Steering

[davedew]

Attached are a couple od pictures of my steering.

The first is the upper section of the steering columns. The triangular part is uppermost in the pictures.



The next picture shows the cut and extended lower section of the standard Sierra column. The end that fits the triangular section is uppermost with the splied coulping at the other end.

The bit of tube I used to extend it was a piece of seamless tube left over from the lower wishbones. It gets close to the diagonal, 3-4mm. But it doesn't touch and that is all that matters.

[brainbug007]

That's pretty much how I did mine dave, the only thing that I changed was the coupling on the end with the spline as the spline off mine was too big to fit onto the escort rack. hence why I bought the sierra->escort coupling off rally design. but i think the rack position must have been wrong somehow to cause the extension and coupling with the spline fouling on the diagonal?

[HandyAndy]

here,s mine fitted into the chassis.




you can just about see the group 4 coupling at the rack end, the upper end is as per Daves pictures.

[brainbug007]

Ok this is maybe where I've gone wrong then. The bendable bits are called univeral joints I think? Well I've got two of those in my setup where as yours seems to only have one? Mine kind of goes rack -> escort/sierra coupling from rd -> extension -> top coupling (both inputs are triangle shapped, this came off my donor) -> steering column/wheel. this crude picture may help..

[HandyAndy]

I have the group4 coupling at the rack end & the original Ford coupling at the bulkhead end ( but as with previously mentioned...the rubber coupling from the original Ford column where it used to attach to the rack removed & the triangular coupling part welded into my extension, as per this pic below)



hope this helps
cheers
andy

[brainbug007]

Ya I think so, it sounds like if I get a group 4 coupling and one of these http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/product...ducts_id=11805 I could just re-make my extension as this splined steering column shaft would just go inside the extension to be welded up and it has a smaller outside diameter than the extension tube? (I used 25.4mm od I think). Then I guess all I need to do is get the rack back in the right position so that when the trackrods are connected to the hubs, the rack arms are level and let out an equal amount on both sides?

[HandyAndy]

yes,
well thats how I,ve done mine, but its NOT the only way to achieve the desired result .
there has been other builders using a different bearing carrier thru the bulkhead.... I think Ash G has some pics of how he did his in his build photos link.
Just an after thought......which steering rack extensions are you using ? if its the ones detailed in the book, they are wrong( too long ) & makes the wheels point left & right at same time .

cheers
andy