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WTF is that for!
craigdiver - 25/4/17 at 01:10 PM

About to trial fit my steering column, pictured below, It has an upper fixed bracked. I see on ither peoples builds there is some sort of bearing assembly where the column goes through the drivers footwell plate, is this needed and how would I get one to fit my ford steering column? Had a good read of the book but doesn't appear to mention it.

screen shotcertificity.com

Nickp - 25/4/17 at 01:47 PM

Sierra one has a bearing, is that an Escort one?

craigdiver - 25/4/17 at 01:58 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Nickp
Sierra one has a bearing, is that an Escort one?


Yes

jacko - 25/4/17 at 01:59 PM

engine
engine

this is a photo of a sierra bearing fitted to a mk chassis

motivforz - 25/4/17 at 03:03 PM

here's a previous thread on a similar subject - I looked into this proper bearing mod but just replaced the worn parts on mine.

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=153959

craigdiver - 25/4/17 at 04:48 PM

quote:
Originally posted by motivforz
here's a previous thread on a similar subject - I looked into this proper bearing mod but just replaced the worn parts on mine.

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=153959


So do you think this bearing is only needed as the sierra column was fitted with one? I could just secure the column outer to a bracket as it goes through the bulkhead (if the column is long enough to go through the bulkhead) Any thoughts?

ReMan - 25/4/17 at 09:54 PM

as said its not sierra, but anyway theres still an upper fixed mount on the sierra,
i'd have thought you still neeed some support on the thin end though if its going into one of the uj's it will have sloppage room

motivforz - 26/4/17 at 07:31 AM

Agreed with reman - support wanted at the bottom end. Without support at the lower end, if you looked from above the car the whole column could twist clockwise/anticlockwise.

One option is directly onto the column itself rather than the outer shroud/housing, but there looks to be too little length for that dependant on your next joint clamping area. If there's a bearing (or bush) from the column to the housing at the left hand side of your photo, then you can just support the outer. It looks like there's a grommet for where it passed through the bulkhead on the escort, so modding this region to add brackets would be the simple way to go.

craigdiver - 26/4/17 at 08:44 AM

Thanks for the advice all, I need to work out where the steering column will sit (once my seats arrive and are fitted) and see what point of the column reaches the bulkhead (hopefully, the outer sleeve extend to the bulkhead then I can just make up a clamp to secure it.

Next thing will be finding plugs to mate up with the sockets on the indicator/lighting/horn stalks. Ignition barrel has wiring on it that can be used and steering column has 2 keys with it.

Cheers

Craig

robinj66 - 26/4/17 at 05:13 PM

Your Escort (?) column looks the same design as the Granada Mk 2. the rubber seal at the bottom would have provided support where the column went through the bulkhead on the Ford.

Yo can ether fabricate a short bit of pipe to fit in your footwell or use a bearing like the one shown here http://nw.rhocar.org/supporting_the_steering_shaft.htm

The Ford green plastic bit (for the Sierra) will fit over your triangular shaft and then be fixed (via grub screw0 in the metal bearing which is fixed to your bulkhead/firewall.

craigdiver - 26/4/17 at 05:18 PM

quote:
Originally posted by robinj66
Your Escort (?) column looks the same design as the Granada Mk 2. the rubber seal at the bottom would have provided support where the column went through the bulkhead on the Ford.

Yo can ether fabricate a short bit of pipe to fit in your footwell or use a bearing like the one shown here http://nw.rhocar.org/supporting_the_steering_shaft.htm

The Ford green plastic bit (for the Sierra) will fit over your triangular shaft and then be fixed (via grub screw0 in the metal bearing which is fixed to your bulkhead/firewall.


The source of the steering column is unknown, someone had bought it a few decades ago to use it in a kit then sold it in the usual garage clearances! May be a grenada column.

Thanks for the great info, has the bearing got a triangular insert?

[Edited on 26/4/17 by craigdiver]

robinj66 - 26/4/17 at 06:09 PM

The original ford solution was this lot SIERRA MK1 COSWORTH RS500 LOWER STEERING COLUMN BUSH SET NEW GENUINE FORD PARTS

The bit with the triangular hole goes over the lower shaft. It will then fit in the Ford setup or (a better choice IMO) in the metal bearing in the previous link.

ETA - to answer your question - no you will need a ford or similar part to fit on the lower column

[Edited on 26/4/17 by robinj66]

907 - 26/4/17 at 07:41 PM

Description
Description



The bracket in your picture is designed to be fixed to the bulkhead or scuttle but fail in certain circumstances.
It is similar to the vauxhall one that I have in my car.


The square ally (?) blocks have slots in the edges and are held in position by solidified plastic (?) glue.


Red arrow:- When a force is applied (front end crash) the column stays in place so doesn't come back in the face of the driver.

White arrow:- If the driver was thrown forward and was to impact the steering wheel then the plastic glue would fail and the
column would collapse forward and save injury to the driver.


By all means fit support bearings to limit side movement but don't fix any brackets that would stop the column collapsing.
The IVA man was very keen to inspect this aspect on my car.

Hope this helps,
Paul G

snapper - 26/4/17 at 07:41 PM

Use the bearing shown on the RHOCaR site as any rubber one will flex and trust me it don't feel good
If your going through IVA they wil pull, push the column back, front and both sides, movement is a fail

craigdiver - 26/4/17 at 07:46 PM

Some great info here, but conflicting unfortunately. Any other opinions whether to securely bracket the lower part of the steering column to the bulkhead or leave it fliating? (Was that a can of worms I heard popping open)