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Location:
Canberra
Registered:
December 2002
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 RA23 Steering Box flex
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Thu, 12 December 2002 23:20
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Anybody ever had any experience with trying to eliminate movement between the steering box and the chassis. I think theres a very fine crack beginning to appear out of the lower bolt hole but cant be sure until i rip the box off.
Is there any stiffener plates around or methods to reduce the flex?
Any suggestions would be appreciated as it could get a bit dangerous.
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Location:
Brisbane - Chapel Hill
Registered:
June 2002
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Re: RA23 Steering Box flex
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Fri, 13 December 2002 00:13
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Uum, I can't say i've experienced it. But if it was a problem, it wouldnt be too hard to brace either side of the chassis rail (the three bolts go the whole way through) with some 3mm plate steel or similar. You would need to realign the steering tho, as the arm would now be offset the thickness of the plate you placed between the box and the chassis.
The biggest problem most people have with the steering box design is wandering around centre. You should also check your idler bushing, as that can do some nasty things to steering alignment.
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Location:
Canberra
Registered:
December 2002
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Re: RA23 Steering Box flex
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Fri, 13 December 2002 00:45
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Ta much for that, i have replaced everything but the idler bushing in the steering so that might be the cause of my grief.
I would still like to remove the flex in the box as if you get somebody to move the steering wheel the steering box deflects about 3-4MM on the chassis
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Location:
Terrigal
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: RA23 Steering Box flex
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Fri, 13 December 2002 04:09
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I have the same problem. I have had the cracks welded up twice now but still no good. I think the plate on both sides sound good. Anyone done this before?
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Location:
Canberra
Registered:
December 2002
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Re: RA23 Steering Box flex
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Sun, 15 December 2002 22:18
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To anybody who is interested i made up some plates to sandwich the chassis on the weekend where the box bolts through it. It seemed to removed some of the play  but not as much as i wanted  am still going to get the plates welded on to attempt to remove even more slack. The only noticeable difference to driving it is the fact that the steering wheel is off center.
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Location:
Terrigal
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: RA23 Steering Box flex
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Tue, 17 December 2002 03:28
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Can I ask how thick the metal plates were? I think i'll do a similar thing.
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Location:
Canberra
Registered:
December 2002
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Re: RA23 Steering Box flex
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Tue, 17 December 2002 05:17
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THEY WERE ABOUT 3mm EACH BUT IT STILL NEEDS TO BE WELDED TO THE CHASSIS. BECAUSE THE BOX HAS BEEN OFFSET 3mm THE PITMAN ARM IS SLIGHTLY OUT THIS CAN BE FIXED THOUGH BY GETTING A TYRE PLACE TO SHORTEN THE TIE ROD ON THE LEFT A BIT. HAVE FUN.
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Location:
1st street on the right
Registered:
November 2002
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Re: RA23 Steering Box flex
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Tue, 17 December 2002 11:26
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Are the holes through the chassis tubed? This would be an option to eliminate the offset caused by the plate. Just drill the holes out to suit steel tube of the right ID and weld into place. I have a range rove I race off road and have no problems with standard setup, the stter box also weighs abou 30kg.
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Location:
Canberra
Registered:
December 2002
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Re: RA23 Steering Box flex
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Tue, 17 December 2002 22:34
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its sort of like a box section inside the chassis there is already tubes that go through however be warned when you pull the bolts out the tubes may fall. if this happens it takes about 1/2 an hour to get them back up again and heaps of swearing i know because i did it twice the other day (not nice). 
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Location:
Madrid - Spain
Registered:
August 2002
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Re: RA23 Steering Box flex
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Wed, 18 December 2002 02:40
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I just welded a crack in GOLD28 where the steering box mounts. They are not built like tanks.
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Location:
Canberra
Registered:
December 2002
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Re: RA23 Steering Box flex
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Wed, 18 December 2002 03:14
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Hey GOLD28 did it make much difference or does it still flex like a bastard.
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Location:
Terrigal
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: RA23 Steering Box flex
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Wed, 18 December 2002 03:19
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I welded mine also, but only lasted for 1 - 2 years of not much driving at all.
