Rack n pinion steering improvements

[linkstar69]

Just chasing some opinions from those who may know what they are looking at better than I do.


Here's a pic of my steering:
The car is a 1970 Chrysler Valiant hardtop, (australian delivered dodge dart)
I've retained the torsion bars and factory sway bar but am using koni adjustable shock absorbers, tubular upper control arms and a manual rack and pinion conversion that replaces the factory steering box and idler arm set up.



I'm noticing the difference in angle between the steering arm and the lower control arm. From what I'm lead to believe this is less than ideal, would flipping the tie rod ends so they go into the steering arms from the top be a worth while experiment? It looks to me like doing so would put the steering arm and lca on a very similar axis without need for further modification.


I will say the car feels great and stable, so this endeavour is more aimed towards developing the car not fixing a specific problem I've encountered.


Any help will be much appreciated.

[David Pozzi]

Step one is to verify if you even have a problem. Measure toe in, then raise the front end 2" and check toe again.

[linkstar69]

Step one is to verify if you even have a problem. Measure toe in, then raise the front end 2" and check toe again.

Thanks David, I've had some really good feedback from a mopar specific forum as well and I'll run some checks to see if there is any gains to be made by changing things.

[astroracer]

Do as David says. I bet you will see toe "out" once you get the corner into jounce. The tie rod "should" be level with the control arm and flipping it wouldn't hurt anything from what I am seeing. That will put it back in a neutral position at curb. Right now it is at the bottom of it's arc of travel so ANY jounce will tend to push the steering knuckle outboard as the tie rod rises through the arc.
Mark