steering Liberty rack into l

Mr Top Hat · Post by **Mr Top Hat** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 11:56 pm

Hey again everyone

ive got another question

i just put a liberty rack in my L series and i can find a steering extension long/short enough to fit

my L has a 3" lift and the steering extension is for a Manual L series steering Rack

ive tried fitting the original steering linkage (wont fit) ive tried the one from the lift kit (way too long) but the closest ive gotten was with the Liberty linkage its about 50mm away from the splined shaft.

has anyone done this combination before ( 3"lifted L and liberty rack) if so how did you get the right linkage?

Thanks again

Top Hat

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 4:24 am

Some say the outback and forester steering links are longer and may fit. But in most cases you need to custom fabricate one. not legal tho!!!

A good way is to cut the lib link in two. Get a metal bar thats the right length and drill two holes that are just minutely smaller than the liberty steering link bar that you have cut in two. Then press each side of the liberty link in the drilled holes so its a tight fit and can't come out easily. For extra safety weld it all up.

Hope that helps and makes sense:)

Mr Top Hat · Post by **Mr Top Hat** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 8:37 am

guyph_01 wrote:Some say the outback and forester steering links are longer and may fit. But in most cases you need to custom fabricate one. not legal tho!!!

A good way is to cut the lib link in two. Get a metal bar thats the right length and drill two holes that are just minutely smaller than the liberty steering link bar that you have cut in two. Then press each side of the liberty link in the drilled holes so its a tight fit and can't come out easily. For extra safety weld it all up.

Hope that helps and makes sense:)

By metal bar do you mean solid metal rod or hollow metal tubing?

Post by **TOONGA** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 8:43 am

A Solid metal rod would be the best option. if you want I can have a look around today and see what I can find at the wrecker, so no welding is involved.

TOONGA

Mr Top Hat · Post by **Mr Top Hat** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 9:31 am

TOONGA wrote:A Solid metal rod would be the best option. if you want I can have a look around today and see what I can find at the wrecker, so no welding is involved.

TOONGA

if you could please Toonga.

otherwise ill just weld something up

Post by **TOONGA** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 9:39 am

not a problem will see what I can find today

TOONGA

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 11:50 am

Yeah solid metal bar is better.

isnowi · Post by **isnowi** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 3:09 pm

I don't know how similar to a brumby the l series is, but in my brumby with liberty/legacy rack and 3" lift, i used 2 outback linkages. I split the couplings and used the two long ends to make the right length coupler.

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 5:12 pm

Definitely try to find the right size before resorting to modifying one with welding. If you do have to do that make sure it's professionally done (you'll probably find a lot of places refuse to do a steering linkage) or at the minimum make sure you have total confidence in the welder's skills.
If you have to get a modified one, I'd look at getting one from one of the liftkit suppliers.

If the steering linkage breaks or binds up while you are in motion it's game over!

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 5:57 pm

I may be missing something, but this afternoon i tried to put a Liberty PS rack into my RX and it doesnt fit. The Liberty rack is too big. Did i get the wrong rack?

Mr Top Hat · Post by **Mr Top Hat** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 8:01 pm

AndrewT wrote:Definitely try to find the right size before resorting to modifying one with welding. If you do have to do that make sure it's professionally done (you'll probably find a lot of places refuse to do a steering linkage) or at the minimum make sure you have total confidence in the welder's skills.
If you have to get a modified one, I'd look at getting one from one of the liftkit suppliers.

If the steering linkage breaks or binds up while you are in motion it's game over!

does RSR 555 do them?

only reason im not going to try SWK is because hes very busy and usually takes a while to reply.

Post by **TOONGA** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 10:51 pm

RSR 555 aka Paul would be able to weld one for you but would be very hesitant to do it. It is better to find a knuckle that fits or make one (as i did with mine) that is bolt together.

I was at the wreckers today and the two MY wagons have had their steering knuckles removed. and the L series we got the fuel line from was a single piece power steering job.

I've got some parts here, Ive got to get out of storage will look soon and see what I can come up with.

TOONGA

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 5:13 pm

Yes Jules (Toonga) is right.. I'm not a fan of it but if done correctly it really is no different to the factory knuckles in the Liberty/Impreza/Forester ranges. I prefer to buy the longer knuckles from Outback or Foresters but they aren't that easy to find

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 6:12 pm

Suparoo wrote:I may be missing something, but this afternoon i tried to put a Liberty PS rack into my RX and it doesnt fit. The Liberty rack is too big. Did i get the wrong rack?

Correct me if im wrong but You need to use the Liberty rack without the rack ends and tie rod ends. For it to fit you need to fit your RX rack end and tie rod ends on the liberty rack.
BUT without a lift kit you won't be able to make it work I think as the angle of the steering column and steering rack will be to big.

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 8:52 pm

guyph_01 wrote:Correct me if im wrong but You need to use the Liberty rack without the rack ends and tie rod ends. For it to fit you need to fit your RX rack end and tie rod ends on the liberty rack.
BUT without a lift kit you won't be able to make it work I think as the angle of the steering column and steering rack will be to big.

I have liberty front hubs, so i'll be keeping the ends as is.

The problem is that the body of the liberty rack is too fat to fit in the mounts in crossmember. Do i have to modify the mounts?

Oh and i hadnt yet considered the angle of the steering shaft

isnowi · Post by **isnowi** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 5:54 am

On my brumby ( i know it's not an L but it's pretty similar) the body of the liberty/legacy rack only fits into the crossmember mounts without the rubber bushes, thus it is solid mounted. I also had to clearance the hole through the crossmember to allow the rack to sit in the mounts properly. This was using a non power steer crossmember and a 1st gen liberty/legacy rack.

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 9:17 am

Ok i'll give it a go without the rubbers.

Im assuming its from a gen1 liberty, thats what i asked for at the wreckers.

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 5:26 am

Ok, i had a bit of a dull moment

The small metal pipes were hitting the crossmember and stopping it from fitting. Plus i need a larger bracket for the passenger side end.

So after i worked that out, i got the die grinder and enlarged the hole where the shaft pokes through the crossmember so the rack will fit. But Guy is right, the length of the shaft is too much, it wont line up with the other shaft.

Can i remove it from the rack and replace it with an L series PS shaft?