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Haynes roadster queries
vanepico - 10/11/12 at 08:46 PM

Hi, just wondering if it is vital for the escort steering rack to be shortened? It said it was pretty close but can you get away with not doing it? Surely this would void the warranty if you were gonna buy a new quick rack!

Also I've got hold of a set of sapphire uprights, is it just the track rod ends that need drilling out? My work has got loads of hand tapers I can use so I'm sorted for tools.

Cheers
Pete

Ben_Copeland - 10/11/12 at 09:01 PM

Escort rack doesnt need shortening... its the Sierra one that does.

My escort quick rack is fine as is.

Its not the track rod ends that need drilling its the bottom ball joint hole that needs a tapered drill put through it

[Edited on 10/11/12 by Ben_Copeland]

vanepico - 10/11/12 at 09:04 PM

why does it not just use shortened extensions if it is too long?

Ben_Copeland - 10/11/12 at 09:06 PM

Its not to long, its too short. The sierra track of the Roadster is wider than the escort rack. I've got Rally Design extensions on mine, no issues.

carlknight1982 - 10/11/12 at 09:10 PM

Likewise

vanepico - 10/11/12 at 09:34 PM

I thought the track rod ends where in upside down, and so have to have the taper taken out the opposite way?

Ben_Copeland - 10/11/12 at 09:36 PM

quote:
Originally posted by vanepico
I thought the track rod ends where in upside down, and so have to have the taper taken out the opposite way?


Nope, not sure where your getting all this from, but its not a very reliable source

vanepico - 10/11/12 at 09:42 PM

Huh, from reading the book (chris gibbs' one) i thought he said the steering went on top on the sierra but there wasn't room on the roadster so he put them on the bottom? Maybe not then

Ben_Copeland - 10/11/12 at 09:45 PM

I wouldnt want to redrill the taper from the other side, it wouldnt leave much hub left.

carlknight1982 - 11/11/12 at 04:57 PM

mine are in the bottom, same as every other 7 replica ive ever seen roadster or otherwise

you might want to join the haynes forum too there is a wealth of knowledge on there specific to the haynes
from people running v6 engines a fella using a v8 BMW engine others like mine running modified brakes etc etc

Minicooper - 11/11/12 at 05:16 PM

quote:
Originally posted by vanepico
Hi, just wondering if it is vital for the escort steering rack to be shortened? It said it was pretty close but can you get away with not doing it? Surely this would void the warranty if you were gonna buy a new quick rack!

Also I've got hold of a set of sapphire uprights, is it just the track rod ends that need drilling out? My work has got loads of hand tapers I can use so I'm sorted for tools.

Cheers
Pete


In the Chris Gibbs book for the Haynes Roadster, it mentions that the escort rack is slightly too long in the body at the pivot points and to be perfect would require the escort rack body to be shortened although it doesn't say by how much. The overall width however is too narrow hence the need for rack extenders.

The track rod ends tapers are not modified

Cheers
David

[Edited on 11/11/12 by Minicooper]

swanntech - 6/12/12 at 08:51 PM

The purpose of shortening the steering rack is eliminate bump steer it gives the recomended dimensions in the book .i shortened mine and have no bump steer but the process of of shortening is not easy

Not Anumber - 19/12/12 at 09:48 AM

I cannot stress this enough - Be very very careful when DIY shortenning any steering rack. The cut end of the rack needs to be properley clamped, drilled with the correct sized drill bit and then tapped with the correct tap to the correct depth, do not cut corners or make do. If in any doubt at all just drop it round to a local engineering company with the rack end extension; they wont charge much and will do a proper job that will stand up to the rogours of road or track use.
I have experienced a rack end pulling out of a poorly cut thread in a DIY modified rack. Fortunately it only happenned at a low speed but could have been much worse.

vanepico - 19/12/12 at 12:43 PM

I remember where i heard that the joints went in upside down now, it was mark evans' cobra replica with sierra uprights