Steering rack

[shh120m]

Hi guys, just read in the book that the rack needs to be shortened, is this nessasary and if so how is it done

Thanks
Nathan

[HandyAndy]

Thats what the book says , BUT, if you use a MkII escort rack then use the rack extensions as supplied by Saturn then you,ll have no probs at all.

just being fair......Rally Design supply the racks & the extensions but so do Saturn, its also worth having the aluminium rack clamps at the same time...again Saturn supply these too .

cheers
andy

[twinturbo]

Originally Posted by shh120m

Hi guys, just read in the book that the rack needs to be shortened, is this nessasary and if so how is it done

Thanks
Nathan

The book says idealy.

TT

[davylock]

Andy, are you saying then that the Escort MKII rack doesn't need to be shortened if the Saturn 120mm - 130mm end extensions are used?.
I've just ordered a MKII recon rack and would much prefer not to cut.
Also, do the Saturn alloy brackets use any kind of rubber / poly bush ?
cheers from Dave.

[twinturbo]

I think Andy is getting confused with the extensions and what the book says on P76 about shortening the rack.

The reason for shortening the rack is to bring the centers of the ball joints in line with the suspension upper and lower pivots whilst in the straight ahead position. As such the steering should not toe in/out when the suspension is compressed whilst in a straight line.

But it's not necessary.

TT

[shh120m]

Originally Posted by HandyAndy

Thats what the book says , BUT, if you use a MkII escort rack then use the rack extensions as supplied by Saturn then you,ll have no probs at all.

just being fair......Rally Design supply the racks & the extensions but so do Saturn, its also worth having the aluminium rack clamps at the same time...again Saturn supply these too .

cheers
andy

Cheers Andy, I got all the bits from Andy last week so I guess I'm fine, another job crossed off the list!

[HandyAndy]

What I,m trying to say ( maybe not clearly )....

If a NON shortened MkII escort steering rack is used along with the steering rack extensions available from Saturn then you,ll have no problems at all.

In the book it gives dimensions of how to make your own steering rack extensions, BUT these are WRONG, if use those dimensions as per the book with a NON adjusted rack then you will end up with "Clown steering", ie the wheels trying to turn left & right at the same time

The easiest option is.......... use a standard MkII escort rack with extensions supplied by Saturn or Rally design.

The alloy rack clamps don,t use any rubber bushes but come supplied with "Hard" spacers to ensure a tight fit of the rack to the chassis.

hope this helps.

cheers
andy

[davylock]

Thanks Andy, that's cleared that up then !. I think I now know what extra bits I need to order for the steering. Sorry to jump in on this thread but I wanted to order the right parts, Dave.