02GF74
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| posted on 15/1/06 at 06:30 PM |
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longer track rod ends or rose joints - HELP!
hmmm, looked at my rack again and can't use the extension track rod pieces.*
I need to find track rod ends (cortina uprights) that have about 20 mm longer threaded part - do these exist? (escort mk2 rack)
Possible alternative:
a) rose joint; would require to find taper part to fit the steering arm and a way of connecting to the track rod (could be a tube with 2 different
threads since most rose joints appear to be imperial thread)
b) make an extension piece - would involve shortening the track rods; extending the thraed on them then screw on the extension - do these extensions
exist? anyone know of someone/company that would do some lathe work?
* I may be able to use one but the steeering would not be central so not ideal.
looking for something like this:  alfa 155
cf. mk 2 escort: 
[Edited on 15/1/06 by 02GF74]
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Blue Hurricane
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| posted on 15/1/06 at 07:05 PM |
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I think that I had the same problem as you where once I had fitted my MKII escort steering rack in conjunction with my Sierra up-rights; I only had
about 15mm (ish) of thread engagement in the track rod ends. This is how I solved my issue.
1.) I cut off the threaded part of the steering rack ends.
2.) I then cut a new thread on the basic bar which was left. From memory the bar is a smaller diameter that the original threads. I used 1/2
UNC.
3.) From some 19mm HEX bar I made 2 custom extension bars. With a female end (1/2 UNC) and a male end M14 which suited my track rod ends.
4.) The adjustment is done using the 1/2 UNC end and locked with a 1/2 UNC nut, as the M14 end is done tight and loc-tight’ed in position.
Hope this gives you some ideas
Cheers,
Blue H.....
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RichardK
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| posted on 15/1/06 at 07:31 PM |
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Just found a picture on darrens site of GTS how does this look, will you let me how you get on as you know I have a vested interest on these bits
Picy
Couldn't find any info on this part code though, hoping that they really are GTS-2501 at £16  , (hope that's for the pair  )
Hopefully the thread goes right to the bottom, you could then just cut to length.
Cheers
Rich
[Edited on 15/1/06 by RichardK]
[Edited on 15/1/06 by RichardK]
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flak monkey
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| posted on 15/1/06 at 07:49 PM |
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GTS do make track rod extentions, but I think they will be way too long for your application.
David
[Edited on 15/1/06 by flak monkey]
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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RichardK
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| posted on 15/1/06 at 07:52 PM |
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Nice one David, Do you think it would be ok to cut the gts ones down if they are too long?
Failing that Blue Hurricane's suggestion looks good.
[Edited on 15/1/06 by RichardK]
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Blue Hurricane
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| posted on 15/1/06 at 08:08 PM |
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As it happens, I did initially purchase some GTS extension bars. For my application 'Book Chassis, Luego wishbones, Sierra uprights & MKII
escort steering Rack’ They were to long, Hence why I had to make my own.
Cheers,
Blue H.....
PS. The female Thread doesn't go all the way!, I shall find them tomorrow and get a dimension for you, for the depth of the female thread.
[Edited on 15/1/06 by Blue Hurricane]
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flak monkey
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| posted on 15/1/06 at 08:20 PM |
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Internal thread on GTS ones measuers 50mm.
Theres no reason why you couldnt trim them down and cut more thread inside them, but you would need a lathe to do it. In which case you may as well
get a bit of EN16T and make some yourself.
David
[Edited on 15/1/06 by flak monkey]
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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RichardK
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| posted on 15/1/06 at 08:30 PM |
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True, I'm with the hex bar on this one !
Thanks guys
R
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Mix
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| posted on 15/1/06 at 10:04 PM |
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I'm in the same boat 
My MkII Escort rack only engages about 15mm into the TREs with zero toe.
I initially thought about re-threading the track rods but previous posts suggested this was an SVA fail as was extending with welded sleeves due to
issues with structural integrety. However I believe the GTS extensions are made from aluminium alloy. Surely these will be weaker than either of the
above options.
Confused
Mick
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rusty nuts
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| posted on 15/1/06 at 10:20 PM |
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Rally Design list a steering conversion set using rod ends and an adaptor to fit the steering arm but at £110+Vat its a bit OTT. Did consider using a
similar set up if I found excessive bump steer on my car , it would have allowed the track rod to connect to the top of the steering arm and kept the
track rods in a straighter line if that makes sense
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flak monkey
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| posted on 16/1/06 at 09:19 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mix
However I believe the GTS extensions are made from aluminium alloy. Surely these will be weaker than either of the above options.
I believe that the GTS extensions are made from EN16T. At least thats what the description used to say, but I see its been changed now.
I doubt Darren would be silly enough to make extensions out of ally.
David
PS I know theres a pair on eBay at the moment that says they are ally, but they arent....
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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britishtrident
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| posted on 16/1/06 at 09:21 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mix
I'm in the same boat
My MkII Escort rack only engages about 15mm into the TREs with zero toe.
I initially thought about re-threading the track rods but previous posts suggested this was an SVA fail as was extending with welded sleeves due to
issues with structural integrety. However I believe the GTS extensions are made from aluminium alloy. Surely these will be weaker than either of the
above options.
Confused
Mick
Completely impossible to increase the threaded length on Escort MK2 rack track rods by cutting threads with a die -- if you look closely at the rack
you will see the outer diameter of threaded section is greater than than of the plain diameter.
