Author Topic: Pinion an rack steering  (Read 1648 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Ricardo Regalo

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 19
  • Karma: 0
  • Location: Sintra Portugal
Pinion an rack steering
« on: January 02, 2021, 08:41:19 PM »
Hi guys,
I decided to come to the forum (with a bit of shame :$, eheheheh) for help regarding the steering upgrade from the standard steering to the pinion and rack type.
I'm sure someone else must have had this question before. Is there on the forum any tutorial/diagram on how to swap them? I bought one model from Nanni Ricambi that is supposed to be "plug and play" (so easy to change that doesn't even deserve to have written instructions).

https://www.fiat500sport.com/en/product/fiat-126-new-steering/

Any help would be much appreciated. ;D

Ricardo Regalo

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 19
  • Karma: 0
  • Location: Sintra Portugal
Re: Pinion an rack steering
« Reply #1 on: January 03, 2021, 06:54:45 AM »
Does it need the extra brackets that I see for fitting the same rack to the Fiat 500?

Minijohn

  • Subscribers
  • Super Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 162
  • Karma: 5
  • Location: Membury, Devon.
Re: Pinion an rack steering
« Reply #2 on: January 03, 2021, 10:26:13 AM »
I've just done this conversion on my car.
You'll need a couple of these brackets which need to be welded onto the bulkhead.


https://www.fdricambi.com/en/fiat-126/steering/si1047-bracket-set-2x-rack-and-pinion-steering-fiat-500-126

these rubbers...

https://www.fdricambi.com/en/fiat-126/steering/si1048-mounting-rubber-set-2x-rack-and-pinion-steering-fiat-500-126

and these brackets

https://www.fdricambi.com/en/fiat-126/steering/si1049-mounting-support-set-2x-rack-and-pinion-steering-fiat-500-126

I also had to extend the steering column between the universal joints - you could buy new or cut the existing one & re-weld.
Make sure the splines on the steering column match those on the new rack.
You'll also need new track rod ends.
« Last Edit: January 03, 2021, 10:32:59 AM by Minijohn »

Ricardo Regalo

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 19
  • Karma: 0
  • Location: Sintra Portugal
Re: Pinion an rack steering
« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2021, 04:03:32 PM »
Hi Minijohn,

thank you so much for your input.

I'm a bit pissed off at Mr. Nanni...  >:( I was made to believe that this was just a simple swap job... I feel quite gullible.

All those parts you've mentioned, are there on Nanni's website, but they appear as part of a converting kit for Fiat 500. Was there any Fiat 126 version that had this steering rack as standard? From the FDR ricambi site you sent, I got the impression that the 126 BIS had it...
Anyway this is going to be more complicated than I thought... I'm no experienced welder...  I'm not quitting on the idea, but something for a later date perhaps, (also because I have no place of my on to carry out this).

Do you happen to have any photos of your handy work, for guidance purposes...

Minijohn

  • Subscribers
  • Super Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 162
  • Karma: 5
  • Location: Membury, Devon.
Re: Pinion an rack steering
« Reply #4 on: January 03, 2021, 07:05:32 PM »
Hi Ricardo
The 126 BIS had this kit as standard and you could get the bulkhead from one of those cars & fit it into your car.
Here's some photos - the first 2 are ones I found on the internet of the brackets in position.
The last photo is my own car
Good luck with it
John









Ricardo Regalo

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 19
  • Karma: 0
  • Location: Sintra Portugal
Re: Pinion an rack steering
« Reply #5 on: January 03, 2021, 07:34:25 PM »
I guess the trick is to get the position for the brackets just right. And then do a quality weld...
Not one impossible job... But maybe I'll get someone with better skills than me, to do the welding.

Many thanks... :thumbup

Minijohn

  • Subscribers
  • Super Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 162
  • Karma: 5
  • Location: Membury, Devon.
Re: Pinion an rack steering
« Reply #6 on: January 03, 2021, 08:39:29 PM »
Hi Ricardo
Just one more thing - the conversion is well worth the effort.
The difference in my car is like the difference between night & day.

With the steering box, the steering was vague and heavy. Now it's very light and precise.

John

Ricardo Regalo

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 19
  • Karma: 0
  • Location: Sintra Portugal
Re: Pinion an rack steering
« Reply #7 on: January 04, 2021, 04:17:26 PM »
Hi, I'm definitely going for the conversion... Is just a matter of getting the time and place right. (And the guy to the the welding, eheheheh). But I already have someone in mind...  ::)

Again, thank you for the photos. Cheers!

Goldenh@nd

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 1
  • Karma: 0
  • Location: greece crete chania
Re: Pinion an rack steering
« Reply #8 on: January 26, 2021, 10:21:40 PM »
Hallo from greece creta!
I have a 126p 1978!
This has a hanger from the factory. My point is that it constantly loses its alignment. What could be wrong? one leaflet has been cut





« Last Edit: January 26, 2021, 10:24:23 PM by Goldenh@nd »

ChrisRLewis

  • Administrator
  • Super Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1709
  • Karma: 25
    • Club126uk
  • Location: Swansea, UK
Re: Pinion an rack steering
« Reply #9 on: January 26, 2021, 10:53:49 PM »
Are you tightening the suspension components when the vehicle is on the ground and not when on a jack?