36 replies to this topic

[Duncan VXR]

Been meaning to put something up for a while since having the quick rack fitted but here is my non scientific findings. Nothing else changed on the car other than rack (same geo on again after) Cost £30 more than standard if you are replacing so definitely worth considering I personally love the quick rack and find the pluses out weigh the negatives, I did not really notice the steering was any heavier when parking (suspect it may be a tiny bit) the car feels a lot more alive and responsive over std rack. On track it is more like a go-kart than ever and one of my fav things is recovery of the rear end, it is just so much easier to catch the rear and control. It is 2.2 full turns to lock over the std 2.7 I have quite an aggressive geo / setup / R888’s etc so the lovely condition back roads have always had me tram lining a bit and trying to scare me lol. I guess the quick rack highlights this a bit more when bouncing along as you are making larger steering inputs than you would on std. For the same reasons you can find a bit twitchier at high speed for the same reasons – a slight twitch on the steering wheel makes a larger turn than standard. All nothing I have not learned to deal with and just makes you drive smoother than ever I would much rather have the quick rack over std though and from what I was told (think titan?) the original elise was designed to come with 2.2 turn rack but people upstairs decided to go for a slower rack for the masses to have a broader appeal and not be too raw. DG

[dannynewport]

Quick rack is something I'm going to look into next year if I still have the VX, I will still have it as long as I get my boost problem sorted.

[techieboy]

I would much rather have the quick rack over std

Agreed, wouldn't give mine up now. Which reminds me, I need to get my old rack refurb'd as a spare quick rack.

[Whiteboy]

What sort of age / mileage is it worth changing the rack? Steve

[VXR 43]

What sort of cost are they?

[rsg]

What sort of cost are they?

Elise Parts

I thought they used to be cheaper than this

[techieboy]

Mine was well and truly FUBAR'd at 60,000 miles. Both inboard track rods were flapping around with absolutely no resistance and gave me an MOT failure (although they thought it was the outboard joints ). Think they can start to get excessive play at any mileage and depends more on type of use they've had. If you're rack is the type that can be refurb'd, then it's about £100 for a standard refurb and £30 more for the quicker pinion to be fitted. Buying one outright from Titan is about £350 for the quick version (Vocky may have a more current price ). Nitron also do one through Elise Parts for just under £500.

[Whiteboy]

This one is cheaper, but has more turns. http://www.elise-sho...ster-p-378.html

[techieboy]

This one is cheaper, but has more turns. http://www.elise-sho...ster-p-378.html

But by the time you've added VAT, delivery and the €->£ conversion, I bet it's not much different in cost to the Nitron jobbie.

[JG]

i had my worn out steering rack replaced when the car was 2 years old and 15k miles. So it can happen at anytime. The new one has been much better and has done 20k.

[mandarinvx]

i had my worn out steering rack replaced when the car was 2 years old and 15k miles.
So it can happen at anytime. The new one has been much better and has done 20k.

You've done 20k miles

[slindborg]

tbh most people wouldnt know a car had a quick rack if you got in for a drive... the nitron one is simply a titan one made with a different ratio.... not necessarily any 'better' unless it can be proved otherwise.

[EssexVX]

How long would it take a garage to fit a new rack roughly? Thanks

[Scotsdave]

It took me about 3 - 4 hrs on my own to remove and fit. Theres not much too it really.

[theolodian]

Mine is ok at 60k. Not that hard to replace if you have a 2nd pair of hands to help wiggle it in and out. Will require redoing the front toe. I seriously doubt the 2.2 rack is worth the extra £££ over the 2.5 rack.

[Pidgeon]

I've got 10mm of free play in the steering wheel and it isn't the UJ. Titan prices are £300 for a 2.75 and £313 for a 2.5. My inherent hatred of spending money suggests their refurb service at £35 + parts is too good value to miss It has to be done in the next five weeks, anything else I should consider?

[techieboy]

Yours is a turbo, isn't it? If so, Titan might not be able to refurb it, as they can only do the rack that they originally made. Their rack tended to be fitted to the earlier cars but not sure whether that changed with the turbo or just at a random place, part way through production. If your rack is the later version built by Sona (I think that was their name) then it will need to be replaced, I'm afraid. If it can be refurb'd, they can do it as a quick rack, if you want. You may be able to pick up a fuggered early rack, ready for a refurb, at a sensible price on here/SELOC/fleabay. I think I've probably still got my original rack in the garage as I couldn't wait for the rebuild service and bought a new rack off the shelf.

[Exmantaa]

Yours is a turbo, isn't it? If so, Titan might not be able to refurb it, as they can only do the rack that they originally made. Their rack tended to be fitted to the earlier cars but not sure whether that changed with the turbo or just at a random place, part way through production. If your rack is the later version built by Sona (I think that was their name) then it will need to be replaced, I'm afraid.

If it can be refurb'd, they can do it as a quick rack, if you want.

You may be able to pick up a fuggered early rack, ready for a refurb, at a sensible price on here/SELOC/fleabay. I think I've probably still got my original rack in the garage as I couldn't wait for the rebuild service and bought a new rack off the shelf.

Just for my peace of mind;
The version in this picture is an early Titan rack that kan be refurbished/modified, right?

Edited by Exmantaa, 11 May 2010 - 08:16 AM.

[techieboy]

Yep, that's the Titan version.

[theolodian]

I put my original one back in with 60K on it. Early and can't be refurbed, but would have gone for the 2.5 Titan otherwise.