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as my Triumph will out handle my Healey in a heart beat with the rack & pinion. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
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Not sure how you define "handling". Ability to go around corners quickly, steering responsiveness to small changes, braking ability, general perception of "feel", or what? All are part of handling. It's rather subjective & defined differently by different drivers.
If you are comparing the later model Healey to the Spitfire, the weight & size differences alone will make a huge difference in feel/handling of the two cars. The rack & pinion steering would likely make little difference in the Healey's feel, certainly minimal difference in overall handling.
The steering gear ratios, turns lock to lock, make a tremendous difference in responsiveness to small steering wheel inputs. The Spitfire likely has a faster steering ratio than the later Healeys. Early Healeys had a quicker steering ratio than the later models & combined with less weight, a different feel. Overall handling is not that much different.
Rack & pinion steering is often used on Healey V8 conversions since it has less bulk, takes up less engine compartment room, & the steering column can be easily U jointed to go around engine parts.
For all out, at the limit, driving R&P does give a little better feel, & can be more easily modified for optimum steering geometry in a competition car.
D