PERRIN Steering Rack Lockdown
 

No one cares?

I care. (:

I've been curious about the solid aluminum rack bushings, and now these... Where exactly do these go? Any pics installed? edit- nevermind checked the link.

My only concern with solid bushings/lockdown brackets is if there is any additional wear or strain placed on the steering rack mechanisms, specifically the electric steering system that may be affected by additional vibration, etc. I wouldn't expect it to be a problem but I.m curious.

There is not going to be any additional wear on the parts, but there is a very minor amount of NVH that will come through. It's very very very minor, and all of our testers felt the added NVH was so small compared to how much the steering was improved.

Any reviews anyone?

Also interested in reviews.

Bump to see if anyone has these or can source a review....

My thoughts so far - Not yet tested on track. Will come in June.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...29#post1701629

They are just solid rack bushings. I ran them in both my cobras. It truly is a night and day difference in steering feel. Make an already awesome steering feel into something better! These are going on my mod list for sure! :cheers:

So I installed these about a month+ ago. They immediately tighten up the steering. Virtually no play now. The response is greatly improved (However I did install coilovers and sway bars at the same time).

There is definitely more NVH than "Very Very Very" little. However this is mostly noticeable on roads that are poorly paved and that's only when I really even remember that I have this mod. I do enjoy the additional feed back as it gives me more information, which is why you should do this mod. Its not going to make you faster around a track, but it will certainly give you more information from the tires.

I have tracked my car with these installed and nothing failed. Sorry I cant be more detailed than this, it is a pretty simple mod.

I read your post just last night prior to installing my steering rack lockdown kit today. It's only been about 30 miles but I haven't noticed any NVH. All stock engine except tune so no noise to hide anything. Steering feels a bit tighter but so far just a negligible difference :iono:

Maybe I'm not sensitive enough to these changes. Then again I did another trans fluid change with pentosin at the same time and the trans feels faaaantastic again.

Granted, I did sway bars, coil overs and the lockouts at the same time. There is defiantly more feedback in the steering wheel. With that said, I am hyper sensitive to changes and I live in Chicago where the roads are SHIT. The locks outs certainly from my experience and driving environment feel like things are tighter and more connected with the road. It's a good and slight NVH in my hands more, than in my ears. Theses did not change cabin loudness.

I guess my questions for you is, what tires are you on?

Details on the install? Looks straightforward - removing that one bolt and replacing oem stuff with the perrin lockdown. I see allen key holes.

Interested.

Just read Gopherboy's thread. For less than 100 bucks, what's there to lose?

I'll be picking up a set soon.

I drove some more and I think I experienced more of the positive effects. The car seems more willing to dodge potholes at a split seconds notice. I do NOT hit potholes. I probably look like a drunk driver usually. So for that type of driving, this mod feels good.

I did some mid speed on ramps today and I was surprised I didn't feel much of a difference even at initial turn in.

Then on the highway I drove over a patched crack that ran parallel to the road and I could feel how smooth it was with my steering wheel. It almost felt slippery. I don't think I liked this. Then I noticed some vibration when coming to a stop in a wavy lane. That was no big deal.

I just don't think I noticed what reads like a night and day difference such as what PoWn3d saw. If I read correctly, him and I are both on stock tires.

OEM bushings stay in place. Here's the instructions

http://perrinperformance.com/attachment/78833-.pdf

It's worth doing. I just over anticipated the degree of difference.

Well @Laika, you need to do a long drive. If you hit the freeway and drive for 1.5-2hrs your hands will start to get vibrated until they are numb. It takes a good long while, but it happens to me.

I drive from Eugene to Portland (Oregon) regularly. That is around a 100 mile trip. I usually start to feel it about 75-80 miles in.

Now, for comparison, my roommate has a mostly stock BRZ. (He has the Perrin Tranny bushing.)

His steering feels lighter than mine, and more digital. The solid brackets make the steering heavier. Something I enjoy.

Now, to get a SERIOUS feel for it, I have an AutoX this weekend. There, I will have...

My car: Perrin steering rack bushings, Perrin tranny mount, Perrin Shifter bushing, Perrin 19mm front and 16 mm rear sways with poly endlinks. Stock tires.

