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X Series Falcons Steering - 20:1 & 16:1 |
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The 16:1 ratio was a K code Mustang GT item also used in the first XR
GT Falcon, and has always been 4 turns lock to lock, from 1965 to the
last XD Falcon ESP in 1982.
There have been a few erroneous Wheels Magazine statements of 22:1 ratio items
which were used on the early XC's, which were reported to be 5.5 turns.
The first XK's used something like this, and had near to 5.5 turns lock
to lock.
The standard figures were 5.25 turns lock to lock for the 20:1
ratio used from XR in 1966 to XG in 1993, when power steering became
standard on the LongReach ute.
Ford had a crap load of 16M items left over from the Ford Special
Vehciles GT and Hardtop projects.
On a car with ER 60 225 sections
tyres, like a 351 V8 in an XB Falcon, the use of the 16M box makes the
steering way too heavy unless you've got great bicepts.
In the lighter
XD European Sports Pack Alloy head of 1981, the 16:1 steering box with
ER 60 225 tyres, it was still plenty heavy.
Every Falcon since the XY
got heavier in the steering as the upper arms and geometry was altered.
The XC was much heavier on the road than the XB.
The manual steering on
the XE was slightly lighter on the road than the early Iron headed
XD's, as it was over 100 pounds lighter over the front wheels when you
factored in the calipers, lighter gearbox, 50 pound lighter head and
downgraded specification for the pressings and bumpers.
According to Peter Robinson of Wheels 1981, the 16:1 steering box had a
huge reduction of 'lock' on turn-in to any corner.
This made if far
nicer in the twisty bits.
They tested a sliver XD Alloy Head ESP 4.1
4-speed with Globe Bathurst wheels (Steering box, heavy duty springs,
1972 Phase III spec alloy wheels where items which were part bin items
sent out in Fords empty box policy).
One thing to remember, the traditional 20:1 vauge steering is due to
the slop in the track rod rod bushes, and if its 16:1
or even the 11.5-13:1 Bishops Kirby power steering (1972 to 1996) .....
any X-series Falcon befroe 1996 was still prone to wander at speed.
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