Steering column

[ozzy1]

This one is a bit longer and also has the groove machined into it each end also a little bit cheaper

http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/product...nc176fcvjfg8n2

[voucht]

Thank you Ozzy. The link you pasted is not working as, I guess, you were logged-in RD website when you copied it, so when I click on it, it asks for a login/password.
But I guess you saw the 400mm long one. I also saw this shaft, it is cheap, and I would have preferred ordering this one to RD, but it is definitely too long. I really need something between 250mm and 285mm.
If you have other tips...
Thank you very much.

[voucht]

Hi,
Regarding my steering column extension, I would like to come back on what I plan to do: as I have the lower UJ from the Escort rack, ans the upper UJ from the Sierra column, I would like to put a splined shaft between the 2 UJ's (see previous posts on this thread). This will avoid the delicate welding of the steering column extension

My question is : as there will be two UJ's, so 2 articulations on the column, do I have to link the shaft between the two UJ's to the chassis on a fixed point (with a bearing), or will it work without doing this?
Thank you.

[Bonzo]

Hi Sylvain

I am not sure if I have understood your post fully.

Most builds will use 2 universal joints to form the steering shaft. ( Unless using the original Ford rubber damper at the steering rack )

Here is a photo of AshG's steering shaft components before he welded the extension bar in place.



Such a set up should not need any additional support for the shaft.

One UJ is being held fixed rigid by the bulkhead bush & the other UJ is being held rigid by the steering rack.

This type of set up should allow for an angle but is not likely to be floppy.

If you were to make your shaft as you have pictured a couple of posts back, you would almost certainly need to provide an additional supporting point for the shaft.

Hope this makes some sense.

Ps

Sorry to AshG for stealing his picture.

[voucht]

Thank you for your reply Bonzo,
I think you perfectly understood my question in spite of my approximative English
The lower "rubber damper joint" of the Sierra steering column is rigid (the part I hold with my hand on the picture). It is not a UJ.

http://www.haynes.co.uk/forums/attac...achmentid=1474

So actually, if I decide to link the Escort UJ (on the st. rack) to this "rubber damper joint", there will be, as on AshG's car, only 2 UJ's : one UJ held fixed rigid on the st. rack (Escort one), and one UJ held fixed rigid on the st. column, just after the bulkhead bush (Sierra one). So according to the example you gave me, my conclusion is (as the "rubber damper joint" is rigid) I don't need an extra support on the chassis. Am I right ?
Thanks.

[Bonzo]

Hi Sylvain

Nothing wrong with you english at all, it's very good.

The rubber damper is a kind of Universal joint & was used buy Ford as an alternative to the traditional type of Universal joint.

looking at your picture ( 3rd one )

If you were to connect that rubber damper directly to the rack & leave the UJ at the bulkhead then connect the Two by means of a solid shaft, that should be all that's needed to give you a workable steering shaft.

On the other hand, if you were to add an extra flexible component mid shaft, it would then need some additional support.

Rally design do a universal joint to replace the original Sierra Rubber one. ( As shown in AshG's picture )

I would take a picture of my set up but unfortunately it is under covers at the moment.

Hope that helps.

[K4KEV]

Ronnie is correct Sylvain the stiff rubber part is a uj so you would end up with 3 uj's which would not be good without additional support .....best way is to loose the rubber uj and have a shaft between the two mechanical uj's as in AshG's photo fill the gap it were with a shaft.

[robo]

Originally Posted by Bonzo

Hi Sylvain

I am not sure if I have understood your post fully.

Most builds will use 2 universal joints to form the steering shaft. ( Unless using the original Ford rubber damper at the steering rack )

Here is a photo of AshG's steering shaft components before he welded the extension bar in place.



Such a set up should not need any additional support for the shaft.

One UJ is being held fixed rigid by the bulkhead bush & the other UJ is being held rigid by the steering rack.

This type of set up should allow for an angle but is not likely to be floppy.

If you were to make your shaft as you have pictured a couple of posts back, you would almost certainly need to provide an additional supporting point for the shaft.

Hope this makes some sense.

Ps

Sorry to AshG for stealing his picture.

I am not so sure this set up would comply with iva section 14 page 2. protective steering. There should be a minium of 10 degrees of shaft offset and max of 30 degrees from straight viewed from the top or sides as part of the impact protection. It may be the picture but that looks like its pretty much a direct straight line to the rack. Just thoughts .

Bob

[Bonzo]

Originally Posted by robo

I am not so sure this set up would comply with iva section 14 page 2. protective steering. There should be a minium of 10 degrees of shaft offset and max of 30 degrees from straight viewed from the top or sides as part of the impact protection. It may be the picture but that looks like its pretty much a direct straight line to the rack. Just thoughts .

Bob

Hi Bob

Guess that was quite a poor photo, just a trick of the eye I am affraid.

Here's a couple of better shots of mine.





A rough measure with my angle gauge gives about 10 degrees of deflection.

The shaft looks closer to U2 than it actualy is ( only 4 or 5mm clearance though )
Going to sort that shaft out whe I re visit that particular job.

Poor old girl is starting to suffer living outside under tarps
Will strip her down & put it all away when I get the chance to make some storage space.

I would imagine that the steering shaft more than meets the IVA requirements.

Far as I know, to date all Roadsters have gone through SVA/IVA using the same set up.

[robo]

Good enough for me Ronnie Watch the tarp thing, I went to dig out my discovery van project a few weeks ago to find three seperate birds nests full of chicks in there That pissed on my fireworks as I could not bring myself to disturb them I think they have gone for seconds cos they are still in and out.

Bob