EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

With all the info available on these cars I'm surprised I have found nothing solid on increasing the 96-00 Civic's steering rack performance. I don't like the "integra pinion into power civic rack" as there doesn't seem to be enough solid information, and 3.3 lock to lock isn't very impressive.

I have "heard/read" some non solid information on the EK9 (96-00 Civic Type R) rack. Some sources state 2.6 lock to lock, others 2.8?

So, does anyone know the real Lock to Lock number for EK9s?

Does anyone know if the RHD EK9 rack will bolt into the LHD civics?

If not, is there such thing as a LHD EK9?

Thanks,

Carthik

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

Just use a steering quickener and don't waste time with swapping racks.

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

Not really an answer to the question essex.I'd like to know a proper answer too.

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

And these are not the easiest to adapt to street cars.

I have an extra Civic PS rack, and had planned on putting it in, but I would like to have less effort, but not too interested in the lack of feel. The faster ratio would really be nice, too.

Has anyone played with restricting the flow to the rack with bushings or smaller banjo bolt holes?

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

i have the swap on my civic; ITR guts transplanted.
I have found this to be a big improvement to the stock setup. [2000 EX coupe]
But from what I read in your post you are not interested in this?

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

I'm not sure on the LTL on the EK9 rack, I tried to get someone to check this on the EK9 forum but would you know it, for such a simple task no-one would do it. I checked my EK4 rack and it was about 2.7.

I personally have a hunch that the racks are the same in the EK4 and EK9, just with more feel/weight through less power assist on the '9.

There is no LHD EK9.

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-del-sol-1992-2000-1/steering-ratio-news-swapping-integra-pinion-assembly-ek-rack-2422762/

Yes, I too am wondering why the OP feels this is not a viable option?

As the number of teeth on the rack itself is the same from PS EK to PS DC, only the pinion differs, so in that sense, the LTL (lock to lock) ratio will be the same as a PS DC which is 3.0 or according to the factory service manual, 2.98.

That's a really good improvement over the stock 6th gen manual AND PS rack to begin with.

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

I personaly have a 2000 Civic EX rack with a GSR pinion. It was a major improvement over the factory EX rack. I know you said you wasn't intrested but I just wanted to let you know incase you have questions about it.

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

RHD racks won't bolt in without modification the input from the steering column is on the passenger side of the car...

But I would go with the GS-R swap or install a quickener. I installed a 1.5:1 quickener on my steering column. Brings down ~3.5 turns to just over 2 turns lock-to-lock. Still running power steering with it as well.

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

quaife has a 2.83 rack

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

not for the EK9

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

From what I've gathered, the op doesn't have an EK9. He has a regular US Civic and is asking if an EK9 rack will fit because he heard it has a better LTL.

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

ah! sorry
I think the quaife is for the EG rack, are they the same as EKs [96-2000 civics]

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

Just completed! EM1 power steering rack with ITR guts and full power to manual conversion.

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...39636101_n.jpg

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

Full power to manual conversion? Did you remove the internal o-ring?

In.

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

The metal ring was cut off of the ITR rack before reassembling the rack. All fittings for the power steering lines were welded closed, and i will be putting non powered boots on the ends to ensure nothing can enter and damage the rack.

Here is an example of what i'm talking about from someone else's build. Didn't have a camera to take pictures while we were doing the work yesterday.

Attachment 446510

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

That's a lot of work.

94-00 integra pinion will fit right into Civic 96-00 PS rack.

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

thats one cool mod.

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

Awesome. I remembered having one apart way back when and seeing that was how it worked. Been wanting to mod mine this way for a long time, but since mine has been on indefinite hiatus for going on three years I obviously haven't tried. Ideally you can just fill the thing with some gear oil and cap it off no? I'm really interested to see how it works out for you.

Edit: I missed the part about welding it up. That works too.

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

Well essentially that's what we did, my buddy and i just kicked it up a notch since i didn't want a looped steering rack. It's not much more work than replacing the civic rack and pinion with the integra's. Just one more step to make it a 100% manual rack.

You can put an integra pinion in, but only if you use an integra rack. There are the same amount of teeth on the racks, however the integra's are at a steeper angle. So you can't use an integra pinion on a civic's rack, and vice versa. The gears will not mesh correctly.

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

Exactly what i've been told.

Gave it a try with frequent inspection. There is absolutly no wear, and both integra and civic rack I inspected have the exact same spike shape.

The final is a 2.8 L to L without headaches, for almost no $.

This is the info I collected, no something i've red.

Hope it helps any.

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

Going to bump this up for hopefully more info.

I've been looking for a quicker ratio rack for my '99 EM1.
Personally I'm looking to retain my power steering as well as my EM1 subframe. People have said 1st gen CR-V racks will bolt on and give 3.2 LTL vs 3.6 LTL stock.

Today I went to the junkyard and got myself a CR-V rack, here's what I've found.

EM1 rack on top, CR-V rack on the bottom.
Attachment 445626
Attachment 445627
Attachment 445628

They mount up exactly the same, however as you can see the pinion on the CR-V rack is much shorter. I grabbed the coupler for the CR-V as well, but I'm not sure this can work given the size differences. The spline count on the pinion is the same, for what that's worth. And the ratio is indeed faster.

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

How can the same teeth number give a quicker ratio ?

You need an integra 94-01 pinion. That's it. 2.8LTL. Retain subframe, rack and PS.

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

It can't? If you're referring to where I said the spline count is the same, that was for where the coupler slides on, not the teeth inside the rack. I haven't taken anything apart yet.

Yes, it might look that way. I just don't like the idea of a non-matched set of gears together. I could swap the actual rack itself, so long as they're the same dimensions. All the people who have done this that I've seen also remove the p/s (like earlier on in this thread) so I don't know if the placement/dimentions of the seal/metal ring is the same.

Re: EK Civic Steering Rack Options?
 

My bad.

The PS works, I use it.

My integra pinion didn't look like the one posted here on HT. The extremity which connects to the joint was identical. The whole pinion was absolutely indentical physically.

Also, the teeth on the rack were identical to the eye, and there are no play between teeth when installed. Finally, 2 years down the line and I didn't notice any wear, anywhere.

I was pretty scared of it too. But I let the data speak.