Quick steering rack and/or column

[LowGripMaxFun]

I was just wondering who here has driven a car with either a quick steering rack or column and what they thought of it. I plan on getting the L&E column for an 06 STI that I will be buying in the very near future.

[UP2MTNS]

I love mine. buy it....you won't be sorry. Great for a daily driver.

[nordicskiah]

does it really work well as a daily driver? I remember on their site it says it's bad or dangerous for daily use or something...?

[LowGripMaxFun]

does it really work well as a daily driver? I remember on their site it says it's bad or dangerous for daily use or something...?


I think they just say that as a precautionary warning...But on STI's it supposed to be even faster steering since the steering ratio is quicker than a normal WRX. I'll definitely give you guys some feedback when I get it.

[JacksonRally]

Do it do it do it!!! You will love it. I've got a quickener on my daily driver WRX.

[nordicskiah]

how does the stock steering compare between the imprezas and an outback?

[JacksonRally]

how does the stock steering compare between the imprezas and an outback?


Not really sure what year the Outback was that I drove but it was pretty new (not the Impreza Outback) and that thing was very sloppy...no comparison to the Impreza.

[MetalNeverDies]

nice! i wanted one but tough it said it was dangerious or bad for daily driving. how hard are they to install. and what would be a good ratio of steering to use? like the 2 spin to lock or what?

[UP2MTNS]

nice! i wanted one but tough it said it was dangerious or bad for daily driving. how hard are they to install. and what would be a good ratio of steering to use? like the 2 spin to lock or what?

the LandE is 2 turns, lock to lock. For a daily driver its fine...where does it say its bad? Its not like an FI car where you turn it 90 degrees and you do a 180.

the stock sti is 2.25 turns lock to lock for a reference.


Its easy to install....just one tricky part (the grinding of one pin...but I did it with a dewalt drill and some grinding attachements....wasn't hard). it'll take you 90 minutes if you've never taken your steering wheel off before.

[JacksonRally]

Its not like an FI car where you turn it 90 degrees and you do a 180.


Ha Ha mine is....but I did my own....The L&E column is excellent though for a direct bolt in and is not as extreme as what I did. I believe the L&E is 1.5:1 reduction.

[MetalNeverDies]

the LandE is 2 turns, lock to lock. For a daily driver its fine...where does it say its bad? Its not like an FI car where you turn it 90 degrees and you do a 180.

the stock sti is 2.25 turns lock to lock for a reference.


Its easy to install....just one tricky part (the grinding of one pin...but I did it with a dewalt drill and some grinding attachements....wasn't hard). it'll take you 90 minutes if you've never taken your steering wheel off before.
team iluminati's web page said it was bad and not reccomended. its only for track use

[JacksonRally]

team iluminati's web page said it was bad and not reccomended. its only for track use

Probably a release of liability type thing. IMO every car should have less turns lock to lock....way easier to drive.

[LowGripMaxFun]

Don't be babies about the faster steering! It supposedly is harder to turn the wheel, which helps to counter act the increase in the speed of steering. Rally teams have to transit lots of real world roads during a rally...no one dies or explodes!

[JacksonRally]

yeah I think the 1.5:1 is ok with stock pump. From what I hear the "stiffer" feel is great. I went with the 2:1 and now the hydraulics need help keeping up with the mechanics so I got a 1450 psi, 7 gpm racing pump and its still pretty stiff.

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa15/Jackson-Rally/982007033.jpg

[Rally OBXT]

Not really sure what year the Outback was that I drove but it was pretty new (not the Impreza Outback) and that thing was very sloppy...no comparison to the Impreza.

How dare you insult the Trout like that!! :angryfinger: ..........:lol2:

It was an 05' Outback XT that Kyle drove. Yes, it is made for parking lot manuvers to avoid the stray shopping cart, not to tear up the track. It was WAY too much work on the rally-x course. I will say it felt just fine on a roadcourse though. I will say this, if I had the money I would put one in my Outback for better response.

