Steering Ratio and Joint

[PontiFireFalcon]

Hello,

I have a 1999 Firebird v6. Would someone tell me exactly what parts I would need to upgrade my stock steering ratio to the quicker ratio as well as upgrade the rag joint and maybe even point me to where i could find these parts?

Also, I'd like to ask if adding a power steering cooler would be a good idea?

Thanks. :)

[ssms5411]

Re: Steering Ratio and Joint

Since you have a 99' you already have a coupler or intermediate shaft, you would need a V8 rack & pinion 98-02 or a V6 98-02 rack & pinion from a Y87 car that had the performance package, FE2 rack you want. Rag joints were on 93-97 F-bodys. I found out the rack I'm getting for my 96' Camaro is from a 01' V6 with Y87 package like 40,000 miles on it for $75 and is a FE2 rack and pinion. I bought a 01' steering coupler for $20 shipped. So either you need a FE2 rack , a V8 98-02 or Y87 V6 rack & pinion. Mine has a 170,000 on it , so I consider it a nice upgrade along with a 40,000 mile rack & pinion for $115 W/ tax. Hope this helps. Also for just for info the new Camaros have a 15.4 ratio and the FE2 rack is 14.4 so it is a nice upgrade from 16.9 like stock V6's.

[PontiFireFalcon]

Re: Steering Ratio and Joint

Since you have a 99' you already have a coupler or intermediate shaft, you would need a V8 rack & pinion 98-02 or a V6 98-02 rack & pinion from a Y87 car that had the performance package, FE2 rack you want. Rag joints were on 93-97 F-bodys. I found out the rack I'm getting for my 96' Camaro is from a 01' V6 with Y87 package like 40,000 miles on it for $75 and is a FE2 rack and pinion. I bought a 01' steering coupler for $20 shipped. So either you need a FE2 rack , a V8 98-02 or Y87 V6 rack & pinion. Mine has a 170,000 on it , so I consider it a nice upgrade along with a 40,000 mile rack & pinion for $115 W/ tax. Hope this helps. Also for just for info the new Camaros have a 15.4 ratio and the FE2 rack is 14.4 so it is a nice upgrade from 16.9 like stock V6's.

So my '99 Base Firebird already has the coupling/universal joint? And all I need is a 98-02 Steering Rack and Pinion from a V8 F-Body (or V6 Y87) in order to have the 14.4:1 steering ratio in my Firebird?
Also, is "FE2 rack and pinion" just another way of saying "98-02 V8 rack and pinion" or are they different?
Thanks

[T-Mill]

Re: Steering Ratio and Joint

Since you have a 99' you already have a coupler or intermediate shaft, you would need a V8 rack & pinion 98-02 or a V6 98-02 rack & pinion from a Y87 car that had the performance package, FE2 rack you want. Rag joints were on 93-97 F-bodys. I found out the rack I'm getting for my 96' Camaro is from a 01' V6 with Y87 package like 40,000 miles on it for $75 and is a FE2 rack and pinion. I bought a 01' steering coupler for $20 shipped. So either you need a FE2 rack , a V8 98-02 or Y87 V6 rack & pinion. Mine has a 170,000 on it , so I consider it a nice upgrade along with a 40,000 mile rack & pinion for $115 W/ tax. Hope this helps. Also for just for info the new Camaros have a 15.4 ratio and the FE2 rack is 14.4 so it is a nice upgrade from 16.9 like stock V6's.

You should just save this in a word file so you can copy and paste it whenever asked... lol

[ssms5411]

Re: Steering Ratio and Joint

I thought there was a stickey for this info, because I found my info here. Oh well.LOL

[bigbrian442]

Re: Steering Ratio and Joint

IF you are using the V8 rack you will also need the lower steering shaft. They are 90* off if you try to use the V6 lower shaft.

[ssms5411]

Re: Steering Ratio and Joint

My 01' FE2 rack is gone , called me and said someone with a fork lift , lifted the front and damaged the R & P. So I'm going to hold off on it until I get my turbo in and running good. I guess not my time for upgraded steering.LOL

[PontiFireFalcon]

Re: Steering Ratio and Joint

IF you are using the V8 rack you will also need the lower steering shaft. They are 90* off if you try to use the V6 lower shaft.

So are like the V8 rack, the Y87 rack and the FE2 rack, three different (but similar) parts that can be used to quicken the steering ratio? And the rack from a V8 F-body will also require the lower steering shaft from a V8 F-body as well in order to work properly, but a Y87 rack or a FE2 rack will not? Have I stated everything correctly?

The Y87 rack is from a V6 with the performance package if I'm not mistaken, but where does a FE2 rack come from?
Thanks

[bigbrian442]

Re: Steering Ratio and Joint

V8's had two racks, one 2 3/4 lock to lock and one 2 1/4 turns lock to lock. The 2 1/4 turn lock to lock from the V8 is the FE2 rack. 1LE and WS6 cars all had the 2 1/4 turn racks .

FE2 was a suspension package that came with the 2 1/4 turn racks on a V8 car. You could get this without the 1LE or WS6 package.

ALL V8 racks will require the lower steering shaft when installed on a V6 car.

The Y87 rack is 2 1/4 turns LTL, but different from the FE2. The Y87 only came on V6 cars.

[ssms5411]

Re: Steering Ratio and Joint

Y87 V6 is a FE2 will bolt up with the coupler , V8's have a FE2 and FE4, and FE7. But if you have the coupler off the V8 it should bolt up to the FE2 R&P. Thats the way I looked it up. If not do you have the part #'s?

[PontiFireFalcon]

Re: Steering Ratio and Joint

V8's had two racks, one 2 3/4 lock to lock and one 2 1/4 turns lock to lock. The 2 1/4 turn lock to lock from the V8 is the FE2 rack. 1LE and WS6 cars all had the 2 1/4 turn racks .

FE2 was a suspension package that came with the 2 1/4 turn racks on a V8 car. You could get this without the 1LE or WS6 package.

ALL V8 racks will require the lower steering shaft when installed on a V6 car.

The Y87 rack is 2 1/4 turns LTL, but different from the FE2. The Y87 only came on V6 cars.

Okay, so all I will need is either a:

Y87 V6 98-02 Rack and Pinion

OR

Any V8 98-02 Rack and Pinion AND any V8 98-02 Steering Shaft

in order to covert my steering to the 14.4:1 ratio.
So I guess that it would be better to get a 98-02 Y87 Rack and Pinion then.

Y87 V6 is a FE2 will bolt up with the coupler , V8's have a FE2 and FE4, and FE7. But if you have the coupler off the V8 it should bolt up to the FE2 R&P. Thats the way I looked it up. If not do you have the part #'s?

So do I need a V8 coupler as well with a V8 Rack and Pinion?

Thanks

[bigbrian442]

Re: Steering Ratio and Joint

Regardless of steering ratio, V8 rack= V8 coupler, V6 rack= V6 coupler. For some reason they are 90* off from each other.

[ssms5411]

Re: Steering Ratio and Joint

Regardless of steering ratio, V8 rack= V8 coupler, V6 rack= V6 coupler. For some reason they are 90* off from each other.

I think they are only 90 degrees off of each other if you use the wrong coupler on steering R & P with the wrong year, like a Coupler with a 93-97 R & P, or a 98-02 R & P with a rag joint sttle connection. I have a V8 coupler and it should work with a Y87 V6 and V8 FE2, FE4 or even FE7 R&P. Thats the way I read it , I could be wrong. FirebirdGT would know all about this pretty well. If your out there Robert?