Board logo

Escort steering rack question
J666AYP - 26/9/18 at 10:29 PM

Hi gents,

Having abit of a nightmare with my steering rack...

My steering arms/drumsticks are pitted and nasty. Is there any way of removing them so I can give them a quick turn in the lathe?

Have tried large grips on the collar at the end and the good old 'heat and beat method' with no joy. Am I missing something? I can see threads on the rack end so they were screwed on at some point?

PAULD - 27/9/18 at 08:13 AM

There is a roll pin on mine stopping the collar from turning. Have you drilled it out? Still want a ride in a 7 btw?

nick205 - 27/9/18 at 08:21 AM

I've removed track rod arms from several steering racks before using a pipe wrench to loosen and tighten them. There's usually some form of lock washer between the rack and the track rod to try and prevent them coming undone - I've always replaced these parts.

I'm sure you can buy new (or pattern) Escort track rod arms. I'd be inclined to replace them rather than turn them down in a lathe, the parts aren't usually expensive. Replacing them gives you the benefit of knowing the inner end track rod ball joints are new as well

205 GTI steering rack refurb:





[Edited on 27/9/18 by nick205]

J666AYP - 27/9/18 at 06:30 PM

Cheers gents, I will look out for the pins and get some more leverage on it.

Paul, you have a PM buddy.

Jay

Angel Acevedo - 27/9/18 at 06:41 PM

I rather not remove any material from them.
Maybe electrolysis, and then maybe a gentle heating in the oven.... In case you are afraid of Hydrogen embrittlement.
Metal wool scouring and paint would be even cheaper, faster, easier.

clive7883 - 27/9/18 at 06:56 PM

a simple way of making them look better, and protecting them is to slide on a piece of electrical heat shrink, warm it up , it shrinks down to the diameter of the steering arm, it will protect it,it looks good, and your not removing metal.

[Edited on 27/9/18 by clive7883]

[Edited on 27/9/18 by clive7883]

nick205 - 28/9/18 at 07:43 AM

quote:
Originally posted by clive7883
a simple way of making them look better, and protecting them is to slide on a piece of electrical heat shrink, warm it up , it shrinks down to the diameter of the steering arm, it will protect it,it looks good, and your not removing metal.

[Edited on 27/9/18 by clive7883]

[Edited on 27/9/18 by clive7883]



Same point I was hoping to make - replacing the tie rods has to be better than removing material from them and potentially weakening them. As I said you also get the benefit of knowing the inner ball joints are new as well (removes any chance of play/wobble in the steering rack once re-assembled). IMHO it's not a difficult job to do and the parts are not that expensive wither!