useing mx5 uprights how have the steering track rod shaft been able to be set horizontal? any pic would be nice.
thanks jon

which chassis and width do you have?
mx5 rack or escort or other?

I just altered the mounting height of my rack to get horizontal track rods. I made extensions for the MX5 steering arm taper which switched the TRE balljoint to the top of the steering arm. This allowed me to mount the rack really high and eliminate bumpsteer

HTH

[Edited on 2/3/09 by liam.mccaffrey]

thanks for the info, rack pivots need to be 18", whats the best rack to use or mod. jon

Im using an escort quick rack and a standard book chassis with wishbone dimensions from Bob Carter.

He reamed out the uprights nd put the steering rod ends in from the top to gain clearance.

i was wondering if I could mount the rack lower and run the normal mx5 track rod ends with sufficient clearance?

Not sure exactly what you mean but from your description, your TREs go in from the top too?

[Edited on 2/3/09 by alistairolsen]

sorry i cant see how you moded the arms, please can i have a little more info or some pic's please. jon

I used custom bones on a custom wide chassis, see my pics in build diary.

I used an escort quick rack and made a special adapter to allow the TRE to bolt above the steering arm instead of below like standard MX5. I also needed TR extensions to reach the upright.

Unfortunately I don't have a picture of the adapter, or the actual adapter to take a piture of, sorry

so how did you get it to bolt from above? I can understand the rack extensions, but the taper in the arm goes the wrong way...

Bob welded in an insert and then redrilled and reamed them...

I'll do my best to explain

I basically machined a slim taper sleeve which went in to the taper the correct way,

Then I passed a bolt through from underneath and used a threaded spacer
to bolt to the steering arm.

The threaded spacer is tapered and stepped on the upward end to take a rod-end instead of a TRE

A nut is then used on the end of the upside down bolt.



[Edited on 2/3/09 by liam.mccaffrey]

Edit to say I should have done what Bob did, can't remember what diam the bolt is but its probably too small.

Re: Rack extensions
The escort rack is too short for the +442 chassis so I made some some screw on ali pieces to extend the track rods.
Like these


[Edited on 2/3/09 by liam.mccaffrey]

I know what you mean now, same as what bob did but with a cone spacer and a rosejoint.

I have to confess for the road I prefer bobs method, I just wondered if the balljoints could be mounted from below and still clear the wishbones.

Those are awfully nice lower wishbones Liam! Care to make me a pair?????

the ones in the pic aren't mine just a grab off the web, my bones can be seen in my build diarly link below/