Steering

[brainbug007]

I'm trying to finish this part off and struggling a little so hopefully someone can help! For some reason the only place I can put my steering rack is all the way over on the nearside rather than in a central position as per the book. If it's not all the way over to the nearside, the steering extension fouls on the diagonl chassis rail Because of having to put it all the over to the nearside, I end up having to let the track rod extension out pretty much all the way from the rack on the offside to compensate. On top of that I have to almost turn the rack slightly off center with the steering wheel so to speak. I'd imagine I wouldn't be able to go full lock to lock as the rack itself isn't completely centered (I presume the trackrod would stop it turning further). So anyone have any idea where i'm likely to have gone wrong or if it will be ok like this and go thru iva?

[robo]

Bump steer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bob

[brainbug007]

forgive my newbieness but bump steer??

[robo]

As near as poss the ball joints on the ends of the rack should intersect with the top and bottom wishbone fulcrum points. As suspension goes up and down there should in theory be no affect on the steering geometry.

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...5R94akKxHGBbEQ

By shoving the rack over you are in affect making one steering arm long and one short.

Bob

[brainbug007]

Bummer, didn't think that would work. So I guess the culprit is likely to be the diagonal is too far over into the engine bay?? Did a bit of digging and thinking and I wonder if my problem is my column is out of a later sierra with power steering which has a different shape at the end and the spline to fit onto the rack is different because of this. Apparently earlier sierra columns without power steering have a spline which fits straight onto an escort rack. I had to get one of these http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/product...ducts_id=13580 and part of the problem originally was the part that connects onto the column fouls on the diagonal

[Wynand]

Originally Posted by brainbug007

Apparently earlier sierra columns without power steering have a spline which fits straight onto an escort rack.(

The old Mini steering rack spline is the same as the Escort Mk2 and you can use that rubber coupling - very similar to the Sierra's. Before I found a suitable Sierra one, I had a Mini one I planned to use instead....

I believe the old Mini's are like the plague in Brittain or are they all scrapped by now?