liberty steering rack into l series

mrmattyking · Post by **mrmattyking** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:03 pm

trying to fit Liberty rack into l series standard height no lift kit.
Thinking about cutting and welding the l series uni joint arm to shorten in order to fit to the longer arm on the liberty rack.
Anyone had any luck with this?

MTB92 · Post by **MTB92** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:37 pm

just bolt the l series ends onto the liberty rack and you should be able to make it short enough.

is your L EJ'd?

mrmattyking · Post by **mrmattyking** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 8:33 pm

no engine in at moment but ej waiting for adapter plate, hoping to get in very soon.

MTB92 · Post by **MTB92** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 12:05 am

i found it pretty tight to fit in. i had to slightly file the holes on the EJ rack brackets to match the l series bolt pattern. for me the l series ends works fine but there isn't a whole lot of room for adjustment in.
it was a pretty tight squeeze with the power steering lines also.

but you will love the EJ in there

Robbie

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 12:55 am

So just to get this right, you are trying to join the steering column to the to top of the steering rack? If your L steering knuckle (uni-joint bit) is off a non power steering setup, then you just need to find one off a L that has power steering. From memory even the Liberty ones are very close.

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 5:15 am

I tried to fit a Lib rack in my RX and the angle of the splined steering shaft was wrong, even after I made a new uni-knuckle, it wasnt right. The only way to make it work was with a lift kit

MTB92 · Post by **MTB92** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:13 am

oops, i miss understood your question

I used the liberty steering knuckle. it all bolted straight up for me.

Post by **Alex** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:49 am

Gannon wrote:I tried to fit a Lib rack in my RX and the angle of the splined steering shaft was wrong, even after I made a new uni-knuckle, it wasnt right. The only way to make it work was with a lift kit

Correct. It was the same in my L wagon. Have a search, I'm sure I had a little write up about it when I tried.

Sent from my HTC Velocity 4G using Tapatalk

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 10:32 am

yep, You can fit a any early Liberty, WRX, Forester, Outback Power steering racks to the L series. You need to swap over the rack ends and tie rod ends to L series and use the mounting brackets proper to the rack.
BUT they will only fit if you have a minimum lift of 2 inch on your car. Not just strut lift but the cross member needs to drop about 2inch as the angle of the EJ racks is different.

You then need to make your own steering knuckle or extension to fit using either a mix of knuckle's or cut, machine, press and weld one together.

Hope this helps

MTB92 · Post by **MTB92** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 11:44 am

guyph_01 wrote:BUT they will only fit if you have a minimum lift of 2 inch on your car. Not just strut lift but the cross member needs to drop about 2inch as the angle of the EJ racks is different.

I have heard a few people say this, but the gen 1 lib steering knuckle bolted straight accross for me with no lift of the cross member. maybe i got lucky, but i have had no issues with it so far.

I think all you can do is try and see if it works. if it doesn't, then you will have to do as Guy suggested.

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 11:59 am

Early Impreza and Forester have a different angle on the top. From memory these do not require any lift to work

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 12:57 pm

RSR 555 wrote:Early Impreza and Forester have a different angle on the top. From memory these do not require any lift to work

Cool, didn't know this:)

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 2:24 pm

guyph_01 wrote:Cool, didn't know this:)

You have so much to learn young jedi

Post by **Alex** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 3:29 pm

MTB92 wrote:I have heard a few people say this, but the gen 1 lib steering knuckle bolted straight accross for me with no lift of the cross member. maybe i got lucky, but i have had no issues with it so far.

I think all you can do is try and see if it works. if it doesn't, then you will have to do as Guy suggested.

i have a weird feeling that theres a difference between FWD and 4WD liberty steering racks. I vaguely remember reading something like that anyways (but i could be wrong)

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 4:31 pm

The force isn't that strong with me:(
But Learn me happy to:p

mrmattyking · Post by **mrmattyking** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:45 pm

Yep thanks guys,
My L series was non power steering, the knuckle was way too long to fit the lib rack, As suggested i will try source a l series knuckle off a power steering one at wreckers.
Cheers.

MTB92 · Post by **MTB92** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 10:36 pm

Alex wrote:i have a weird feeling that theres a difference between FWD and 4WD liberty steering racks. I vaguely remember reading something like that anyways (but i could be wrong)

well that could explain it. mine was out of a fwd auto sedan, if it makes any difference.