New build with a few running gear questions

[davylock]

Hi, I'm new to the Forum, ( thanks Andy H ). I am refurbishing my Sierra running gear ( from a 1988 2.0 Sapphire ) and aqquiring new brake parts as and when they show up.
My questions are:
1. Is it wise to hand ream out the lower front upright for the Maxi Ball Joint by using a 19mm reamer as available from Axminster, or get a local engineering firm to do it ?.
2. What pitch are the M10 x 25 front Caliper to Carrier mounting bracket bolts ( 1.5 or 1.25 ), and should they be loctited in?.
3. Is it the Escort MKII steering rack that takes the Sierra track rod ends, and what exact length should the outer extension rods be, because there seems to be a conflict from what the book says and what people are saying in the forum?.
Any help will be much appreciated from a confused newcomer!.

[alga]

1. If you define "wise" as "frugal", then yes. Most people here do it like that.
2. It's the coarse M10 thread. Note that they are some special ones, torqued to 60 or 100 Nm according to their type.
3. The Haynes manual does not mention thread lock glue, but a lot of people here would use it for good measure.

[davylock]

Thanks, Albert, I have bought M10 x 25mm x 1.5mm HT stainless setscrews, so I'm hoping these will be ok once thread locked. Definitely frugal over wise, but safety issues with steering etc. made me ask first.
Concerning the Steering Rack: Does the MKII Escort rack I have obtained use Sierra or Escort track rod ends?, are the measurements for shortening the rack in Chris's new book correct? and are the steering rack extensions shorter than stated in the book?. Dave.

[davedew]

Dave,

1. Most people hand ream the front uprights. Do you have a suitable vice to hold them in? If not engineering firm might be best option.

2. Caliper carrier are standard metric corse. Mine are thread locked in.

3. Mk2 Escort steering rack has M14 threads. Sierra or Mk2 Escort TRE's will fit. As for the rack extension the ones in the book are to long. They need to ne about 125-130mm long.

Cheers

Dave

[davylock]

Dave,

1. Most people hand ream the front uprights. Do you have a suitable vice to hold them in? If not engineering firm might be best option.

2. Caliper carrier are standard metric corse. Mine are thread locked in.

3. Mk2 Escort steering rack has M14 threads. Sierra or Mk2 Escort TRE's will fit. As for the rack extension the ones in the book are to long. They need to ne about 125-130mm long.

Cheers

Dave

Thanks Dave, My vice is only a small 4" one but got some mates with bigger jaws ( going by the noise in the pub last night ! ).
I'll lock thread the carrier bolts in then.
Need to look out for some shorter extensions and go for a pr of Sierra TRE's.
Thanks again everybody, Dave.

[spud69]

Hello Davey,

Good to see you on the forum, and another new builder....;)

Looks like you've got all your answers.

All he Best.....AndyH

[AshG]

IVA rules stipulate that all fixings on the brake system need some form of locking device be it nyloc nut spring washer thread lock etc. my calliper bolts not having thread lock on them was a fail point. It was picked up because I fitted new bolts which obviously wouldn't have come with thread lock on them like the ford ones.

[davedew]

Ash,

How did they tell you didn't threadlock on them? Did they make you take one out? I would have thought just by looking at the bolt they wouldn't be able to tell.