Anyone used a Steering Quickener?

DIY · 02-24-2012, 07:08 PM

So I know its popular to pop in the E36 rack and modify the steering jont.... But why doesnt anyone use one of these in their E30?? OR both...

Its a coleman steering quickener .. got a 1.5:1 or 2:1 ratio, your 4 or 3 turn to lock could be a 2-1.5 turn to lock for about 120$....(theres of course cheaper ones)

Is it just the work needed to install it? Or am I missing something?

http://pitstopusa.com/c-131820-cockp...uickeners.html

E30M42cab · 02-24-2012, 10:34 PM

Interesting. I feel like I would like to try it... but I'd have to do it to both cars I think, otherwise I'm sure I would totally smash up whatever car I "thought" I was driving. Buy one. I'll come over and install it, and then I'll put one in my car, but do a better job.

craz azn · 02-24-2012, 10:57 PM

Never really studied the steering column in the E30, but I'd guess installing something like this would have to remove some part of the collapsibility of it built in for serious front end impacts. I bet this would be a lot easier to install in a gutted/caged car where trim/dash/wires would not interfere with the steering column.

DIY · 02-24-2012, 11:19 PM

lololol ive been wanting to i just got no money

... I even got the steering joint from my E36 rack i can use to attach to the column... and well fix the rattle while were at it

...
I can just picture it, " ahh massive understeerrr!! .. oh wait"

DIY · 02-24-2012, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craz azn

Never really studied the steering column in the E30, but I'd guess installing something like this would have to remove some part of the collapsibility of it built in for serious front end impacts. I bet this would be a lot easier to install in a gutted/caged car where trim/dash/wires would not interfere with the steering column.

true .. im also wondering how well these would hold up with my cars lack of power steering... currently

Bullet Ride · 02-25-2012, 09:02 AM

I've thought about doing it as well and doing it in a way that would be easy to swap it in and out because it would be great to have something like that for auto-x, but at the track I feel that it'll make your car very twitchy. You definitely don't want to put anything more than a 1.5:1 ratio.

DIY · 02-25-2012, 12:35 PM

If the two ends alligned it seems like it would be simple enough to make easily removable ...as they don't, that might be a little tricky..

Good call bout the twichyness.. Although the E36 rack has a progressive movement right? That could probably help it be a little more driveable?

Dam I want to try this now!

Bullet Ride · 02-25-2012, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIY

If the two ends alligned it seems like it would be simple enough to make easily removable ...as they don't, that might be a little tricky..

Good call bout the twichyness.. Although the E36 rack has a progressive movement right? That could probably help it be a little more driveable?

Dam I want to try this now!

The way I was thinking of doing it was to hack a section out of the steering column tube (couple inches longer than the quickener) right where it bolts to the chassis.

Chop a section out of the steering column shaft, machine it, and weld in something like this on both ends

Then make a custom bracket for the steering column tube where the bottom section is welded solid like OEM but top section is bolted and the holes are slotted vertically which will give you the ability to offset the axis for the quickener or drop it back down in line for stock.

Then to swap all you have to do is loosen the collars, pull the top part back enough to get the quickener out, then slide in a solid piece with splines, slide the top section down and back on and tighten the collars.

This would also be good if you wanted to install another u-joint in the steering column and have a custom steering set-up (angle and distance from the dash) for a full blown track car

DIY · 02-25-2012, 03:57 PM

Ah HA! Clever, very clever ... I must of spent 30min looking for a steering column pic like that lol!! Is that the plan for that turbo car? Seems like you got some good thought in this

///Mmm · 02-25-2012, 05:51 PM

Damnnn never knew about this ! Thank you

Assuming this would work in an e24, would that make the steering response feel even faster than a z3m ( the car itself not the rack ) ?

Bullet Ride · 02-25-2012, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIY

Ah HA! Clever, very clever ... I must of spent 30min looking for a steering column pic like that lol!! Is that the plan for that turbo car? Seems like you got some good thought in this

If I'm being honest, I though about using one back in 2010 when my brother was on the Baja car team @ UW and I saw they were using one on their car. However, I never really gave much thought about how to do it until you posted this thread. I know I started off by saying "The way I was thinking of doing it was..." but in reality I cocktail napkin-ed (if I can say that lol) that concept as I wrote the that post.

I just looked at the steering column diagram on realOEM and then searched google images for "bmw e30 steering column" (that picture should be in like the top 10 results) and "female spline coupler".

If I'm going to try it on a car, it will probably be the turbo heap because it's currently not my DD...and it's a heap lol. But like I said that's just a rough concept that I came up with in a few minutes, until I take a closer look at the actual steering column assembly I won't know how feasible it is.

DIY · 02-25-2012, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///Mmm

Damnnn never knew about this ! Thank you

Assuming this would work in an e24, would that make the steering response feel even faster than a z3m ( the car itself not the rack ) ?

That has alot more to do with your bushings I think .. and how tall the sidewalls on your tire is ... if you turn the wheel too fast youll just unsettle the car goin in the corner, or get just pure understeer.

The goal with the quickener is to reduce rotation in the steering wheel ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bullet Ride

but in reality I cocktail napkin-ed (if I can say that lol) that concept as I wrote the that post.

the sistine chapel was developed on poorer quality paper

e30bmart · 03-13-2012, 08:31 PM

could this make it 2.5 lock to lock if we wanted? so we could do this instead of swapping racks?

davericher20 · 03-13-2012, 08:41 PM

I don't know if it would affect "twitchyness" by a huge margin, if anything it would teach you to be more smooth.
But good post! someone install this!!!!

DIY · 03-13-2012, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e30bmart

could this make it 2.5 lock to lock if we wanted? so we could do this instead of swapping racks?

yes ....... ..... thats what the thread has been about

annd its not bolt on