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Steering rack play
Rob Palin - 2/7/05 at 09:41 AM

Hi all,

A few weeks ago i had an intimate moment with a tyre wall at Cadwell but i was fairly lucky and not a lot got bent.

One thing that did take a bash is my steering and now there is 1-2mm of play in the joint where the track rod meets the end of the rack.

I'm told there's a nylon cup in there that the ball on the end of the track rod sits in. Is this correct? If so, does anyone know where to get a new cup from?

It's a quick rack so a bit pricey to directly replace but could i get an old standard rack and scavenge one from there?

Cheers

Rob

indykid - 2/7/05 at 10:58 AM

just get the whole track rod, they only screw on, although there are suggestions they may be roll pinned, or staked on.

gotta be easier than replacing a nylon cup within the ball joint.
hth
tom

britishtrident - 2/7/05 at 02:15 PM

quote:
Originally posted by indykid
just get the whole track rod, they only screw on, although there are suggestions they may be roll pinned, or staked on.

gotta be easier than replacing a nylon cup within the ball joint.
hth
tom


Depends if the rack is Escort or Sierra --- only the Sierra type is the track rod available as a service part.

Generally if Escort rack has had hard knock it it will have a bend and should be scrapped but if you want to try and repair the ball end try using parts from a mk3 escort manual rack.

[Edited on 2/7/05 by britishtrident]

[Edited on 2/7/05 by britishtrident]

Rob Palin - 4/7/05 at 02:02 PM

Thanks for the tips guys.

In the end i've taken a set of mole grips to the end of the rack and undone the bit holding the ball on the end of the track rod. Inside is this little plastic cup which has now got a dent in it where the ball has been forcibly rammed into it.

The dent doesn't form too much of a step and when i put it back together i tightened it up a little more than it was before and the play disappeared but the articulation of the ball joint doesn't feel 'stepped' or notchy so i think i'm ok.

I'd be a little surprised if it is as simple to fix as that but very grateful - new quick racks are very pricey!

Cheers

Rob