Steering systems

Can anyone tell me what kind of steering system they use on very long
cars where
the driver is far from the front wheels and using a very long steering
column is inappropriate ???

like that used in a dragster or in Jay Leno's Blastolene...

wrote in article
. com>...
> Can anyone tell me what kind of steering system they use on very long
> cars where
> the driver is far from the front wheels and using a very long steering
> column is inappropriate ???
>
> like that used in a dragster or in Jay Leno's Blastolene...
>
>


Please define a steering column that is too long to be "appropriate." I am
not familiar with the term or the concept.

Dragsters have a complex shaft going from the steering wheel to the
steering
rack/box.

wrote:
> Can anyone tell me what kind of steering system they use on very long
> cars where
> the driver is far from the front wheels and using a very long steering
> column is inappropriate ???
>
> like that used in a dragster or in Jay Leno's Blastolene...
>
Speed shops (the kind that actually sell race parts) will sell you
u-joints, tubing, slightly oversized heim joints, and quick disconnect
steering wheel mounts to set up a steering system.

> wrote:
>Can anyone tell me what kind of steering system they use on very long
>cars where
>the driver is far from the front wheels and using a very long steering
>column is inappropriate ???

Why is using a very long steering column inappropriate?

You might have an extra U-joint or two in there to deal with the long
horizontal run from the rack and pinion, though.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

In article <01c7d437$76b34b60$6594c3d8@race>, * > wrote:
>
>Please define a steering column that is too long to be "appropriate." I am
>not familiar with the term or the concept.

When you have to use binoculars to see your front wheels when parallel
parking, that's too long to be appropriate.
--scott


--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

just think of a long dragster using the steering system of your
regular car (rack and pinion).

in a sedan, from the rack and pinion, the steering column connects
straight to the steering wheel.

in a dragster that would be difficult since the distance between the
steering wheel and the rack and pinion is too far.
And so I guess a steering system similar to that of Jay Leno's
Blastolene might be more appropriate.






On Aug 1, 10:35 pm, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
> In article <01c7d437$76b34b60$6594c3d8@race>, * > wrote:
>
> >Please define a steering column that is too long to be "appropriate." I am
> >not familiar with the term or the concept.
>
> When you have to use binoculars to see your front wheels when parallel
> parking, that's too long to be appropriate.
> --scott
>
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

wrote in article
.com>...
> just think of a long dragster using the steering system of your
> regular car (rack and pinion).
>
> in a sedan, from the rack and pinion, the steering column connects
> straight to the steering wheel.
>

There are often one or more universal joints to allow for slight turns in
the linkages.


> in a dragster that would be difficult since the distance between the
> steering wheel and the rack and pinion is too far.


What caused you to come to that conclusion?

I could operate a steering rack a quarter-mile away with a straight piece
of tubing and a few intermediate supports.

of course it is possible to have a very long steering column BUT I'm
just considering the possibility of have some obstacles in the way of
the steering column.

I don't want to argue about a very long column being inappropriate.

I just want to know how a long car's (such as a dragster) steering
system works.

Perhaps anyone can refer me to a website with diagrams/pictures.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think that long cars have long tie rods
on each side that are parallel to the car.





On Aug 2, 9:39 pm, "*" > wrote:
> wrote in article
> .com>...
>
> > just think of a long dragster using the steering system of your
> > regular car (rack and pinion).
>
> > in a sedan, from the rack and pinion, the steering column connects
> > straight to the steering wheel.
>
> There are often one or more universal joints to allow for slight turns in
> the linkages.
>
> > in a dragster that would be difficult since the distance between the
> > steering wheel and the rack and pinion is too far.
>
> What caused you to come to that conclusion?
>
> I could operate a steering rack a quarter-mile away with a straight piece
> of tubing and a few intermediate supports.

wrote in article
.com>...
> of course it is possible to have a very long steering column BUT I'm
> just considering the possibility of have some obstacles in the way of
> the steering column.
>
> I don't want to argue about a very long column being inappropriate.
>
> I just want to know how a long car's (such as a dragster) steering
> system works.
>
> Perhaps anyone can refer me to a website with diagrams/pictures.
>
> Correct me if I'm wrong but I think that long cars have long tie rods
> on each side that are parallel to the car.
>
>
>

You are wrong!

Most well-designed long cars such as dragsters have the steering assembly -
box or rack - up near the front of the car to avoid problems such as
bump-steer that might come from such long drag links.

I know!..... I know!

Dragsters do not have suspension, but the frame flexes enough to induce
bump-steer should the drag link run all the way back to the cockpit.

wrote in article
.com>...
> of course it is possible to have a very long steering column BUT I'm
> just considering the possibility of have some obstacles in the way of
> the steering column.
>
> I don't want to argue about a very long column being inappropriate.

Then, why did you bring it up?