Nitron Quickrack prelim drive review - LotusTalk

Ruchmate · 02-11-2008, 06:03 PM

Hey guys,

I replaced my steering rack with a Nitron Quickrack over the weekend and thought I'd give my initial impressions for anyone who thought about it.

I only drove the car for a short period of time since i didn't have time to get it aligned but the ratio is definately quicker and gives a faster turn in. Effort at parking speeds has increased slightly. Steering feel remains great and bump steer is reduced over stock.

Install is not very difficult (can be done with basic metric hand tools inc. a torque wrench). Basically jack up the car, take off the front wheels and unbolt the toe links from the spindles. Inside the car in the footwells are 4 bolts (2 on each side) that hold the steering rack in place which need to be unbolted as well as the U joint connected to the rack directly behind the pedal area. After that you twist the rack at an angle and pull it out of its tunnel.

Take the toe links off (inc. lock nut) the original rack (remember to count the turns on each side so the alignment isn't toooo far off from before). Put toe links onto new rack counting turns. Slide the rack in place the same way it was taken out. Bolt everything back up. Try your best to put the steering wheel back on straight (having a friend helps with this).

PsychoRallye · 02-11-2008, 06:10 PM

I used teflon tape to mark the ends of the threaded rods on the stock rack, putting the tape flush with the rod ends. After removal of the old rod ends from the stock rack, I could measure the distance to the rod end with my calipers, and mark (using teflon tape) the location of the rod ends on the new rack.

I was within 0.05 degrees of the original alignment after all was said & done.

Have fun, most people don't notice the slightly quicker ratio, they just say "that's fun!"

Ruchmate · 02-11-2008, 06:21 PM

Nice tip. Honestly tho the increase in speed feels fairly substantial (maybe part of it was my ghetto-fied alignment. I think it was like 2.4-2.5 or so turns lock to lock. Is your rack different?

sfelise · 02-11-2008, 06:36 PM

How much difference in ratio verses stock?

My legs are kind of long and my hands hit my knees at the track on most slower corners. Does this new ratio make enough difference that one would notice enough of a decrease in lock that it might help?

Ruchmate · 02-11-2008, 06:44 PM

Not sure what the official spec is, it wasn't listed on eliseparts. However my rough count shows it to be about 2.4ish turns. I would check the stock for comparison, i think its 2.7ish.

I basically had the same problem as you and this should definately help. Since you are in the Bay Area, you are welcome to come by and check out my car and see if it fits your bill.

sfelise · 02-11-2008, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruchmate

Not sure what the official spec is, it wasn't listed on eliseparts. However my rough count shows it to be about 2.4ish turns. I would check the stock for comparison, i think its 2.7ish.

I basically had the same problem as you and this should definately help. Since you are in the Bay Area, you are welcome to come by and check out my car and see if it fits your bill.

That would be great! I've been thinking about the Nitron Rack and it would be good to see them back to back. Maybe PM me to find a good time? cheers, eric

PsychoRallye · 02-11-2008, 07:09 PM

I got the rack for he same reason... tallness. Every little bit helps. I also got a different seat, that helped even more. Good luck!

As a side effect, it is nice to have quicker turn in. I admit however, at low speed it's even more of a bear

Keeper · 08-11-2008, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruchmate

I replaced my steering rack with a Nitron Quickrack over the weekend and thought I'd give my initial impressions for anyone who thought about it.

Where did you buy the rack?

Ruchmate · 08-11-2008, 01:32 PM

Eliseparts.com

Keeper · 08-11-2008, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruchmate

Eliseparts.com

Thanks. Do you recall how long it took to receive it? I'm trying to get the new rack in before a track day on 8/23.

Ruchmate · 08-11-2008, 03:57 PM

Didn't take too long, but I can't remember exactly how long.

holmz · 08-12-2008, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsychoRallye

I got the rack for he same reason... tallness. Every little bit helps. I also got a different seat, that helped even more. Good luck!

As a side effect, it is nice to have quicker turn in. I admit however, at low speed it's even more of a bear

Which seat?

Keeper · 08-21-2008, 01:24 AM

FYI, I ordered the rack on a Thursday AM UK time and it was at my north-of-Boston house on Saturday AM local time.

02-11-2008, 06:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ruchmate I'd rather be doing vvv Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 208	Nitron Quickrack prelim drive review Hey guys, I replaced my steering rack with a Nitron Quickrack over the weekend and thought I'd give my initial impressions for anyone who thought about it. I only drove the car for a short period of time since i didn't have time to get it aligned but the ratio is definately quicker and gives a faster turn in. Effort at parking speeds has increased slightly. Steering feel remains great and bump steer is reduced over stock. Install is not very difficult (can be done with basic metric hand tools inc. a torque wrench). Basically jack up the car, take off the front wheels and unbolt the toe links from the spindles. Inside the car in the footwells are 4 bolts (2 on each side) that hold the steering rack in place which need to be unbolted as well as the U joint connected to the rack directly behind the pedal area. After that you twist the rack at an angle and pull it out of its tunnel. Take the toe links off (inc. lock nut) the original rack (remember to count the turns on each side so the alignment isn't toooo far off from before). Put toe links onto new rack counting turns. Slide the rack in place the same way it was taken out. Bolt everything back up. Try your best to put the steering wheel back on straight (having a friend helps with this). __________________ 2005 Ardent Red Elise. Sport, Touring, Hardtop. Stuff done (feel free to ask me about any): Moroso Oil Pan, Sector111 Micro Mirror, carpet buttons, re-enforcer, braille battery, Nitron Quickratio steering rack, SS lines, painted console, HIDs, Ohlins Sport, BWR front sway bar, BWR supercharger, 2Bular 6" Ultra Exhaust 2005 Suzuki SV650 nekkid

02-11-2008, 06:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
PsychoRallye 05 Mag Blue LSS/HT Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Wherever you go, there you are. Posts: 787	I used teflon tape to mark the ends of the threaded rods on the stock rack, putting the tape flush with the rod ends. After removal of the old rod ends from the stock rack, I could measure the distance to the rod end with my calipers, and mark (using teflon tape) the location of the rod ends on the new rack. I was within 0.05 degrees of the original alignment after all was said & done. Have fun, most people don't notice the slightly quicker ratio, they just say "that's fun!" __________________ "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

02-11-2008, 06:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ruchmate I'd rather be doing vvv Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 208	Nice tip. Honestly tho the increase in speed feels fairly substantial (maybe part of it was my ghetto-fied alignment. I think it was like 2.4-2.5 or so turns lock to lock. Is your rack different? __________________ 2005 Ardent Red Elise. Sport, Touring, Hardtop. Stuff done (feel free to ask me about any): Moroso Oil Pan, Sector111 Micro Mirror, carpet buttons, re-enforcer, braille battery, Nitron Quickratio steering rack, SS lines, painted console, HIDs, Ohlins Sport, BWR front sway bar, BWR supercharger, 2Bular 6" Ultra Exhaust 2005 Suzuki SV650 nekkid

02-11-2008, 06:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
sfelise Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: San Francisco Posts: 271	How much difference in ratio verses stock? My legs are kind of long and my hands hit my knees at the track on most slower corners. Does this new ratio make enough difference that one would notice enough of a decrease in lock that it might help? __________________ Eric Jennings 2005 Elise 2004 S4 Avant 1995 M3 (RIP)

02-11-2008, 06:44 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ruchmate I'd rather be doing vvv Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 208	Not sure what the official spec is, it wasn't listed on eliseparts. However my rough count shows it to be about 2.4ish turns. I would check the stock for comparison, i think its 2.7ish. I basically had the same problem as you and this should definately help. Since you are in the Bay Area, you are welcome to come by and check out my car and see if it fits your bill. __________________ 2005 Ardent Red Elise. Sport, Touring, Hardtop. Stuff done (feel free to ask me about any): Moroso Oil Pan, Sector111 Micro Mirror, carpet buttons, re-enforcer, braille battery, Nitron Quickratio steering rack, SS lines, painted console, HIDs, Ohlins Sport, BWR front sway bar, BWR supercharger, 2Bular 6" Ultra Exhaust 2005 Suzuki SV650 nekkid

02-11-2008, 07:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
PsychoRallye 05 Mag Blue LSS/HT Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Wherever you go, there you are. Posts: 787	I got the rack for he same reason... tallness. Every little bit helps. I also got a different seat, that helped even more. Good luck! As a side effect, it is nice to have quicker turn in. I admit however, at low speed it's even more of a bear __________________ "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

08-11-2008, 01:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
Ruchmate I'd rather be doing vvv Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 208	Eliseparts.com __________________ 2005 Ardent Red Elise. Sport, Touring, Hardtop. Stuff done (feel free to ask me about any): Moroso Oil Pan, Sector111 Micro Mirror, carpet buttons, re-enforcer, braille battery, Nitron Quickratio steering rack, SS lines, painted console, HIDs, Ohlins Sport, BWR front sway bar, BWR supercharger, 2Bular 6" Ultra Exhaust 2005 Suzuki SV650 nekkid

08-11-2008, 03:57 PM	#11 (permalink)
Ruchmate I'd rather be doing vvv Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 208	Didn't take too long, but I can't remember exactly how long. __________________ 2005 Ardent Red Elise. Sport, Touring, Hardtop. Stuff done (feel free to ask me about any): Moroso Oil Pan, Sector111 Micro Mirror, carpet buttons, re-enforcer, braille battery, Nitron Quickratio steering rack, SS lines, painted console, HIDs, Ohlins Sport, BWR front sway bar, BWR supercharger, 2Bular 6" Ultra Exhaust 2005 Suzuki SV650 nekkid

08-21-2008, 01:24 AM	#13 (permalink)
Keeper Probably Lurking Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North of Boston Posts: 1,979	FYI, I ordered the rack on a Thursday AM UK time and it was at my north-of-Boston house on Saturday AM local time. __________________ -Shawn (2005 Lotus Econoxotic) Uberpost -- things owners should know - common problems/fixes - rattles, squeaks, noises - read the manual - good ideas? - maintenance - mods - reference - abbreviations

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