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Toymods Social Secretary
Location:
Sydney
Registered:
July 2002
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Re: RA23 Steering Box flex
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Wed, 18 December 2002 04:21
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ahh, this sux... im going to have to go home and check mine now!! 
has anybody heard about using a rack and pinion steering setup rather than our dodgy linkage thingy setup? I think i remember someone having used a KE/AE70 racoon peanut steering in their RA23!
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Location:
Madrid - Spain
Registered:
August 2002
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Re: RA23 Steering Box flex
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Wed, 18 December 2002 04:23
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It sure stopped the groaning noise I was getting at full lock. At bit of a worry.
I havn't had a close look at the inner guard to see if it flexed, I just found the crack and fixed it up.
Are you trying to stiffen up the mount or just prevent it from cracking again?
If you just want to stop it cracking again, a plate should do the job but only on the wheel side of the guard.
If you want to stiffen it up to improve responsiveness, I would look into welding some angle iron to the inner guard to stiffen it up properly. Welding on a plate isn't a very efficient way of stiffening a panel, especially if it means stuffing up your steering geometry.
How much is the box flexing, surely it can't be as much as the play inside the steering box.
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Location:
Canberra
Registered:
December 2002
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Re: RA23 Steering Box flex
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Wed, 18 December 2002 22:24
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my steering box is in fairly good nick.
the deflection that im getting is about 3mm.
the problem that ive got is cracks radiating out of two of the holes i spose this is exagerating the movement in the rail. id love to make it more responsive but would be happy to just stop it from cracking.
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Location:
1st street on the right
Registered:
November 2002
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Re: RA23 Steering Box flex
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Wed, 18 December 2002 22:28
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Is it possible to brace the box back to another point with a support bracket?
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I supported Toymods
Location:
south of the big smoke
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: RA23 Steering Box flex
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Wed, 18 December 2002 23:37
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| THE WITZL wrote on Wed, 18 December 2002 15:21 |
has anybody heard about using a rack and pinion steering setup rather than our dodgy linkage thingy setup? I think i remember someone having used a KE/AE70 racoon peanut steering in their RA23!
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diddo
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Location:
Terrigal
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: RA23 Steering Box flex
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Tue, 08 July 2003 01:42
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Anyone have more info on this KE70 idea?
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I supported Toymods
Location:
south of the big smoke
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: RA23 Steering Box flex
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Tue, 08 July 2003 05:55
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what about some how adopting the power- steering off a front cut?
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Toymods Social Secretary
Location:
Sydney
Registered:
July 2002
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Re: RA23 Steering Box flex
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Tue, 08 July 2003 07:43
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the only power steering i have heard of would be the MA41 supra steering, without going nuts with major mods.
GZEDave is the man who has done the racoon peanut steering. (GEEZE23) talking to him in person would help. The problem with the rack and pinion is the mouting of the rack. The crossmembers are all wrong for this - compare the way an RA23/28 crossmember goes in comparison to an AE71 crossmemeber - its almost like they are backwards!
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Location:
Terrigal
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: RA23 Steering Box flex
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Tue, 08 July 2003 23:53
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I have a TA23 crossmember which bends around to the back for a front mount sump. So this would be a good start for mounting a rack I think 
I'll chat to Dave!
Thanks
Joel
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Toymods Social Secretary
Location:
Sydney
Registered:
July 2002
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Re: RA23 Steering Box flex
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Wed, 09 July 2003 02:08
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Yeah apparently that's what Dave has done.
My only problem is where the f**k i get my hands on a front sump for an 18R!!
Anyway. Its worth the investigation!
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: RA23 Steering Box flex
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Wed, 09 July 2003 02:34
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RT142's have a front sump... I assume a 22R sump works on an 18R?
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
December 2002
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Re: RA23 Steering Box flex
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Mon, 14 July 2003 07:20
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You wouldn't believe it but my 18rgeu had a front sump,(to my suprise) when I put it in. It wnet on to my 18rc and is now at the wreckers. Sorry
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