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Jake de Villiers
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Joined: October 24, 2007
Posts: 5911
Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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 Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 7:12 pm Post subject: Steering Rack Crossmember |
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So I replaced Dixie's steering rack today. Mounted it with Chris's pretty purple Powerflex bushings and then had my son give the wheel a pull while I watched.
There was a fair amount of movement of the stamped steel cross-member that the rack is bolted to. I figure I can't be the first person to a) notice this and b) fix it, so I'm asking if anybody's got a simple solution?
I'm thinking of bolting in a 12" x 15" x 1/4" aluminium plate to join the steering cross-member to the one in front of it. Any better ideas?
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'84 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX
'86 Westy Weekender Poptop/2.5 Subaru/5 Speed Posi/Audi Front Brakes/16 x 7 Mercedes Wheels - answers to 'Dixie'
@jakedevilliersmusic1
http://sites.google.com/site/subyjake/mydixiedarlin%27
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
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Jake de Villiers
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Joined: October 24, 2007
Posts: 5911
Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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JPrato
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Joined: December 15, 2006
Posts: 791
Location: Livonia, NY
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| Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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I've noticed it but the van seems to drive fine so it's on my some day to do list. (small car springs, Konis, front and rear Whiteline sway bars)
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Joe
87 Syncro Tin Top project
84 Westy, 2.5L Subaru power
06 Subaru 2.5 turbo in waiting
46 Cessna 140 |
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Zeitgeist 13
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Joined: March 05, 2009
Posts: 12115
Location: Port Manteau
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| Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 1:43 pm Post subject: |
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I've welded in suspension gussets on far stouter chassis designs than the T3, and when I was crawling around under there for my steering rack R&R, I made the same observations as you. I also think the the lower control arm inner mounts need some gussets to limit both fore/aft and side/side movements.
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Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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Jake de Villiers
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Joined: October 24, 2007
Posts: 5911
Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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| Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 6:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Zeitgeist 13 wrote: |
| I've welded in suspension gussets on far stouter chassis designs than the T3, and when I was crawling around under there for my steering rack R&R, I made the same observations as you. I also think the the lower control arm inner mounts need some gussets to limit both fore/aft and side/side movements. |
Did you do anything about the situation or just let it ride?
I'm re-thinking my plate idea, as that would block the exit airflow off the rad...maybe three 1/4" x 1" steel straps back to the next cross-member?
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'84 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX
'86 Westy Weekender Poptop/2.5 Subaru/5 Speed Posi/Audi Front Brakes/16 x 7 Mercedes Wheels - answers to 'Dixie'
@jakedevilliersmusic1
http://sites.google.com/site/subyjake/mydixiedarlin%27
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
www.thebassspa.com |
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Steelhead
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Joined: February 25, 2007
Posts: 1791
Location: Kentfield, CA
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| Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Jake de Villiers wrote: |
| I'm re-thinking my plate idea, as that would block the exit airflow off the rad...maybe three 1/4" x 1" steel straps back to the next cross-member? |
I somehow missed this thread, but I've been thinking about this play in the cross member ever since I replaced my rack and saw the same thing. I was thinking:
1. weld a few short perpendicular bars between the first cross member and the one directly behind it. I think this is what you are suggesting above. Just a couple inches if memory serves, and they could tuck up out of site. square tube steel, angle iron...anything could work. Or;
2. If someone didn't have welding skills/tools, simply drill and bolt through both cross members and use short sections of 1.5" o steel pipe and/or many stacked washers on the bolts to tie the two ribs together.
If poly rack bushings make a difference, you'd think stiffening the frame (on which the steering rack is mounted) would also make for better steering response.
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'77 Bay Window / '89 Caratsburg (aka. the Stormtrooper) |
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Jake de Villiers
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Joined: October 24, 2007
Posts: 5911
Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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Zeitgeist 13
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Joined: March 05, 2009
Posts: 12115
Location: Port Manteau
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| Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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I'll crawl under there tomorrow and take some pics. I'll then mock up the areas I'd like to see gusseted and post em up
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Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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Zeitgeist 13
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Joined: March 05, 2009
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Location: Port Manteau
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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Here's what I'd like to do to tighten up things down there. Hopefully you can see my highly skilled MS Paint engineered drawings. The red sections are just flat plates welded in there to brace the steering rack mounts. The yellow sections are diagonal braces with flat boxing to tie the LCA mounts together. Alternately you could just bridge the two mounts together and weld in a couple flat boxes for lateral support.
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Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?
Last edited by Zeitgeist 13 on Thu Sep 06, 2012 4:52 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Jake de Villiers
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Joined: October 24, 2007
Posts: 5911
Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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Jeff's Old Volks Home
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Joined: December 19, 2011
Posts: 819
Location: Chester Basin, Nova Scotia
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| Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 4:15 am Post subject: |
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When I welded in the cross member from the syncro, it was obvious that the 2wd is WAY flimsier than the 2wd. It sure doesn't seem to be an issue though. My syncro does have a considerably more responsive steering feel.
Jeff |
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Zeitgeist 13
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Joined: March 05, 2009
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Location: Port Manteau
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| Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 10:35 am Post subject: |
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I'll cobble together some steel braces and then weld them in when I finally get around to dropping the tank for a re-seal.
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Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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randywebb
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Joined: February 15, 2005
Posts: 3815
Location: Greater Metropolitan Nimrod, Orygun
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| Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 2:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Jeff's Old Volks Home wrote: |
When I welded in the cross member from the syncro, it was obvious that the 2wd is WAY flimsier than the 2wd. It sure doesn't seem to be an issue though. My syncro does have a considerably more responsive steering feel.
Jeff |
any pics of the syncro X member?
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JeffRobenolt
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Joined: February 25, 2007
Posts: 1513
Location: Wisconsin
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| Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 2:33 pm Post subject: |
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Should be a sticky. Great photos.
Installing my Purple Loogy's right now and am going to have to do a little welding now.
Looks like a must especially when your running tall stiff springs, big heavy rims and tires and already have big sway bars that are sporting purple bushings.
Jeff
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Steelhead
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Joined: February 25, 2007
Posts: 1791
Location: Kentfield, CA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 3:35 pm Post subject: |
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I've been really tempted to weld braces up in there, but remembering what PITA it was to loosen/remove the bolts for my old steering rack, I may opt for a removable option. hate to make the next rack swap even more of a knuckle buster.
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'77 Bay Window / '89 Caratsburg (aka. the Stormtrooper) |
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furrylittleotter
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Joined: May 19, 2008
Posts: 1506
Location: West Seattle
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| Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 12:06 pm Post subject: |
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Interesting observation. Flimsy crossmember. Any progress?
Neil2 |
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