[JacksonRally]

No insult to the Trout...thats just the nature of the beast ;-)

[MrToad]

The main concern with on road use of in-line steering quickeners is that the capability of the altered steering column to collapse during an accident is either compromised or lost entirely. The Impreza steering column is a telescoping tube within a tube with a friction fit. The gear-type quickeners will cause this joint to rotate unless it is tack welded. I use a quickener in a rallycrosser because the speeds are low and a race harness makes contact with the wheel unlikely. Personally I would not use one on the street with a shoulder harness. A quick rack is the safer option.
JT

[lminette]

L and E's quick column is the s#!t!!! I recently installed it and its so intuitive its crazy!!! It takes no time at all to get used to!! I installed it on thursday, raced with it on Saturday and won!!! It also works great on the streets!! I've had no problem commuting with it everyday!!!

[UP2MTNS]

The main concern with on road use of in-line steering quickeners is that the capability of the altered steering column to collapse during an accident is either compromised or lost entirely. The Impreza steering column is a telescoping tube within a tube with a friction fit. The gear-type quickeners will cause this joint to rotate unless it is tack welded. I use a quickener in a rallycrosser because the speeds are low and a race harness makes contact with the wheel unlikely. Personally I would not use one on the street with a shoulder harness. A quick rack is the safer option.
JT

I'll let Erik from L&E correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that his column's do not lose the ability to collapse.

[SoCalBoomer]

I drove Louie's car at Glen Helen on Saturday and LOVED the quick rack. I hardly noticed it as such - it was just so quick and easy that it just felt like it was the way it was supposed to be. Highly recommended! :D

[Team Illuminata]

I've been using one for over a year now and think it's the dog's bollocks. My car is race only but I still drive it to events and have never experienced any wandering or "sneeze and change lane" issues. Steering is heavier such that I had to go from a 13" to a 14" steering wheel but the 13" was really too small anyway, just a way to compenste for my slow oem rack.

[UP2MTNS]

I've been using one for over a year now and think it's the dog's bollocks. My car is race only but I still drive it to events and have never experienced any wandering or "sneeze and change lane" issues. Steering is heavier such that I had to go from a 13" to a 14" steering wheel but the 13" was really too small anyway, just a way to compenste for my slow oem rack.

hmmm, I want to get a sparco wheel.....345mm, which is ~13.6"....thoughts?

[Team Illuminata]

hmmm, I want to get a sparco wheel.....345mm, which is ~13.6"....thoughts?

345mm. Not model #345?

I have a #325 you can have for $175 plus shipping but it is 350mm. Hub is $65.

[UP2MTNS]

345mm. Not model #345?

I have a #325 you can have for $175 plus shipping but it is 350mm. Hub is $65.

oh yeah, 350mm (model 345). I was looking at the 325 too, but the dish seems deep, no? Hard to tell w/o actually holding it. Is it brand new and suede? If yes, that's a sweet price.

eventually I want to get a quick release hub, so I figured I'd just get it now even though I don't need it, got one of those? feel free to PM me.

[Team Illuminata]

I don't but I could probably get you one at a very good price. Know which one you would prefer?

[pjhe]

here's my current stand on the issue.

i've picked up a few bits from L & E and they do make good pieces and offer great customer service, i haven't tried out their rack and sadly as long as they continue their support and sponsorship of Quantum Motor Sports i cannot support them. The support of the driver with that team lowers the level of class associated with their company and the other companies with sponsor josh wimpey. so until the support and sponsorship of Quantum Motor Sports is withdraw i'll continue to boycott L&E and any other companies associated with the team. I'll be the first one to place an order and encourage others to do so once those ties are cut.

with that being said i DO like the idea of a quickrack or a rack quickener and from all reports i've had with such products have been great.

[Rally OBXT]

Ok.......Tell us more about Josh Wimpey. Is he the one that balled up your car at a rally-x??

[pjhe]

yes he would be, i won't share more in this thread as it's about L & E, one of his sponsors, whom i don't have a problem with.

i'll start a thread this evening outlining the details of the incident with Josh and his lack recourse for his actions.