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liberty steering rack into l series

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:03 pm
by mrmattyking
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?

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:37 pm
by MTB92
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?

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 8:33 pm
by mrmattyking
no engine in at moment but ej waiting for adapter plate, hoping to get in very soon.

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 12:05 am
by MTB92
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

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 12:55 am
by RSR 555
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.

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 5:15 am
by Gannon
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

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:13 am
by MTB92
oops, i miss understood your question :oops:

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

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:49 am
by Alex
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

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 10:32 am
by guyph_01
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

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 11:44 am
by MTB92
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.

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 11:59 am
by RSR 555
Early Impreza and Forester have a different angle on the top. From memory these do not require any lift to work

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 12:57 pm
by guyph_01
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:)

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 2:24 pm
by RSR 555
guyph_01 wrote:Cool, didn't know this:)
You have so much to learn young jedi

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 3:29 pm
by Alex
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)

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 4:31 pm
by guyph_01
The force isn't that strong with me:(
But Learn me happy to:p

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:45 pm
by mrmattyking
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.

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 10:36 pm
by MTB92
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.