S14 Steering Suggestion with HICAS

[dongoesby]

While planning to remove the engine for a swap soon, I'm thinking to work on the steering system. I have been driving my S14 with SPL inner (z33 & spacer) + outer tie rods, SPL Tension Rods and Nismo steering rack bushings (also purchased from SPL). The steering feeling were improved noticebly; however, the nismo bushings are actually taking away the responsibe feeling from the car. Like most S14 owners who installed the nismo steering shaft bushings, I have a tiny gap which assumed to be an inpropoer installation. (There is no solution yet)

Nonetheless, I'm planning on improve the steering feeling further by changing the steering rack to HICAS that came only in JDM. With researches, I was not able to gather enough workable info. I know the different ratio between the two are:

s13/s14-HICAS: 14.9:1 lock to lock: 2.6
non-HICAS: 17.1 lock to lock: 3.1
z32-HCAS: 14.8:1 lock to lock: 2.4

There are many opinions on quicker steering feel verses decreasing turning radius. This means you can have quicker steering feel but you won't be able to turn as wide as before, like the z32, which it has less stroke travel and that is why the Z32 has a smaller number of turns to lock.

My question is does S13/S14 HICAS racks decrease turning radius also? If to swap the rack, do I have to change the steering columns too?

I understand S13 rack/columns are different than S14 rack/columns. (I could be wrong.) The s13 and s14 racks are not interchangable due to different size in diameter. The s13 column has a circular bushing that stays in between 4 bolts, and s14 has no bushings at all, which it is just a knuckle joint, solid steering shaft and no 4 bolts. Some say the s14 columns were made for crash safety. But to experts in here, does s14 columns got any advantage over s13? There are aluminum bushings for s13, which it is quite neat.

[cdlong]

leave your column. the s13 bushing is to dampen steering shock. adding the aluminum bushing makes it solid again. nowhere to put it on your s14. as far as i know, the columns work with anything. i've never heard of anyone switching one when changing the rack.

i have the exact same steering setup you do. except i have poly tension rod bushings instead of the SPL rods. my steering feels great, if a little slow.

Originally Posted by dongoesby

the nismo bushings are actually taking away the responsibe feeling from the car.

does the car go out drinking late at night and have unprotected sex and not pay its bills or something? did you mean responsive feel? it may be your caster or other alignment settings. i don't remember a tiny gap, but i'm sure it's not a problem.

as for the rack, a JDM car will be right hand drive. good luck getting a rhd rack to work in a lhd car. i've been thinking about it, but the s13 rack might work if you switch some bushings around. i've heard it works, but i don't remember the details.

the s13 HICAS has a smaller turning circle due to the rear steering. the front wheels turn the same amount, they just get there faster since the ratio is quicker. the ratio refers to the gearing in the rack and pinion. any differences in steering angle (with the same ratio) will be determined by the tie rod end location on the steering knuckle/spindle. the z32 and s13 HICAS racks should be roughly equivilant.

[dongoesby]

Originally Posted by cdlong

does the car go out drinking late at night and have unprotected sex and not pay its bills or something? did you mean responsive feel? it may be your caster or other alignment settings. i don't remember a tiny gap, but i'm sure it's not a problem.

Hahah, thanks for the creative reply. No, the car has been properly aligned. This is the tiny gap I'm talking about:



It has been properly torqued to ~80 lb/foot, but i heard people have to torque it to ~110, I don't want to be risky for doing that.

Originally Posted by cdlong

the s13 HICAS has a smaller turning circle due to the rear steering. the wheels turn the same amount, they just get there faster since the ratio is higher. the ratio refers to the gears in the rack and pinion. any differences in steering angle (with the same ratio) will be determined by the tie rod end location on the steering knuckle/spindle. the z32 and s13 HICAS racks should be roughly equivilant.

The quicker responds from the HICAS rack is not necessary involve with the rear steering. It is quicker due to lower ratio not higher.

Anyways, thank you for the correction on HICAS rack. If this is going anywhere, s13 HICAS would be the best way to go for.

