Steering Systems - Steering Clear

For Cobra replicas, here's Flaming River's column designed specifically for roadsters. The column features compact construction, has a turn signal switch, and offers an easy installation with the rest of the steering system.

Flaming River also sells other replacement parts for the steering system. Here's a polished stainless steel universal joint that can be used for custom steering shafts and connections, along with adding extra flash under the hood.

Many of the component cars use major parts from a donor car, since they are readily available and pre-engineered. A minor complaint is that parts like the rag joint, while designed for passenger car comfort, decrease road feel. Here is Breeze's replacement assembly that features universal joints and a direct connection between the steering wheel and the steering rack.

When using a Ford driveline in your component car and retaining the power steering, the mounting of the pump sometimes becomes a problem, as the air conditioning compressor is removed. The pump needs to be relocated to fit in the engine compartment. Shown here is a Ford power steering pump relocated using the Ford Motorsports relocating kit.

Flaming River offers a special power steering pump, which decreases pump assist as rpm and vehicle speed increase. So, you get assist when it's needed during parking and around town, but minimal help when at speed.

For the pass through the floor, here is Flaming River's swivel floor mount. It allows for the column to pass through an opening at any angle and to have a secure lower mount.

Here are the basic parts of the relocating kit. An aluminum bracket mounts to the front of the cylinder head to provide an anchor for the two main mounting bolts. A bracket is provided to properly position and hold the pump in the correct place and for pulley alignment. The kit uses the belt tensioner from the donor car, but a shorter accessory drivebelt.

In addition, Flaming River offers many other accessories and needed items for any steering application. They offer a variety of column mounts depending on the car's needs. Pictured here is an underdash mount to secure the column. They also offer custom mounts and even mounts with a key and switch built into the component.

For those who race their cars and retain the power steering, keeping the fluid cool is very important-so the fluid does not aerate and allow the pump to burn up. Typically, a small cooler is used on the return line.

In our FFR roadster, which has been featured here in previous articles, it sees a lot of track time. We kept the power steering. After losing a complete system after a day at the track in hot temperatures, a cooler was added to help control power steering fluid temps. Here is the cooler mounted on the backside of the nose side panel. Holes were cut into the panel for airflow through the cooler.

A scoop was fabricated to help guide air through the cooler. This simple folded flap of aluminum takes the air being rammed into the grille, and gives it another path to follow-in this case through the fluid cooler.

On the subject of fluid, if you're using power steering, all manufacturers will recommend using a premium steering fluid, preferably synthetic. The reasoning is that regular transmission fluid does not have the additives and formula to deal with the specifics of the steering system, so the special formulation is recommended.