer it, so i can't say more than that. Just fyi.
04-19-2009, 10:55 PM
#18
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[QUOTE=hungryhip-ccp;3754931]dont hate cause you will lose sales, this is cheap to make and should be sold cheap...
QUOTE]
the people who would do this are not customers. thats the troof.
QUOTE]
the people who would do this are not customers. thats the troof.
04-19-2009, 11:10 PM
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yeah this is not about hate. first you only did half the job and secondly you risk your life sticking washers under the steering rack. your choice. dangerous stuff like that is a liability, but then Aaron suggests a sticky. Should do that. do a sticky on mild steel sway bars as well. sad. good luck you will need it. and by the way you did none of the due diligence engineering. you talk about rip off?
we can let the rest of the hurting economy pick up on some cheap/free mods... if they choose i have many threads started about cheap mods thats kinda my thing im all about diy... im a mechanic i dont need someone to fix my car i can do it myself for cheaper... thats what this is about... it has nothing to do with you since your probably not like the rest of the hurting economy. you have money to waste...
and like ttr said its all about what works
and fyi stage one is just a spacer for the rear
Last edited by hungryhip-ccp; 04-19-2009 at 11:12 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
04-19-2009, 11:12 PM
#20
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ya i'm lowered and all that good stuff and the only thing i've really truly noticed is that the steering has gone a little "loose" so to say almost understeering. if this would help that then i would be all for it. but i would spring for a one piece spacer rather then the washers but thats just me.
04-19-2009, 11:15 PM
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ya i'm lowered and all that good stuff and the only thing i've really truly noticed is that the steering has gone a little "loose" so to say almost understeering. if this would help that then i would be all for it. but i would spring for a one piece spacer rather then the washers but thats just me.
me too. this is in the testing phase were i need to be able to slip in a 1/8 in at a time instead of paying to machine 5 different spacers
04-19-2009, 11:17 PM
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why all the bashing?
for peat's sake.
How old are we?
the only vendor I see in this thread is TTR.
good point.
for peat's sake.
How old are we?
the only vendor I see in this thread is TTR.
good point.
Last edited by JimzSS; 04-19-2009 at 11:17 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
04-19-2009, 11:17 PM
#23
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ya. did you have the same issue with the steering going all weird on you. i had my steering column replaced recently for the stupid ass rattle. and i'll be getting an alignment this saturday to account for the 215/45zR17 tires i put on.
04-19-2009, 11:19 PM
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my car just always had pretty bad bump steer i have the lower of lowering springs
Last edited by hungryhip-ccp; 04-19-2009 at 11:19 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost