Ackermann Steering Arm *pic*

[260DET]

Designed these so that they just clear the brake rotors, with a front mounted steering rack its about the best that can be done. So they won't give as much Ackermann as may be required but maybe some is better than none.

 

Pictured is the left stock arm at the top, arrow points to the car's outside.

 

Comments?

 

[JMortensen]

This is pretty commonly done on 510's. They are a rear steer setup and there is no clearance issue, so you can bend them quite a bit. Did you heat treat these after bending? I think that is a common practice with the 510 guys.

 

I've been looking at moving the rack back towards the crossmember to get a little Ackermann. Neither solution would produce a whole lot of Ackermann. Maybe both together???

 

Last suggestion is 280 hubs (assuming your 260 has 240 hubs). They space the rotor out another 10mm, so that would give extra clearance. Just an idea.

 

Cool project Richard.

[260DET]

The stock ones looked unsuitable to bend very much Jon so we basically cut and shut them using a spare set as well. There is a standardised welding and heating procedure for such jobs so I was told by the pro who did it.

 

Incidentially the steel Nissan used is apparently of a good quality and very suitable for welding.

[johnc]

For autocross and street driving increasing the amount of Ackerman in the Zs steering is helpful. For road racing I don't think increasing Ackerman is of much help unless its a tight track or an important corner is very tight.

 

Ackerman helps with road race corner entry if enough steering is used. On most race track corners the steering angle of one wheel is no more then 10 degrees and the combined steering angles shouldn't be more the 20 degrees. If the Ackerman curve can be setup so that its all in within the 5 to 10 degree range for each wheel and does not increase after that, it will help.

[JMortensen]

I'm going to reserve final judgement until I get a chance to try it, but I can tell you that a 510 with Ackermann turns in better than one without, according to my friend who bent his steer knuckles. You might still need a static toe out setting for road courses. For those of us who do both autox and time trials there should be a big benefit based on the 510 example.