Rack and pinion steering for the 850
- Thread starter ramona300
- Start date
Frank L. Di Gioia
True Classic
Front radiator, camber compensator, lower A-arms, just a few mods..... I'm not clear on the upper suspension as I'm thinking maybe a coilover or modified McPherson strut? Lot's of midnight oil there. Nice to see people still working on 850's.
kmead
Old enough to know better
I have investigated the old 500126/133 approach.
Rack and Pinion Steering | Fiat 500 | Classic Car Parts - Steering
Rack and Pinion Steering for Fiat 500 / Fiat 126 | FD Ricambi.com | Easy to order | Best service | 6000+ classic Fiat parts
www.fdricambi.com
Fiat Seat 133 steering box rack gear - Oldtimer-shop
Steering box for: Fiat 133 Seat 133...
oldtimer-shop.eu
I have also wondered about the Simca 1000 front suspension which uses ball joints and gets rid of the whole kingpin arrangement and its knuckle. This also had a rack solution as well and still used a leaf spring which I actually prefer given the front structure of the 850.s
This image shows a hybrid Simca front end in a 133
The 500 unit hasn’t been on my radar as a solution. Do you have a link to the conversation?
Thanks!
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ramona300
True Classic
``I don't have a link but I did save another photo of the kit. The lower wishbones are similar to my front with the coil overs and I realised I could fairly easily weld up the additional frame work in aluminium and bolt it to my set-up. I was surprised by how many Fiat 500 steering racks on eBay and how cheap. I'm sticking with the kingpins after spending a fortune getting them set up and I also welded the lower mounts for the shocks to the kingpin cast iron.I have investigated the old 500126/133 approach.
Rack and Pinion Steering | Fiat 500 | Classic Car Parts - Steering
Rack and Pinion Steering for Fiat 500 / Fiat 126 | FD Ricambi.com | Easy to order | Best service | 6000+ classic Fiat partsOn my list.Fiat Seat 133 steering box rack gear - Oldtimer-shop
Steering box for: Fiat 133 Seat 133...
I have also wondered about the Simca 1000 front suspension which uses ball joints and gets rid of the whole kingpin arrangement and its knuckle. This also had a rack solution as well and still used a leaf spring which I actually prefer given the front structure of the 850.s
This image shows a hybrid Simca front end in a 133
View attachment 81853
The 500 unit hasn’t been on my radar as a solution. Do you have a link to the conversation?
Thanks!
Frank L. Di Gioia
True Classic
The solution for stress cracking in the 600 Fiat was to cut a piece of 16 gauge sheet metal and weld it to the body/fender. My less than artistic sketch shows the general idea.
Attachments
![IMG_5115[1].JPG](/forum/data/attachments/81/81890-4c77c21348edf3fab39a4d93ca1533fb.jpg)
ramona300
True Classic
The top mount is reinforced with 3mm plate on either side of the stock bit. On the inside of the inner guard on mine is a plate and that is joined across to the other side to brace the front.
Dave Bassett
True Classic
I read somewhere recently about using a Toyota Corolla electric power steering rack. Apparently there is at least one that is quite short and, thus, a fairly easy fit.
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