Unisteer manual rack 67 Camaro - Binding

[Pro Stock John 2]

Installed a manual rack from Unisteer in my 67 Camaro, it's notchy.

Anyone have any insights or suggestions?

I have made sure the shafts are not in the the way.

[dhutton]

It sounds like the u-joint angles are too tight and they are binding.

Don

[Pro Stock John 2]

Yeah, wanted to see if any has some tips.

Here are some pics. Please note that I trimed the shafts that are too long in one of hte pics, it's an older pic.

200918200919200920

[Vortech404]

Dumb question but did you try adjusting the shaft support all the way in and all the way out to see if the binding gets better or worse?

John

[Pro Stock John 2]

I'm the dumb one lol, you're good.

I can only thread the heim bracket in so much, and the closer to the engine the better the angles seem to be. Jeff @ Unisteer and I have talked a bunch, he thinks a longer heim maybe could help.

[dhutton]

It difficult to be sure based on the pics but I think your support bearing needs to move out toward the engine. I have mounted them to a piece of square tubing welded to the frame.

Don

[Pro Stock John 2]

I've heard that, you think a longer heim could help? It will increase the angle at the column a little.

I wondered if I could find a longer heim and try that.

I found a guy with a BBC who is running one shaft but he has a longer shaft at the column.

[Vortech404]

Only other thing you could try is screw a bolt into that bracket and cut the head off and make your own adjusting sleeve like on a tie rod. Atleast you can see if it helps before you order a different length hiem joint or weld a bracket.

[dhutton]

I've heard that, you think a longer heim could help? It will increase the angle at the column a little.

I wondered if I could find a longer heim and try that.

I found a guy with a BBC who is running one shaft but he has a longer shaft at the column.
Your optimum solution will be when all three angles are equal.

Don

[Pro Stock John 2]

Thanks guys, pondering my next move. These angles really don't look that bad but it's so damn notchy.

[Vortech404]

If you used 1 long rod and got rid of the middle joint would the angle clear the exhaust manifold? You can get a 2 foot shaft for like $30 at Summit.

[Pro Stock John 2]

I've found a guy running one shaft, here are Jim's pics.200921200922200923200924

[Pro Stock John 2]

So since I'm not running headers, I'm running reversed truck manifolds, I might have room for a single shaft.

But will the angles get problematic dhutton?

[Pro Stock John 2]

Well, I'm going to take my stock stuff over to a buddy who has a '68 and is a 30 year wrencher, have him check the box. I'm leaning towards rebuilding the stock stuff car has been down for over a month, maybe 5 weeks.

[dhutton]

Save yourself some hassle and install a nice AGR or Borgeson box. Much better than the stock box.

[btmatt]

we had the same problem with our setup similar to yours. Check and be sure that shafts are cut such that they do not interfere with the u-joint. we cut ours flush with the joint. Also be sure that the rack sub is not inserted too far within the joint.

Last, be sure to check your joint phasing. I seem to remember that there is something different about it using dual joints

[dhutton]

A rear steer rack is a bad idea imho….

Don

[Pro Stock John 2]

Yeah the shafts are all clearanced and the joints are phased correctly.

I could check the rack joint if it's on too far, but once I do that I'm going to rebuild the stock steering and put it back on.

AGR and Borgeson box, I'll think about it. If my box is fine I'll just keep using it.

[egoman]

I hate to be a smart ass here but why didn't anyone catch this earlier? Get rid of that heim joint completely. You have an immovable steering shaft and a immovable steering column. That means that the intermediate shaft has to move while the u-joints go through their phasing. The heim is your source of grief.

[dhutton]

I hate to be a smart ass here but why didn't anyone catch this earlier? Get rid of that heim joint completely. You have an immovable steering shaft and a immovable steering column. That means that the intermediate shaft has to move while the u-joints go through their phasing. The heim is your source of grief.
If you have three u-joints and two sections of shaft like the OP you’ll need the support heim. Two u-joints no heim needed.

Don

[Pro Stock John 2]

Right I'd need the heim.

But I'm just going to rebuildi my stock stuff. I took the stock parts to a friend/mechanic and he said the box is wiped out and a pitman arm, everything else was good.

[egoman]

Didn't see the 3rd U-joint until I looked back at ALL the pictures. Lots of steep angles there that would make it notchy as well. Keep us informed!

[Pro Stock John 2]

I pulled this rack out, it was up against my Holley 302-2 oil pan and I have the engine set back an inch.

And it was notchy and binding up.

Stock (rebuilt) stuff is going back in this week.

[Pro Stock John 2]

Thought I'd close this out, I pulled the Unisteer rack off, and swapped in new/rebuilt stock stuff (manual). Drives great.

[CarlC]

Pretty good rule of thumb......

Racks + stock subframe = bad.

The modern steering boxes are worlds better, as Don mentions, vs. the OE and/or a simple OE rebuild. Light years better.

Combine that with a really good alignment and great tires (nothing will help crappy tires) and it will much better.

[Pro Stock John 2]

Yeah the rebuilt stock stuff is driving great.

201256

[BrianP]

Mr Pro Stock John 2,
how about an under the hood picture?

[Pro Stock John 2]

201271

[z0sicks07]

you had way too much of the rod going into the joint. upon rotation different points of the joint make contact and create bind. i had a slight bind issue which was resolved by shortening the shaft protrusion into the joint. everyone fears cutting the DD shaft and coming up short so unfortunately it stays long much too often. ive had a unisteer rack for 8k miles of street and some track time with no issues.

hope this helps someone in the future.

[Pro Stock John 2]

you had way too much of the rod going into the joint. upon rotation different points of the joint make contact and create bind. i had a slight bind issue which was resolved by shortening the shaft protrusion into the joint. everyone fears cutting the DD shaft and coming up short so unfortunately it stays long much too often. ive had a unisteer rack for 8k miles of street and some track time with no issues.

hope this helps someone in the future.

Definitely good advice.

But I did clearance the shafts, shortening them etc., had zero contact. If anyone in Chicago wants to buy this rack let me know, will let it go cheap.