Roommates: Stock except Perrin Tranny mount.

Friend from out of state: Bone stock.

I'll make sure to pay attention while doing my runs.

Awesome. Thanks for the link.

I like the idea of more detail in steering feel but I am concerned about the health of the surrounding parts.

Has anybody used lockdowns long-term, possibly on other vehicles? Can you speak to the wear rates of other steering components which are bound to see more stress?

We run these on the Element Tuning Time Attack FRS and honestly there are no downsides, so easy to install, and fits perfectly. This helps to reduce the deflection of steering rack due to the rubber bushing with a bolt through it.

So the more mods you have to your suspension and tires the higher the degree of deflection you will get and it's very substantial with race tires, race suspension, and a big front sway bar. Think of this product as a strut bar for your steering rack in that it won't eliminate 100% of the deflection but will reduce flex in the bushing substantially. The good thing is that it doesn't eliminate all of the benefits of having a rubber mounted rack vs. a solidly mounted rack (harmonics, stress, zero give on impact).

I think I need a Perrin Steering Rack Lockdown for our STi Time Attack car as that rack shifts so much I'll come off the track with a crooked steering wheel :)

Thanks,
Phil Grabow

Yea, I've had mine in all summer, with both Track and AutoX time. No downsides at all. Just a quick, simple mod for the big effect.

Is there any reason to replace the bushings if you install these? These seem to essentially replace the bushings (even though the bushing stay in place).

Nevermind, read Perrin's response in their thread announcing this product. Minimal difference if you replace steering bushings.

Is it better to replace the bushings for stiffer ones than just adding the lockdowns with oem bushings? I see these cost twice as much than bushings but are easier to install.

Depends on your desired level of feedback/NVH.
It's not about which is better or worse but rather which of the three (OEM, polyurethane, and lockdown) is in your comfort zone.

I see, so the lock downs reduce the flex but not 100% like replacing bushings completely, therefore then increase in NVH is less? Thanks.

Actually the lock downs are stiffest. The polyurethane would be the median. OEMs are marshmallows.

nobody experienced switching from the perrin to the solid bushing replacement or vice-versa ? I am curious to see if there is any differences.

the perrin kit seems to be so much simpler to install ;) I am temped.

i installed whiteline steering rack and pinion bushing, can i still have the steering lockdown installed? emailed perrin about this but didnt get any replies

I'm curious on this as well, any inputs?

I just installed this lockdowns and have mixed feelings. For starters, at low very low speed, 10-20 mph the steering feels extremely light imo. But once the car reaches 25 mph or more the response and the feedback increases so much that you can feel the difference from stock, and the improved reactions.

Is it normal to feel it light at low speeds? Do i have to torque a little more? eventhough i did the 65 ft lbs that the instructions guide indicates.

I have to add that i also have the whiteline steering rack and pinion bushings. So far no nhv whatsoever using this combo.

I had the Perrin steering lockdowns installed. I wouldn't say it's a night and day difference, but there are notable changes. My car has the stock suspension and tires, and here are my impressions of the lockdowns:


-Steering ratio feels quicker - I didn't think but the car's steering could get much quicker but it seems more responsive to turning inputs. Almost darty at first but got used to it.
-Steering feel - Not massively different but I feel more road texture especially when braking and turning, when the contact patch is pressed onto the pavement. The stock steering is really good at smoothing over bumps, with the lockdowns there is a bit more movement of the steering wheel from side to side when hitting bumps. I wouldn't even call it bump steer, it's not a loss of control, just a bit more recognition that your wheels are hitting something.
-Ride over bumps feels a bit firmer? I'm not sure if this is psychological or not. But I find myself trying to avoid bumps more because I seem to feel them more with the lockdowns.

Overall, I'm quite happy with the lockdowns for such a simple upgrade. The car just feels even more alive, and the little bit more road texture is what I was looking for. I liked the steering from my 2001 Civic and 2010 Mini for the way it moves around from road imperfections. I know this is personal preference as some people want steering that tracks perfectly all the time, but I don't. With the lockdowns I got some of this character to come out of the 86 because the stock steering was a bit number than I expected. To put it simply the steering just feels quicker and bit more analog.