Steering Rack Mountings

[William2]

I am considering replacing the rubber type rack mounts with either polyurethane or solid alloy ones (Rimmer Bros, possilbly). I read a cooment that the solid ones can transmit road noise. Anyone got any thoughts on this topic??

[john.p.clegg]

William

My own opinion...don't go for the solid ones...far too harsh...poly is good...been there,done that,got the T-shirt .

John

[Jeff@Jae]

The standard rubber bushings are pretty hard, especially when clamped. Can't imagine the poly bushings being more firm than that. The aluminum mounts are probably the only noticeable change you could make.

[ceejay]

The original rubber rack mounts can be made more efficient with a little tweaking
on the metal holding brackets. The simple mod is done by making and welding on
extra extensions on the metal clamps, see photo to understand more.

The extensions or ears are designed to apply more pressure onto the rubber
mount inserts, and the technique works, even on rubbers that may seem to
be past their used by date.
To create the pressure, the extensions angled down a few degrees so that
when they are bolted down the outer points of the ear make contact with
the rack mounting plate and as the bolts are tightened more pressure
is applied to the rubber, be careful not to create excessive pressure, you
'only need enough to compress the rubbers more than standard, the rack
mounting rubbers in my elan are the originals since I acquired with the car
in 1981 and they are still OK.
But if I was to change, I would choose a Urethane bush, but would not
chose a hard grade, it would need to equal to the original rubber.

I was also thinking of going the solid rack mounts as I have a set or two
in a box, but decided not to as I like the firm, but not harsh feel of the rubber
mounted rack.

The shot below was shot way back in mid or late 2011, slap bang in the middle
of the S2 rebuild, so nothing on the chassis had been painted at that stage.

[Maulden7]

I fitted solid mountings many years ago (think that I bought them from Spydersport when I lived in Peterborough)

They definitely sharpened up the steering & I did not notice any downside. I would not consider going back to the original rubber type.

No experience of poly.

[andyelan]

Hi Everyone

I replaced the rubber steering rack mounts with solid aluminium ones on my Plus 2 last summer and I didn't notice any difference whatsoever. I couldn't feel and increased harshness or for that matter, any improvement in steering accuracy.

The only thing they do improve is they make it much easier to bolt the rack in place and clamp it down. For that reason alone I think they're worth having.

Personally I think there's somtimes a tendency to over think thing and then come to conclusions with any actual hard back to back comparison.

Andy