Mx5 steering rack. Will it fit ?

[jason 82]

See what phil says about it. Hopefully there is a really simple solution.

[PorkChop]

Shortening the MX5 rack, as said, is common in North America.

But they don't have a plentiful supply of mark 2 Escort racks over there. We do and they're not expensive new. You would also need to be careful as welding mods to the racks aren't allowed for the IVA or MOT; this is why rack extensions are screw-on rather than weld-on.

And the build manual that Andy originally wrote is to be used alongside the book, not a replacement.

[Stot]

The MX5 rack is about 7" too long for a roadster/locost so its quite a bit of work to shorten it.

Heres an example.

Doable but you need a fairly large lathe really.

Cheers
Stot

[PorkChop]

Originally Posted by Stot

The MX5 rack is about 7" too long for a roadster/locost so its quite a bit of work to shorten it.

Heres an example.

Doable but you need a fairly large lathe really.

Cheers
Stot

Wouldn't that fail MOT and IVA due to the welding to the rack body?

[Stot]

I wouldn't have thought so, I would have thought that was to do with the moving parts inside rather than the casing.

Worth asking an MOTer though!

Cheers
Stot

[StruveD]

Been researching this today a bit as well, since i'm getting to this stage. It seems the better option to welding, is to take it to a machine shop, cut 5-7" of the rack then have them machine and rethread it. Then the only thing your welding is the casing.

[jason 82]

Thanks for that pork chop. Won't be using that then.