02 wrx rack swap steering knuckle modification

[njdriver04]

Swapped in a 02 wrx steering today am now is the process of splicing in a older style knuckle from my touring wagon with the newer style from the 02 wrx or maybe something newer whatever my fellow subaru buddies dig up from the garage. Swap is necessary because the older style knuckle does not work with the wrx due to the length and the size of the pinching end that attaches to the rack,

Anyone already do this?

[njdriver04]

top from the legacy bottom from the wrx

[njdriver04]

going to see if a 03 wrx steering column will swap into my touring wagon instead of welding the knuckle, kinda a safety issue

[njdriver04]

decided to not do the wrx steering shaft, instead i used a chop saw and cut the two knuckles and then tack weld the two ends together. I installed my hybrid knuck today realized I needed to at least loosen the rack to get the knuckle on the input shaft. Planning to take the hybrid knuckle out tomorrow and finish with the final welds.

[njdriver04]

pinched one of the steering knuckle joints too hard with the vise clamp, had to go to the upull to pull another, took one off of a 98 legacy this time

[njdriver04]

and...... done

[Florin1]

Dang. That looks like a lot of work. I grabbed the rack out of an sti but now i don't think I'll use it. Haha.

[wtdash]

Hi,
Hope this is helpful - and not a hijack- for someone else since you've already worked your issue out. I recommend your hybrid setup:

This was for an '04 WRX rack I put in a '98 Forester. I'd read it helped give quicker steering...not so much.

I swapped pinion shafts - the gear that connects the knuckle/intermediate shaft to the rack from an older style to the WRX one.


...not something I would recommend. After doing this, the turning circle went from not so good to terrible, likely due to the different spline spacing.

I should've done what you did and cut them @ the arrow and had the correct pieces welded together:



TD

[njdriver04]

just found that L&E sells it for $115, that gives me some comfort that it wont break

http://landefabrication.com/

[LucyFord]

just found that L&E sells it for $115, that gives me some comfort that it wont break

http://landefabrication.com/

Thanks for the info. The fabrication wasn't the best on this piece but it seems to work. I am starting to think this STI rack swap wasnt worth the $$ tho.