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britishtrident
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| posted on 16/1/06 at 09:23 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
hmmm, looked at my rack again and can't use the extension track rod pieces.*
I need to find track rod ends (cortina uprights) that have about 20 mm longer threaded part - do these exist? (escort mk2 rack)
snip
[Edited on 15/1/06 by 02GF74]
Ford Sierra
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02GF74
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| posted on 16/1/06 at 09:37 AM |
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Due to the track rods engaging about 10 mm into the tre, then it is not possible to use the GTS/RD extensions.
I would need to cut my track rods down, then re thread.
I measured the track rods, threaded and plain and it is 14 mm so running a die over them should not be impossible.
Ideally I do not want to be cutting the track rods so the best solution is to fit tre with londer threded shanks (or whatever it is they are
called).
If Ford sierra is about 20-30 mm longer, then that is sorted!!
Another idea I though about is taking apart track rod ends; 2 (or 3) things need to match:
1. diameter or thread part
2. dimensions of tapered joint
There may a tre with the right thread but wrong tapered part. By removing the pressed incover, I could take the tapered bit out and replace with
escort. Can't see why that won't work? Unless there is a ball/socket size mismatch?
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02GF74
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| posted on 16/1/06 at 09:41 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
I need to find track rod ends (cortina uprights) that have about 20 mm longer threaded part - do these exist? (escort mk2 rack)
snip
[Edited on 15/1/06 by 02GF74]
Ford Sierra
hmmm, you sure? on ebay here is picture of sierra ones; I'm ass8uming it is not a generic picture:
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Peteff
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| posted on 16/1/06 at 11:26 AM |
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Renault track rod ends have long male thread, it could be worthwhile looking at them. Getting a piece of hex threaded all the way through must be an
easier proposition than internal one end and external the other. Cut the thread to the length you need, if it's the right thread.
[Edited on 16/1/06 by Peteff]
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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Mix
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| posted on 16/1/06 at 12:36 PM |
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Completely impossible to increase the threaded length on Escort MK2 rack track rods by cutting threads with a die
I was thinking about cutting off the M14? thread and rethreading the plain bar with an appropriate thread, then making extensions to suit.
Mick
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02GF74
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| posted on 16/1/06 at 12:43 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mix
Completely impossible to increase the threaded length on Escort MK2 rack track rods by cutting threads with a die
Mick
how come? (I didn;t check but have to admit the end looks a bit undercut )
[img]http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/catalog/images/rackproduct[/img]
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Peteff
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| posted on 16/1/06 at 01:38 PM |
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I mean to use a hexagonal bar made into a tube nut with one end screwed onto the track rod and a male thread track rod end screwed into the other end.
If the male thread is too long, hacksaw the end off it to a suitable length. That shouldn't affect the strength of the part.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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02GF74
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| posted on 16/1/06 at 01:47 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Peteff
I mean to use a hexagonal bar made into a tube nut with one end screwed onto the track rod and a male thread track rod end screwed into the other end.
If the male thread is too long, hacksaw the end off it to a suitable length. That shouldn't affect the strength of the part.
would you be able to make another 2 more? for some beer tokens?
Something like: threaded and tapped ends 30 mm long, untapped 10 mm; so overall length is 70 mm.
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NS Dev
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| posted on 16/1/06 at 01:53 PM |
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Just to play devils advocate...........what exactly is wrong with welding on longer trackrods?
If it were me I would cut the std trackrods right down, remove them from the rack, stick em in the lathe and turn then to a suitable diameter,
rethread them 1/2" UNF, then make new trackrods from CDS tube, with 1/2" UNF threads tapped each end and use rose joints at the outer
ends.
I have modded cortina uprights to do this before. Either make a taper pin as you said, or make a "top hat" adaptor to go on top of the
steering arm and a threaded boss to go underneath, bolt the whole lot up through the steering arm hole and weld the bosses in place on the steering
arm. Then hold the rose joint on with a caphead bolt screwed through and into the new boss.
Pardon the dirty condition but here's such a mod done on my grasser!
 
grassersteer2
Retro RWD is the way forward...........automotive fabrication, car restoration, sheetmetal work, engine conversion
retro car restoration and tuning
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Peteff
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| posted on 16/1/06 at 01:55 PM |
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I'm not making it, but I know a man who can  . There must be lots of lathe operators near you who can do the job.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 16/1/06 at 02:17 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by flak monkey
I believe that the GTS extensions are made from EN16T. At least thats what the description used to say, but I see its been changed now.
I doubt Darren would be silly enough to make extensions out of ally.
David
PS I know theres a pair on eBay at the moment that says they are ally, but they arent....
They are made of alloy, at least the pair I bought from Darren are. I didn't use them in the end as they were too long for my
application, so had a friend with a lathe turn up some shorter extensions from EN16.
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02GF74
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| posted on 16/1/06 at 03:31 PM |
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anyone tried using ford transit track rod ends or got a set to hend to measure - been suggested they might be a possibility:
heres hoping....
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02GF74
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| posted on 17/1/06 at 02:30 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
anyone tried using ford transit track rod ends or got a set to hend to measure - been suggested they might be a possibility:
update. been to allparts and looked through their book; there is no suitable track rod end; the only one whic is longer that has the same thread
(not 100% sure about the taper) is volvo 850 but that needs track rods to be shortened.
Considered looking at larger threads then putting in helicoil but tool itelf is £5o so not really cost effective.
There may be one track rod with mle thread, would be m14 x 1.5 thast may fit so a tube tapped M14 2.0 at tone end and M14 1.5 ast other may do it;
may require the track rod end male thread to be shortened a little bit.
Looking like the track rods must be cut down and extensions fitted. Bugger! 
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