Hicas steering rack vs standard

Post by **eyesoreracing** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

My steering rack just barfed all over the garage floor (while parked, strange) so it's time for a new one. I hear rumor that the HICAS rack is quicker than the standard power rack, but I can't find any numbers to back it up. I dug through my 21-year Road and Track library and found that the HICAS steering rack was a 14.9:1 ratio, but two years earlier, when they tested the non-HICAS car, they listed turns lock-to-lock instead of steering ratio. Useless.

Anybody know what the steering ratio is on the standard rack?

What does the HICAS rack look like? I assume there are some extra fittings on it. Do I loop them, or can I just cap them off? What kind of fittings are they?

Thanks for any help you can give, I'm picking up a rebuilt rack (I found a place that has both) tuesday afternoon, so the quickest answer saves the day.

-Dave

Post by **ziggy682** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

Non Hicas lock to lock = 3.1

Hicas lock to lock = 2.6

So, the Hicas rack is quicker, but it's not a huge difference.

Post by **eyesoreracing** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

lock to lock is a pretty useless measurement. I just swapped a WRX rack into a Forester. Both cars are 3 turns lock to lock, but the Forester is 19:1 while the WRX is 15.2:1. The Forester happens to go to 14:1 or so near the ends of the rack, so it catches up in the lock-to-lock game. In the middle, where you drive, the difference between 19:1 and 15.2:1 is huge.

You could probably assume both 240SX racks turn the same total amount, but you can't assume that going from one car to another, so the lock-to-lock thing is even more useless. All mitsubishis seem to take abou half a mile to make a U-turn. Who cares if it's only two turns lock-to-lock if the wheels only turn 10 degrees?

Post by **ziggy682** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

Okay, since you don't care about lock to lock...

Non-Hicas rack = 17.1

Hicas rack = 14.9

So, the Hicas rack is quicker, and has fewer turns lock to lock.

Post by **E Dogg** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

i have a hicas rack i made to manual and its a ***** to turn stopped or at low speeds.... i want a manual one, any one ever hear of one that fits the s13?

Post by **eyesoreracing** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

ziggy682 wrote:Okay, since you don't care about lock to lock...

Non-Hicas rack = 17.1

Hicas rack = 14.9

So, the Hicas rack is quicker, and has fewer turns lock to lock.

Thanks, that's great! Where did you find those numbers?

-Dave

Post by **eyesoreracing** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

E Dogg wrote:i have a hicas rack i made to manual and its a ***** to turn stopped or at low speeds.... i want a manual one, any one ever hear of one that fits the s13?

That rack would suck as a manual. Just curious, why don't you put a power steering pump on it?

-Dave

Post by **E Dogg** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

i like feel of it at speed and cornering... dont belive me disconnect ur p/s belt and try quick, can try long though its the water pump belt too haha

Post by **ziggy682** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

eyesoreracing wrote:Thanks, that's great! Where did you find those numbers?

-Dave

Straight from the FSM. You can find it in PDF form floating around the internet if you look hard enough. I don't remember the website where I got it, but I'm sure someone has a link to it.

Post by **Chingon** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

E Dogg wrote:i have a hicas rack i made to manual and its a ***** to turn stopped or at low speeds.... i want a manual one, any one ever hear of one that fits the s13?

I've been wanting a mechanical rack too and am wondering how bad a converted hydraulic is compared to a manual?

I mean a mech. rack is hard enough from parking, I can't imagine it being that much harder...

Post by **EastCoast240** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

How will you keep tension on the water pump belt if the power steering pump is removed?

Post by **E Dogg** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

now i jus thave the pump on ther not plumbed to anything, in future ill get smaller belt or make an idler pulley with p/s bracket...

Post by **Chingon** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

EastCoast240 wrote:How will you keep tension on the water pump belt if the power steering pump is removed?

you get a smaller belt....:pface

and if you ditch the a/c...then you go w/a serpentine system...:ylsuper

Post by **EastCoast240** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

Chingon wrote:you get a smaller belt....:pface

and if you ditch the a/c...then you go w/a serpentine system...:ylsuper

I've already ditched the A/C.....I know you'll obviously have to get a smaller belt, but the adjustment for the belt is on the power steering pump.

Has anyone made up some kind of tensioner after removing the power steering?

Does anyone know the part number for the short belt needed to run the water pump with the P/S eliminated?

Post by **E Dogg** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

i have no ac already all i need is 1 for alt... im lookin into getting a crank pulley that has1 grove for belts instead of 3 as well but i got more pertinant things to fix 1st

Post by **EastCoast240** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

E Dogg wrote:i have no ac already all i need is 1 for alt... im lookin into getting a crank pulley that has1 grove for belts instead of 3 as well but i got more pertinant things to fix 1st

You must be running a belt for the water pump??

Post by **E Dogg** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

yeha for now i have the ps pump on and not hooked up just to tension water pump, but in future i may just spacer the alt pulley out and use only 1 belt, or make another custom setup of some kind

Post by **EastCoast240** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

The pump doesn't whine with no fluid and the belt hooked up?

Post by **E Dogg** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

it makes a little noise but not as much as my ehxhaust does so its no big deal

edit: its temporary till i find better solution

Post by **black s13** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

the belt size is floating around FA somewhere, i wasnt able to find it. basically you take the WP pulley off, but the belt around it and stretch it back onto the studs. a few guys have done it, they say it works fine.

Post by **E Dogg** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

id love to know size if ne one has....

Post by **black s13** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

the numbering on belts is generic. its like # of ribs-legnth in mm, so for example a 3 rib, 300mm belt would be a 3-300. basically just measure what you think you need, and go to the auto parts store. if its too big, get one legnth smaller.

Post by **E Dogg** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

i live in ia its all inches and they are in 1/2 increments locally b/c normally u can adj with tensioner

Post by **black s13** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

on the carborad around the belts at the store theres a number. thats the ribs and legnth. go look at the packages and figure the code out, im not sure how it reads.

Post by **E Dogg** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

thanks for info (im havin mixed htoughts bout removing ac:( )

Post by **hondahunter180** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

E Dogg wrote:i like feel of it at speed and cornering... dont belive me disconnect ur p/s belt and try quick, can try long though its the water pump belt too haha

wtf???

Post by **hondahunter180** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

dont remove your ac!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i did it and could not notice any power increase, plus its about to get hot, i wished i had left my ac

Post by **E Dogg** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:18 pm

sorry i was saying you can test the non power steering feel by revmoving your belt, but its your water pump belt too so you can only for a few minutes

Hicas steering rack vs standard

Hicas steering rack vs standard

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