Choosing Buggy steering ????

[Mafia]

Being first timers .. we are in a dilemma to choose "whether to manufacture our own steering system" OR "To buy one " ...
In terms of Resources to manufacture .. We have very less of those .. and less of facilities too ...

We are more inclined to "BUYING" a system ...
Is Buggy Steering system 14 inch a GOOD option for us ??
http://www.desertkarts.com/item80862.ctlg

In the above link it is specified that
" 1.5 turns of the wheel is 4.25 inches of rack travel "lock to lock"."

So does it mean the C-factor is 4.25/1.5 = 2.83 in

If so taking steering ratio as 8 : 1 .. we are getting the steering arm length to be 3.23 inch

Reducing the steering ratio increases our steering arm length ..

Is this steering arm length "okay "

please give us some suggestions in choosing the steering ratio ..

--CHEERS
FIRST TIMERS

[Dash]

Mafia,

I have used one of these racks. We set the steering to be about 135 degrees of steering wheel rotation to steer the tires to max turning needed in either direction. I don't know what the steering arm was right off the top of my head, but it was probably around 2.5 inches plus or minus a half inch.

If you have the geometry set up correctly, it should work fine. Just make sure you don't have to put 100ft-lbf of torque on the steering wheel at max grip.

[Mafia]

Robinson
Thank you for the suggestion ...

Can you tell us the maximum wheel turn of your car ?
Did you have any problem in the long run of the rack .. ??

We will be mounting our rack on top , such that the driver would not have any problems with getting in/out ..
For this system .. we are having plans of using "Rocker Arms" .. Are we on the right track ??
Won't the rocker arm have any losses in transferring the motion ??
What is your suggestion ??

--CHEERS
--FIRST TIMERS

[Dash]

Average tire angle was about 30 degrees at full steer. This translated to 135 degrees of steering input.

Warning on the top mount: You have to pass the template test. This will prove difficult for this position. Getting out of the car with a bottom mounted rack is no problem. The only issue is managing the steering column angles.

The base mounts can get a little wiggly if you don't use the right size bolts.

[Mafia]

Thanks again!

I am really sorry to bother you again, but can you tell us your steering arm length and the c-factor?

[Dash]

Mafia,

I have already told you more than enough information for you to basically copy my design. I suggest you work out the math yourself, even if you just approximate the numbers.

Best of luck.