My steering downlink (from old Luego) seems too short (about an inch ?) and doesn't seem to me to be a good fit on the escort splines ? I assembled it so that I could get it driving and kinda closed my eyes to the way it fitted aiming to check it later. Now I've checked it it really doesn't look or feel right (have to get it real tight to clamp on the rack spline). Has anyone else had problems here ? Obviously steering not to be compromised with.....

On a happier note drove it slowly up and down the lane a bit and scrubbed the brakes in a little. Biting much harder now but still need to be re-bled I think. Pedal too low and still too soft.

Cheers
Simon

Stupid response I'm sure but have you pulled the collapsible element of the sierra column out far enough ? If you clamp on a stilson toward the end and give it a few gentle reminders it will come out a couple of inches. Hope it gives you the required dimensions.

I've had a similar problem, old luego downlink was too short with totally the wrong spline pattern - I'm in the process of getting a new one made up by new luego. Annoying that I have to do it since I paid for the first one, although I appreciate it's not new luegos fault.

Cheers
Dan

Thanks Dan, all makes sense. The link looks too short and the spline pattern doesn't bite properly at all.

Something of a theme with old Luego unfortunately - I've had to fix / modify many bits. The relay loom was wrong, the exhausts don't fit, the coil-over eyes are the wrong size for the bolts, the camber doesn't seem right and so it goes on....

Thanks for your help, I'll get in touch with New Luego !

Simon

thats funny cause my experience with the old luego guys were and still is fantastic?

I made my own, bought a UJ from rally design with a length of shaft which I extended to fit the triangular clamp from my donor sierra.
kenton

Same here! I had problems with the old down link so went the UJ and splined shaft either end route. All nice and tight and feels good!

Dave B

Hmmm I just cut the original downlink, and sleeved it with a bit of Land Rover steering drag link bar.
To be honest, the torque applied is only what you can wrench on by hand from via the steering wheel.

Ok it needs to be done correctly, but the forces from the steering wheel to the rack are fairly light. Its not like shortening a rack, where the forces between the two wheels can get quite high at times.

Also bear on mind that the triangular section is designed to slide up the column in the event of an accident. This prevents the steering column from plunging through your chest and out the other side.

ie the 1st joint does not want to be directly at the end of the column. It needs that clearance so the triangular bit can slide up the column if necessary.

Just my 2 reils worth.

Don't get me wrong Saigonij - there's lots of good stuff about the kit, but it is depressing when stuff you buy in good faith is just wrong or needs modifying to fit. For me so far, the exhausts don't fit at all, the profile down the side of the car is all wrong both sides - at £900. The eyes on the coil-overs are 0.5 inch, the bolts are 12mm. Old Luego said 'do them up tight they will be fine' - GAZ sent me the tubular shims that I should have had in the first place. The crush tubes in the suspension bushes are too short. This one is well documented - I've decided to get it through SVA then set about fixing it as I don't want to break down all of the suspension (again) just yet. The radiator mounts on the chassis were wrong, I had to grind them off and make my own. The loom relay pack was wired incorrectly - took the best part of a day to sort out. The camber doesn't look or feel like it's enough - haven't really investigated yet. The steering downlink is too short and seems to have the wrong spline for the rack.

As I said, don't get me wrong, I wasn't expecting a Caterham or Westfield build experience and I think that overall the kit is a good one and I broadly got a great service from Grant and the 'old' team, but it is disappointing when stuff that you buy that ought to fit / work is just plain wrong. Bit miffed as I though I was pretty much ready for SVA and now I seem to have a fairly fundamental piece to put right

Simon

SimonK I must agree, whislt I liked Grant and bought from him, there are numberous big errors with the kit-not acceptable in my my view and not surprising they went bust.

Appalling but having bought it I need to finish it like you. My chassis has bubling powder coat eveywhere. Yet to try new Luego out so reserve judgement.

I've had a quote back from Ben @ luego for £110 for a totally new downlink delivered, I emailed him back to ask if he would do a discount if more were purchased at the same time (no response yet as I've only just clicked send) would anyone else be interested if he agrees?

Cheers
Dan

rally design do a steering coupling to go from a sierra donor column to a escort splined shaft (RD850) £19.50
www.rallydesign.co.uk

Hi geoff, about the collapsing section you mentioned, do you mean the triangular piece of steel will slide up inside the column? I measured mine and the triangular section sticks out 163mm from the circular section- could this be partially collapsed hence our problem or are you saying that the triangular clamp is designed to slide up the triangular section? In which case the downlink is just too short as mine only half clamps onto the tip of the triangular section. Hope that makes sense! Cheers.

quote:

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Originally posted by DanP
Hi geoff, about the collapsing section you mentioned, do you mean the triangular piece of steel will slide up inside the column? I measured mine and the triangular section sticks out 163mm from the circular section- could this be partially collapsed hence our problem or are you saying that the triangular clamp is designed to slide up the triangular section? In which case the downlink is just too short as mine only half clamps onto the tip of the triangular section. Hope that makes sense! Cheers.

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