are the threads on the sierra and mk2 escort (non RS) trackrod ends the same?

also if i were to fit spherical bearing rodends instead of the usual TRE's which ones would i need to buy and would the steering rack extensions from ral des be suitable for a wider track on an escort?

Both racks use the same lock nuts so I vote yes. You'd need some inserts for the taper in the steering arms to convert them to a bolt to use a M14 female spherical bearing. Raldes were talking of longer track rods on their quick racks so I would get in touch with them and you might not need extensions.

From memory I thing the earlier ones may be different but there is a thread on here somewhere so try a search

Different Ford part numbers.... but i suppose that means nothing!

dont know the size of the taper on the sierra or cortina hubs, but you could drill it out to m14, if its already bigger just stick a bolt through it and use an m14 female rodend as pete says. Thats what im in the process of doing anyway...

steering rack extensions can be cut to size anyway, most will be an m14 internally threaded tube with a piece of m14 stud held inplace with agrub screw. I cut some off the rack ends and some off the extension to make it the perfect fit. The reasons behind it for me are that my current rack has welded arms, which is an MOT fail...

heres a picture of the steering arms and part of the upper wishbones.
Rescued attachment arms.JPG

joel thats a great help thanks

i was thinking i could use some internally threaded tube with male rose joints

will drilling the steering arm to get rid of the taper be ok?

i personally would have no problem with it for my own use. I'm sure some one will say its a bad idea - i'll listen and absorb, but if there is no reason better than habit or tabboo, i'll do it. Might even move it in a bit is space allows, to save getting a quicker rack.

the arms above still need fettling for length and to get locknuts to fit.

[Edited on 10/9/06 by JoelP]

You could chop the top off some old TREs drill and tap the resulting cone for M12 or M14. You may need good quality taps for this the cones are forged and probably a bit hard,

Caber