ScottJ24
Active Member
Lifetime Member
I am considering replacing my steering rack with a billet one. There are lots of options and very little info on them except from the Mfg. Any recommendations or real world experience?
Adam490
HFA Grand High Wizard
Lifetime Member
Supporting Member
Raceco, RB3, or Hess are your options. The JSport is built by RB3. I’ve had the Hess for over a year now and have beaten the hell out of it without issue. I went with Hess because they use a larger rack gear and offered the stiffener plate for the mount. Once you see how thin that mounting plate is you’ll appreciate it. I think @Hometeam has the RB3 in a few of his machines so he might be able to chime in there. RB3 has been a long time site sponsor as well so you can’t go wrong there.
Any of them are a significant upgrade over the stock unit. Just make sure to buy the right one for your machine if you’ve got a live valve with a shaft mounted steering angle sensor (believe it’s ‘22 and down LV machines, but they may have moved it on the ‘22 models). There are splines and a mounting tab for those that you need to install the SAS.
Any of them are a significant upgrade over the stock unit. Just make sure to buy the right one for your machine if you’ve got a live valve with a shaft mounted steering angle sensor (believe it’s ‘22 and down LV machines, but they may have moved it on the ‘22 models). There are splines and a mounting tab for those that you need to install the SAS.
Hello_Darkness
Well-Known Member
Don't waste your money on Hess, it's just stock guts inside a billet housing
We got 2 Hess ones. They have been totally fine for us so far. Not a lot of miles on them yet. When I need the next one I was gonna get the RB3 to compare the 2. I was torn between the 2 and at the time of purchase, Hess had a better price so I went that route.
JACKAL
Ancient Honda fanboi
Moderator
Lifetime Member
Supporting Member
Club Contributor
Don't count out the Rackboss 2.0. We don't do the fancy billet casing, but I'm pretty sure ours is the only dual bushing rack out there...and, cycle for cycle, it should outlast every other one on the market because of that dual bushing design. Its the standard with all the Popo and Kawie guys. The X3 guys were praising the ST billet rack forever but now finding out a billet case doesn't mean the same stock design isn't going to last any longer.
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rb3 is has been proven to be a tough rack. We just won the Baja 1000 again . our racks can take a beaten. we do use a 1.125 inch diameter rack inside our billet steering house and all internals are upgrade. you can always call us at 480-389-7486 or text me at that number
SLOWPOKE693
Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Truth.
When I was shopping for a new rack for my race car I called Hess to ask about them being in stock and Glen told me they were waiting on parts from Honda but if I sent him my stock rack he could pull the parts out of it and put them in a billet housing....... Wait, What!?!?!?!?!?
I ended up buying an RB3 rack instead and couldn't be happier with the product or the service I recieved from them. I'd highly recommend going with the RB3 rack vs the others, it's a nice piece.
Raceco makes a nice rack too but it's a bit cost prohibitive and is more of a high end race car part than it is a trail machine part.
Id also strongly consider getting a rack with at least a 1.5:1 ratio. The quicker turning with less movement of the steering wheel makes maneuvering through tree lined trails at speed a much more enjoyable experience.
SLOWPOKE693
Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
SLOWPOKE693
Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Another thing to note about Hess..... They will not sell you the rebuild components alone, so if for some reason you need to fix it, sending it back to them for service is the only option. Nope, F that!
I crashed the crap out of my race car a few years ago and chipped a tooth on the RB3 rack. I made a phone call to RB3 (some of the nicest people I have ever talked to in this business!!) and had a rebuild kit on my doorstep a few days later. If it wasn't for them I would have missed the next race and my chances at the championship. To this day I am still grateful for what they did for me. 🥰
I crashed the crap out of my race car a few years ago and chipped a tooth on the RB3 rack. I made a phone call to RB3 (some of the nicest people I have ever talked to in this business!!) and had a rebuild kit on my doorstep a few days later. If it wasn't for them I would have missed the next race and my chances at the championship. To this day I am still grateful for what they did for me. 🥰
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SLOWPOKE693
Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
I couldn't say what the exact materials are. I have the prints, but they don't call out material types. For where its made, the 2.0's are assembled here with parts coming from probably all over the place.
And not dissing RB3 at all. That's a beautiful piece and I'm sure it takes a helluva beating. Super cool folks making notch stuff! I'm a big fan and supporter, and recommend their parts all the time when applicable. Just saying we have a badass rack and pinion too. Its good to have quality options.
That Raceco rack is also a serious beast, but I think that's more of a niche racing market thing. That's a whole lotta $$$ for your normal everyday dude.
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D
I just put an RB3 rack in my machine along with the Superatv powersteering kit, frame stiffener and forward a arms. The RB3 rack is super nice.
ScottJ24
Active Member
Lifetime Member
Thanks for all of the info!!! I think when the bank recovers I will be calling RB3 and picking their brain some more. I knew that this group would have a lot of great input. Thanks again!!!
Going against the grain here.. I have had an RB3 rack installed for around 2000 miles, mostly Windrock. It has more slopp in it than the factory one had when I replaced it at 1700 miles. I messaged RB3 about the adjustment procedure and got a 3 word half ass answer. Messaged them back about purchasing a rebuild kit and got another short answer basically stating the only option was to send it in for rebuild... so not sure about the response above stating they provide parts to rebuild.. Patiently waiting for Raceco to get their racks back in stock.
To tighten it there is a nut and washer you need to loosen them both up seperatly then tighten it back down till the slop is gone one at a time. then add some grease if that does not work please contact me. Thank you
I can also send you the parts if you are comfortable taking it apart and rebuilding your self
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