Steering stiffeners

[SurfaceRust]

Last night I came across a set of steering stiffeners made for vanagons.

https://vanguy.net/collections/vanagon-products/products/newton-steering-stiffeners

They look well made and have a good video detailing the installation. They say they should help with steering feel and help eliminate bump steering.

I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts on this. They only cost $65 so its not a big cost to try them out.

[djkeev]

I wasn't aware that this is a problem.

I've never read about it at least.

Dave
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[mikemtnbike]

I'd be interested how using a product like this compares to replacing steering rack bushings with new poly offerings. Doing the latter certainly helped my steering feel and helped eliminate bump steering, assuming that means feedback into the steering wheel from going over small bumps.

Interesting product, I like innovation.
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2020 GTI SE manual

[Steve M.]

I was always curious, but enough to ask, why hasn't anyone mounted a shock absorber onto the steering for off road driving when you hit a rock big enough to spin the wheel.
Probably because unlike the 4x4's the rack & pinion steering hasn't got that long tie rod running across from one side to another to mount it on or no one has felt a need for one.

I do not remember seeing any mounted on the local 4x4's so maybe it's gone out of bling fashion?
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[Steve M.]

After reading the description of it I want to see a video of the crosspiece the rack is mounted to flex when it's windy or a speed bump.
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[shagginwagon83]

I saw a comment from Jeff from Autoventures about how he did this modification years ago and enjoyed results.

No drilling, possible improvement - For $65 shipped I'll give it a shot.

I may have also bought Slaughterhouse electric power steering last night too
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[Steve M.]

[Jake de Villiers]

They are a great idea.

I made a set of 1/4" aluminium stiffening plates years ago after seeing how much flex there was in the bracket that the steering rack mounts to. They couple the flexy steering mount to the very solid crossbar right behind it. They definitely tightened up the steering feel in a meaningful way.

Poly bushings are great but the bushings still attach to that piece of sheet metal!
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[4Gears4Tires]

After watching the video, I am astonished by how thin and flexy the metal the steering rack is mounted on. If I had a 2wd I would definitely be buying this. That's crazy.



Does anyone know if this is also an issue with the Syncros? I will double check next time it's in the garage.
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[skills@eurocarsplus]

i get the concept 100% but where is he getting his numbers from when he measures? i haven't been thru the bentley yet but is there a chassis measurement section? i could see how reefing this mounting panel around could have negative results if you went too far. to add to that, the brackets seem to be slotted which for sure could be an issue if you put these on something that was "sprung"
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[4Gears4Tires]

You think the steering rack mounting point is supposed to be a "sprung" piece? Like it's supposed to flex to provide damping on your steering? If that was the case, I would think softer bushings would be the way to go.

I've never seen that before. I also don't know how you could go "too far" in that sense. The bushings provide damping, the mount point should not move at all. A lot of cars have cast aluminum front subframes. They don't flex.
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'85 Westy Sciuridae Domus Edition

[MarkWard]

[Ronzo_volvo_guy]

Mark;

I agree...the strict definition of Bump Steering is the tendency of a car to "steer itself" with suspension excursions. (See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bump_steer ) ...and stiffening the steering rack mounting does nothing to address that (it does not change steering geometry!), to say "eliminate bump steering" is a bit of embellishment!

...but not entirely wrongly!...any flex and movement in the Steering Rack would/can cause, non-driver steering inputs, so the seller is simply lumping this in with the "Bump Steering", previously understood term. He should have said "eliminate any (non-driver) steering inputs due to steering rack mount flexing"...

Cheers

[SurfaceRust]

Well, I went ahead an ordered them. It'll be a few month until I can install them, but once I do, I will post here how it goes.

[Ronzo_volvo_guy]

SR;

They can only be an improvement, IF steering rack mount flex is truly an issue!

I look fwd to reading about your perceived improvement (if you don't do a lot of driving now, which results in st rack flex without the stiffeners installed, I don't expect you would perceive much improvement after you install them!).

Cheers

[Wildthings]

The force on the steering rack is mostly lateral, so what force causes the mounting to move for and aft significantly?

[4Gears4Tires]

If someone is willing to hit a pothole at 50mph with a GoPro mounted under their van we could get some data.
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'87 Syncro Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition
'85 Westy Sciuridae Domus Edition

[Ronzo_volvo_guy]

WT;

If force to move the linkages out to the steering knuckle exceeds the force needed to move/deflect the St Rack, the St Rack will move and non-driver input will be added due to this displacement...it is I expect pretty minimal, but suspension excursions/bumps/etc, would be additive to this, hence the seller's combining it into the term Bump Steer (opposed to Bum Steer...something different again!).

Cheers

Edit: 4G4T: Tip to guy who is going to mount his GoPro under his car, then hit a pothole at 50mph...don't just figure the magmount will be enough...double secure that thing with some duct tape, unless you want a great video of the thing tumbling along the road (including possibly getting run over)...

[Franklinstower]

I have witnessed the flex at that location too. My plan was to weld some flat bar between the two cross members to stiffen it up.
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