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Old 09-27-2020   #5
Erik
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: New Brunswick
Posts: 955
Default Re: Improving Steering Feel?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Marc Haibeck View Post
Relocating the battery to the rear storage compartment removes about 35 pounds from the front end. The ZR-1 has a 52 - 48% front to rear weight distribution. Relocating the battery will change the bias by 1 point. The revised weight distribution is 51- 49%, the same as a LT1 Corvette. A lightness is noticeable in the steering at low speeds.

An '86 to '87 Z51 steering rack might help. The ZR-1 rack is 2.75 turns lock to lock. The Z51 rack is 2.25 turns lock to lock. The tie rods are about an inch shorter than the ZR-1 rack. Tie rod ends with longer threaded ends are necessary to adapt it. The Z51 rack may be hard to find. Z51 was available from '84 to '89. My experience is with only the '86 - '87 unit.
Marc, do you know a quality steering rack rebuilder? Something like that should be done with more care then the assembly line types. Basically, I'd want someone to blueprint the rack.

Great idea on the battery swap.
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1990 ZR-1 # 996

"All Corvettes are red. The rest are mistakes." - John Heinricy
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