Shock Therapy developed its heavy-duty Race Rack for Polaris RZR XP 1000 and XP Turbo racers after a factory rack failed during competition. The design centers on a larger square rack gear, a quicker steering ratio and tie-rod pivot placement intended to preserve the vehicle’s steering geometry. It is a race component that requires compatible aftermarket tie rods and periodic service.
Why tie-rod pivot location matters
Shock Therapy says it developed the rack after the gear in its race RZR XP Turbo broke during an event. When evaluating replacement racks, the company focused on the distance between the inner tie-rod pivots. Moving those pivots can change toe as the suspension cycles, creating bump steer. The Race Rack is designed to strengthen the steering system while keeping that geometry in mind. Installation and the rest of the front suspension setup still matter; a steering rack alone is not a universal cure for bump steer.
How the Race Rack is built
The rack uses a hard-anodized 7075 aluminum housing and a 1-by-1-inch square rack gear. Shock Therapy says the square profile resists twisting inside the housing under tie-rod loads. The company machines the gear teeth into pre-hardened material, pairs the rack gear with a heat-treated 4140 chromoly pinion and uses its own gear-tooth profile. Internal grease passages distribute lubricant from one fitting to six locations.
The original design also uses 5/8-inch FK rod ends at the inner tie-rod pivots, Taper Lock jam nuts and 4130 chromoly clevises. Shock Therapy offers clevis choices for different tie-rod constructions, including weld-on and threaded configurations. Select the correct clevis and verify clearance and geometry for the vehicle’s particular tie rods and suspension kit.
Quicker steering, with a race-use tradeoff
Shock Therapy describes the Race Rack as a little over 1.5 turns lock to lock, compared with roughly two turns for the factory rack it used as a reference. That quicker response means less steering-wheel rotation for a given steering movement, while placing more demand on the power steering system. The company says it rejected an even quicker ratio because steering effort became too heavy.
Fitment and maintenance
This rack does not work with stock tie rods. Shock Therapy specifies aftermarket tie rods with 5/8-inch rod ends at both ends. Its current catalog separates the 2014–2016 XP 1000 and 2016 XP Turbo rack from the 2017–2023 XP 1000 and listed XP Turbo/DYNAMIX rack. There is also a separate rack for the 2024-and-newer RZR XP. Check the precise model year, trim, tie rods and clevis selection with Shock Therapy before ordering.
Shock Therapy’s published service guidance for the original rack calls for two pumps of grease every 1,000 race miles during routine preparation. Inspect the rack, boots, rod ends and fasteners as part of race prep. The company describes these as rebuildable race parts that wear with use and says its race racks carry no warranty. See its steering rack rebuild kits for service parts.
For related steering upgrades, see our coverage of Shock Therapy’s tie-rod kit and its newer RZR XP product line. The RZR XP race rack covered here is a distinct application from the company’s Can-Am Maverick X3 billet steering rack.
