quickest steering racks

LeVeL

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There doesn't seem to be a list anywhere (I suspect I'm the only one mad enough to even look for one), so let's see what we can come up with. Post quick steering ratios! (#:1 obv)

E92 M3: 12.5
Alfa MiTo: 13.1
RS4: 13.1
2010 Mini S: 13.2
Evo X: 13.3
C63: 13.5
Civic Si: 13.6
MR2 Spyder: 13.6
E46 330i ZHP: 13.7
S2000 CR: 13.8
Mini S: 14.1
Z4 sDrive35i: 14.4
E46 M3 CSL: 14.5
E46 M3 ZCP: 14.5
E39 M5: 14.7
Cayman S: 14.8 (also saw variable ratio rates quoted at 13.8-17.1)
S2000: 14.9
2010 Miata: 15.0
NB Miata: 15.1
E46 M3: 15.4
Z3: 15.4
Z4 M: 15.4 seems to be the consensus, although I also saw 14.7 and 13.7 for the roadster and 12.8 for the coupe...
E36 M3 3.2 Euro: 15.6
VW R32 MkIV: 15.6
Elise SC: 15.8
335i: 16.1
RX8: 16.4
Solstice: 16.4
E36 M3 3.0 Euro: 17.6
Z3 M: 17.8
E39 5-series: 17.9
 
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16:1 on a BMW 335i apparently.
 
And from a bit more looking around:
M3 E92: 12.5:1
RS4: 13.1:1
C63: 13.5:1
M3 E46: 15.4:1

Now I want an E92 M3 steering rack :(
 
And from a bit more looking around:
M3 E92: 12.5:1
RS4: 13.1:1
C63: 13.5:1
M3 E46: 15.4:1

Now I want an E92 M3 steering rack :(

You don't need a new rack, just a steering quickener (if you can fit it).

Quick ratios are overrated anyway. If it's too quick you lose finesse. Many race cars use slower steering than a lot of road cars. Quick steering is really only useful if you do a lot of slide catching.
 
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Just found this Honda website which has very detailed technical specifications for all their 2010/2011 models, including steering ratios! (http://automobiles.honda.com/all-models.aspx)

Honda Civic Si 13.62 (sedan and coupe)

But yes I agree on the implication. I wish my car had a lower steering ratio!
 
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3.5. Mine has the same rack as the Spitfire.
 
on the opposing end the e30... fucking nearly 4:1 I think. It's absurd. It's 4 turns lock to lock. I hate the damn thing!

BTW, don't all modern cars have variable ratio racks, I know anything with a BMW badge does. Kind of makes putting an actual ratio on it hard?
 
on the opposing end the e30... fucking nearly 4:1 I think. It's absurd. It's 4 turns lock to lock. I hate the damn thing!

BTW, don't all modern cars have variable ratio racks, I know anything with a BMW badge does. Kind of makes putting an actual ratio on it hard?

No way. 1440 at 4:1 would be 180 degrees of angle on your wheels and it would be an extremely fast rack that is unbound by suspension geometry.

Rather, 1440 degrees of rotation divided by 60 (2x wheel angle, in this case 30 degrees which is reasonable for a sedan, rather than 180) offers up a 24:1 ratio, which is appalling.

Makes me want an E30 a bit less...
 
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My Alfa MiTo's 13:1 and 2.6 turns lock-to-lock, not sure about the exact ratio on my 8C but it's probably around 12:1, as it has a longer wheelbase than the MiTo, the same number of turns lock-to-lock, and has a smaller turning circle. How can I calculate the steering ratio from the turning circle and corresponding steering wheel rotation?

Other Alfa steering ratios:

Alfa Romeo 159: 12.7:1, 2.25 turns lock-to-lock
Alfa Romeo 147, 156, GT: 12.7:1, 2.2 turns lock-to-lock
Alfa Romeo 147 GTA, 156 GTA, GT 3.2 V6: 11.3:1, 1.75 turns lock-to-lock
 
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Which is why I do not have to turn my wheel 16 times to get around a parking lot :lol:
 
Just did a few crude measurements. 1:14, 2.5 turns lock to lock. No wonder I have trouble manouvering in parking lots.
 
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Quick ratios are overrated anyway. If it's too quick you lose finesse. Many race cars use slower steering than a lot of road cars. Quick steering is really only useful if you do a lot of slide catching.

True, but 16:1 is truly slow on that car. Same deal with the E36 M3. I think a 14 or 13 to 1 would be ideal. As it is, I need too much steering input for most turns on the track.

Actually the first thing I noticed going from a Z4 to an E36 M3 was the slower steering ratio. I'm going to go look it up for the Z4 to see how much quicker it was.
Edit: Meh... the variable ratio electric power steering on E85 Z4s makes it hard to figure out the steering ratio.
 
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