The column is shortened, the top bracket is tacked in place, Ive also tacked on a UJ to the cut down intermediate shaft. The top of the Sierra fluted tube has been cut down to accept the MNR paddles.


I ordered a bottom bearing for the column a couple of days ago, so havent started making the bracket for it , till Ive seen it.



Need some experienced eyes over the job please.


Problems/Options

1) Top column is fairly solid vertically, but has lateral play - Its the tube moving in the alloy clamp/pinch bolt. Will the bottom bracket stop this?

2) With the Sierra wheel on the column, nut tight, it doesnt pull up the sprung section of the column, Am I missing parts?


3) Once the column is pulled back 20mm with the wheel, the steering rotates lock to lock nice & smooth, are the bottom UJ angles going to cause me problems, they appear to rotate smoothly.


4) Is welding up the bottom UJ going to bother those who will be inspecting the car ? - assuming my welds are ok of course.






None of it is set down yet, and only tacked in place, Everything can still be moved if need be, all metalwork will get finished off once Im happy.




Observations / suggestions - Just go easy Im a sensitive type- honest

The top column needs another support near to the UJ.

Only use universal joints specially made for steering linkages as they are manufacture to have very little play.

To work properly joints must be ‘phased’, all joints aligned so they do not oppose each other.

The maximum angle, on any single joint, must be not more than 27 deg.

Agreed, the UJs are 90 degrees out in that picture which will give rather non-linear steering i.e. rack movement will not be proportional the steering wheel angle.

quote:

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Originally posted by designer
The top column needs another support near to the UJ.

Only use universal joints specially made for steering linkages as they are manufacture to have very little play.

To work properly joints must be ‘phased’, all joints aligned so they do not oppose each other.

The maximum angle, on any single joint, must be not more than 27 deg.

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To use that bearing you will need about an inch and a half of the inner triangle section of the sierras column protruding out of the end which I can't see in your pic.

I've used that bearing and it works well, it's just if you have ordered that specific size then I don't think the outer of the column will fit through it.

Atb
Stott

I've still got triangular section protruding , there's still some space to be found.

Plan is to make the plastic bush fit the bearing nice & snug.


Then have the bracket holding the bearing fastened to the scuttle.



Why would I need more triangular bit protruding ? Surely the bracket/bearing above the top uj will hold it all up. Fingers crossed.



Cheers Stott.



Ivan

What I mean is that to use that bearing with the plastic bush from the sierra then you would need enough triangle bit poking out to slide that bush on and ultimately mount the bearing on. It's just I couldn't see any of it in the pic, it looks like the outer buts up to the first uj.

If there's enough to put the bearing on then great it'll work fine

Atb
Stott

quote:

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Originally posted by Stott
What I mean is that to use that bearing with the plastic bush from the sierra then you would need enough triangle bit poking out to slide that bush on and ultimately mount the bearing on. It's just I couldn't see any of it in the pic, it looks like the outer buts up to the first uj.

If there's enough to put the bearing on then great it'll work fine

Atb
Stott

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I have driven and owned some cars that had some radical angle‘s through which the steering UJ‘s had to opperate. on cars as light as ours its not a problem worth worrying about. technically it is less than ideal and on an F1 car it might be an issue, and for longevity of the joints it could be an issue but we are talking a kit car which will be lucky to see a few thousand miles in its life much less in a year. a properly supported steering column shouldn't give you any trouble and you are extremely unlikely to ever notice any adverse steering effects by having your uj‘s turn through more than 27 degrees.

Thanks for the UJ feedback - Music to my ears