Steering Rack Ratios

[CV860L]

Can anyone tell me the difference in ratios between an '02 Monaro and VX SS?
I've been meaning to sort this problem for the past few years and have never gotten around to it, the Monaro feels like I'm driving a bus when going through round-a-bouts and takes a lot of steering input for very small adjustments.
I remember Brocky mentioning that he wanted to change the Monaro steering rack for an SS rack when discussing his Targa Monaro.
Has anyone done this? Does anyone know what ratios they used?

Cheers Jake.

[BOMI]

I dont know any figures mate but I do know that they are both varying. EG Smaller ratio in the center and bigger on the outer left and right.


Troy :)

[wagnman]

Thats very interesting guys.
what you just said Troy just made sense to me of why my SS really feels like it turns in alot harder when I enter tighter corners and has better feel.

i remember some early power steer cars I drove (like XF falcons for example) and they obviously had not discovered this different rate steering as these early cars were way over assisted and left you with next to no steering feel at all!

This was all made worse by the fact that my "daily driver" at the time was an "off its face" R100 that, even though it had a very old style steering box set up it really required some effort to steer but rewarded with you being able to almost feel the very texture of the road as the tyres rolled over it.


Ahhh! geez I miss that car!

[Aeron]

Can anyone tell me the difference in ratios between an '02 Monaro and VX SS?


Like you, I have a Falcon and I have the VX SS and I can tell you, the SS feels like im driving a bus. The Falcon rack is so much quicker. You go through a round-about in the Falcon and you just flick the wheel one way, then the other and you're through. With the SS (and Monaro) you have to do a lot more wheel work. In many Wheels and Motor Magazine articles I've read that are Falcon Vs. Commodore, they mention how they dislike the Falcon steering sensitivity, but I prefer it over the Commodore.

So, I don?t really have any answers, but I do know where you?re coming from. The first time I drove the SS through a round-about I almost drove up the gutter :lol:

[CV860L]

Yeah someone from "another forum" advised the SS has 2.8 turns lock-to-lock compared with 3.0 on the Monaro, it doesn't sound much but the VY SS Ute I had was a ten times better than the Monaro one.
And yes Aeron, the Falcon one is better than them both, in my opinion anyway.

[NickS]

I'd love to have a drive in either the XR6T or the Phoon guys ... I'd like to compare the steering directly as I haven't tried a recent model Falcon and when you read impressions all you get is what that person likes.

Anyone game to let me have a go ???

:up2sum:

[CV860L]

Yep.
I'll be happy to do a swap with any of your cars as I haven't driven or been in a VE as yet.
The seat height in the Typhoon feels ridiculous when you first get in, you'd be forgiven for thinking your in a 4WD.

Should hopefully have a Black VE SS sitting in my driveway in about a month or two's time......The GF is buying one and moving in with me.

I've already talked her into an exhaust so that it sounds like a V8, just hope it doesn't accidently have any other bolt ons fitted or get tuned while at the workshop :hide:

[NickS]

Yep.

I'll be happy to do a swap with any of your cars as I haven't driven or been in a VE as yet.

Excellent ... can't really do the Coupe 4 as it's insured for nominated drivers only ... but you can do whatever you want in the other 2.

We'll have to do this ... :cheers:

[CV860L]

Cool, I'll keep you posted on any dates when I 'm coming up to Sydney.

No insurance problems with any of my cars.......they only have CTP!