quattromike
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| posted on 2/4/05 at 07:59 AM |
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Steering rack extentions
Hi all I'm planning to extend my sierra steering rack and i think the best way is to cut the old track rods off just behind the rubber dust
cover and weld on new track rods the required length with the required thread on it. I make it M14 but just a guess. This way the weld would be
covered in under the dust cover and there will be no ugly extentions showing just the new longer track rods.
Does anyone know of a better way that I'm not seeing yet?
cheers Mike.
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Mix
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| posted on 2/4/05 at 08:04 AM |
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Don't think it's acceptable, (safety issue) to the SVA to weld the track rods.
Mick
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Mix
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| posted on 2/4/05 at 08:05 AM |
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The Sierra rack is longer than the Escort one, are you sure you need to extend it?
Mick
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mookaloid
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| posted on 2/4/05 at 09:16 AM |
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I got extensions from Mk which screw onto the existing track rods. The track rod ends screw onto these.
HTH
Mark
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quattromike
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| posted on 2/4/05 at 05:00 PM |
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I've seen the extentions you can buy but i would prefer if posible not to have them as i think it spoils the look of the front end . So you
think that it's acceptable to fabricate longer track rods and graft them on to the existing rods? Even if i get them welded by coded welders and
exrayed to proove they are sound and even load tested to proove they can take the strain, with all these certificates they still wouldn't accept
it?
Any thoughts ?
Cheers Mike.
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907
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| posted on 2/4/05 at 06:14 PM |
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Well....
I'm a coded welder.... and I made extensions.
If they are 22mm o.d. they match the track rod end,
and a conical lock nut at the other end would blend
them into the track arm.
I do hear what your saying though. It's not ideal.
Paul G
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craig1410
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| posted on 2/4/05 at 10:05 PM |
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Hi,
I'd go for the screw on extensions, in fact that's exactly what I did do... A kind soul from the forum (you know who you are  ) made
some up for me and they are very neat and tidy.
This is one area I just wasn't prepared to mess with as the consequences of failure were too great. If you do get it welded then please do get
it done properly and x-rayed etc. Apologies in advance for sounding patronising...
Cheers,
Craig.
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RazMan
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| posted on 2/4/05 at 11:02 PM |
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I got my extensions from Rally Design - they look really neat and tidy. Made of hardened alloy and black anodized - bootiful.
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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quattromike
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| posted on 5/4/05 at 07:06 AM |
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I think that it's mabey a good idea to buy the extentions for a start and then mabey look at it again after i get it on the road . or should I
say if I get it on the road!
Does anyone know of a companny that actually makes bigger than normal steering racks?
cheers Mike.
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DaveFJ
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| posted on 5/4/05 at 11:58 AM |
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IIRC Tiger actually sell a rack that is designed for the avon, It is the same as a standard escort mk2 rack buit the track rods are a bit longer so
no extensions are needed
I think they ask £110 + vat but that is for a brand new item....
Dave
"In Support of Help the Heroes" - Always
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quattromike
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| posted on 5/4/05 at 05:03 PM |
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Is there a bit differance between the escort mk2 rack and the sierra rack? i'm going to need 160mm bigger than the sierra.
Mike.
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craig1410
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| posted on 5/4/05 at 10:23 PM |
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The escort rack is too long for a standard book locost but is ideal for the 4 inch wider Locost like mine. I'm not sure where the Avon stands
with regards to ideal rack width. I got a reconditioned Escort Mk2 rack for something like £31 exchange which I thought was fair.
Come to think of it, isn't the Tiger Avon designed to be used with an Escort rack? You can still use Sierra downlink and column with an escort
rack as the splines are the same and the track rod ends use the same M14 threads too (Note the Escort Mk1 uses imperial threads so avoid it)
Hope this helps,
Craig.
[I just read my post again and I think I need to clarify something. When I say the escort rack is too long for the book locost I am referring to the
rack body, ignoring track rods. On a +4" chassis like mine the rack body is perfect length (hence no bump steer) but I had to lengthen the track
rods by something like 60mm (guess) each side. Let me know if you don't know the significance of the rack body length with regards to bump steer
and I'll try to explain it.
[Edited on 5/4/2005 by craig1410]
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quattromike
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| posted on 6/4/05 at 03:24 PM |
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I understand about the bump steer , having the pivot on the line with the top and bottom A-arm pivots. But, is the escort mk2 rack body the same or
longer than the sierra rack body?
My car will be 6" wider than a sierra track width. So the longer rack i can get the better . Although! I'm not far enough on with chasis
construction to know exactly what will be needed.
Cheers for everyones input so far
Mike.
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craig1410
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| posted on 6/4/05 at 09:27 PM |
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Mike,
I must admit I am surprised at the width of your car. Six inches wider than Sierra track width must be close to twelve inches wider than a standard
book locost. My own chassis is 4" wider than book and my front track width is 56" which is about 1.8" narrower than a Sierra. Do I
understand you correctly?
I used to have both a Sierra rack and an escort rack but I threw out my Sierra rack when I decided to use the escort one. As I recall, the Sierra rack
was longer overall and had a longer body but the body would have needed to be cut down considerably to suit my chassis. After a few calc's I
found the Escort rack to be ideal, albeit with a couple of track rod extensions attached.
Sorry I can't give you exact dimensions for the Sierra rack.
Cheers,
Craig.
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