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Steering questions...
Nickp - 27/11/11 at 05:15 PM

With my Haynes came a Sierra column and an Escort rack but nowt to join the two together. Is it one of these I need to extend to do the job?=

SIERRA 4X4 COSWORTH XR4X4 XR STEERING COUPLING JOINT UJ | eBay

Also, how hard is it to shorten the rack by 50mm as per the book? What's the main reason for this? Is it to optimise the stering / suspension to prevent bump steer etc?

Bare - 27/11/11 at 05:25 PM

It's to prevent Bump steer .

[Edited on 27/11/11 by Bare]

wylliezx9r - 27/11/11 at 06:06 PM

The sierra spline (rack end) is a different size to the escort rack. Your better off buying the couplings off rally design. I learnt the hard way.

matt_gsxr - 27/11/11 at 06:15 PM

quote:
Originally posted by wylliezx9r
The sierra spline (rack end) is a different size to the escort rack. Your better off buying the couplings off rally design. I learnt the hard way.


I don't think this is always true. My standard Escort rack fitted up to my Sierra downlink.

It may be something to do with the power steering Sierra downlink and rack that have a different spline.

Nickp - 27/11/11 at 06:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by matt_gsxr
quote:
Originally posted by wylliezx9r
The sierra spline (rack end) is a different size to the escort rack. Your better off buying the couplings off rally design. I learnt the hard way.


I don't think this is always true. My standard Escort rack fitted up to my Sierra downlink.

It may be something to do with the power steering Sierra downlink and rack that have a different spline.


I think you may have a point. It definately says in the book that you can extend the Sierra item to fit onto the Escort rack. So that must be from a base model with a manual rack. My box of bits came with one of these-



And one of these, but the splines don't fit the Escort rack-

Nickp - 27/11/11 at 06:55 PM

I think this could be the fella-

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owelly - 27/11/11 at 11:16 PM

I have a spare rack if you want to practise? It was bought as an RS quickrack but didn't seem that quick to me!

Nickp - 28/11/11 at 07:35 AM

quote:
Originally posted by owelly
I have a spare rack if you want to practise? It was bought as an RS quickrack but didn't seem that quick to me!


Ta mate. I got one with the 'package' and tested it yesterday, came out at just over 3.5 turns!! So that'll be OK to practice on but I don't fancy using it on the car.
Any chance you could pop a pair of mole grips on the splines of your 'quickrack' and see how many turns it takes lock to lock? Owt less than 3 an I'll have it off you.

rusty nuts - 28/11/11 at 08:11 PM

Not sure about the Sierra power steering column down link fitting a mark 2 Escort rack but the Sierra manual column down link is the same size . There are at least 3 different Sierra downlinks , some are thicker and can cause clearance problems with the chassis . The Rally design column is approx 14mm in diameter and can be extended easily, they also do a coupling to join the upper Sierra column and a U.J to fit the Sierra or Escort pinion