[cdlong]

sorry, that last part wasn't very clear. i should have said faster ratio. i edited it for clarity (and to fix some typos).

quicker response and turning circle are two different things. the HICAS system affects the turning circle by involving the rear in turning too. the HICAS model has a quicker response because of the front ratio difference. if you install one on your s14, you'll get the quicker ratio, but the turning circle will be the same.

please post up any info you find. i've been considering this project myself. it might be easier to get a z32 rack. all TTs had HICAS and the quicker rack. you could go to a place like steeringrack.com and be pretty confident that you're getting the right one. i've heard of people ordering s13 HICAS racks from them and getting standard ones. all the applicable nissan racks are $220 with a $100 core charge.

[projectRDM]

The S13 rack is a direct replacement in the S14, you just use S13 bushings since the circular bushing is slightly thicker. The newer ES kit actually comes with both sizes for use in either S13, S14, or Z32. Get an S13 HICAS rack and reuse your existing tie rods/ends, you're done. The column won't swap without modifications and the S14 unit is more stout anyway, but Nismo does makes a solid steering shaft if you're really into it, it's heavier and counterweighted for increased feedback.

[dongoesby]

It is actually quite difficult to find a correct HICAS rack. I have heard a lot of people who bought the HICAS racks but ending up recieving the non-HICAS racks. It would be difficult for those seller companys to tell the difference anyways.

Originally Posted by projectRDM

The S13 rack is a direct replacement in the S14....The column won't swap without modifications and the S14 unit is more stout anyway, but Nismo does makes a solid steering shaft if you're really into it, it's heavier and counterweighted for increased feedback.

It is nice to hear that I can reuse my tie rod + rod ends. But in here, are you saying that I have to modify the s14 column in order to fit into the s13 HICAS rack?

A Nismo solid steering shaft goes as much as $250 in takakaira.co.jp
Have you personally tried Nismo's sold steering shaft? Is it any good? How about the fitment for s13 HICAS rack?

[projectRDM]

Originally Posted by dongoesby

It is actually quite difficult to find a correct HICAS rack. I have heard a lot of people who bought the HICAS racks but ending up recieving the non-HICAS racks. It would be difficult for those seller companys to tell the difference anyways.

True. But there's a few places, dealer for one, who ensure you get a HICAS unit.

Originally Posted by dongoesby

It is nice to hear that I can reuse my tie rod + rod ends. But in here, are you saying that I have to modify the s14 column in order to fit into the s13 HICAS rack?

A Nismo solid steering shaft goes as much as $250 in takakaira.co.jp
Have you personally tried Nismo's sold steering shaft? Is it any good? How about the fitment for s13 HICAS rack?

No. Where did you see anywhere that I said modification is required? Quoting myself: "The column won't swap without modifications", you're not swapping the column, you're swapping the rack. No reason to read it any other way that how I wrote it.
The fitment is the exact same as an S14 rack since it's the same case, just a slightly smaller diameter on the opposing end. Remove, reinstall. There's nothing special, it's just like putting on a new brake rotor or new axle.

I personally have never felt the Nismo shaft though I always wanted one, I just couldn't justify buying it.

[DALAZ_68]

sorry for reviving the thread...theres really good info here, so i opposed in making a new one...

Originally Posted by projectRDM

The S13 rack is a direct replacement in the S14, you just use S13 bushings since the circular bushing is slightly thicker. The newer ES kit actually comes with both sizes for use in either S13, S14, or Z32. Get an S13 HICAS rack and reuse your existing tie rods/ends, you're done. The column won't swap without modifications and the S14 unit is more stout anyway, but Nismo does makes a solid steering shaft if you're really into it, it's heavier and counterweighted for increased feedback.

readin the bold, im assuming its vice versa, i need to swap and s14 rack into my s13, do i use thinner bushings since the diameter is smaller, or will the s13 bushings suffice...i have a pair from an ES kit, and the kit itself is for an s13...but it only has 2, as far as i recall...

thanks for any help Gents...**cough**ProjectRDM**cough**

[projectRDM]

You'd use the S14 bushing, since it's thinner.

[DALAZ_68]

Originally Posted by projectRDM

You'd use the S14 bushing, since it's thinner.

thank u sir...greatly appreciated