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Tim Rowe (1130)
The Terrible Tims
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:56 pm Posts: 747 Location: In the garage,Sileby, LEICS GTM: Cox/Coupe
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Steering Rack & Column
So,
The welding for the tub has been finished on my car, but the problem now is with the hole for the steering rack coming through the tub to the column.
The rack seems to be a little way from the bulkhead. Has anyone else encountered this problem and has anyone got any solutions??
_________________ Tim Rowe
"Is est totus perfectus per fumi quod speculum"
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Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:11 am |
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gtmdriver
On the Road
Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:44 am Posts: 632 Location: Chester le Street
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Re: Steering Rack & Column
I'm not sure what the problem is? Does the gap between the rack and the bulkhead make a difference? Are you having difficulty deciding where to drill the hole?
_________________ GRP rules!
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Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:33 am |
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Tim Rowe (1130)
The Terrible Tims
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:56 pm Posts: 747 Location: In the garage,Sileby, LEICS GTM: Cox/Coupe
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Re: Steering Rack & Column
With the mini the rack is up against the bulkhead, so the spline from the rack is inside the car. Because mine is only just poking inside the tub, which means that the knuckle of the steering column is through the bulkhead. Which means that it is going to be a pain to seal.
Has anyone mounted the rack the same way as the mini (ie on the tub)???
If not, what gaiter do people use to seal and what size hole is used?
This is the last little job that I need to do, to get the tub finished.
Cheers
_________________ Tim Rowe
"Is est totus perfectus per fumi quod speculum"
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Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:42 am |
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gtmdriver
On the Road
Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:44 am Posts: 632 Location: Chester le Street
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Re: Steering Rack & Column
Aha! Once I'd cut a large enough hole to clear the UJ I moulded and bonded a circular lip onto the floor. I used a universal steering rack boot slipped over the column and tywrapped over the lip. I used a pressed steel UJ first of all but this failed due to bad manufacture so I changed it for a cast version. It turned out to be bigger so the damn boot doesn't fit any more. I'm going to try a Fiesta CV joint boot in the near future.
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Last edited by gtmdriver on Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:22 am |
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Tim Rowe (1130)
The Terrible Tims
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:56 pm Posts: 747 Location: In the garage,Sileby, LEICS GTM: Cox/Coupe
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Re: Steering Rack & Column
John,
Any pics?
Is it better to use a gaiter? We were thinking of extending the bulkhead out, using a tube, which the UJ would fit inside. But I'm not sure if the rack moves much in relation to the tub.
A lid and gaiter sounds like a good solution though.
_________________ Tim Rowe
"Is est totus perfectus per fumi quod speculum"
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Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:30 am |
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gtmdriver
On the Road
Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:44 am Posts: 632 Location: Chester le Street
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Re: Steering Rack & Column
I've edited my original reply with a 'diagram'. No pics I'm afraid.
If you extend (in either direction) using a tube will you be able to reach the pinch bolts?
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Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:41 am |
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Tim Rowe (1130)
The Terrible Tims
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:56 pm Posts: 747 Location: In the garage,Sileby, LEICS GTM: Cox/Coupe
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Re: Steering Rack & Column
I'm hoping to make it big enough to reach the pinch bolts. I'll have to have a think about it
_________________ Tim Rowe
"Is est totus perfectus per fumi quod speculum"
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Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:46 am |
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Orb1998
GTM delivered
Joined: Thu Mar 06, 2008 1:47 pm Posts: 23 Location: West Midlands
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Re: Steering Rack & Column
Just a question regarding the steering rack ... will a metro steering column fit the coupe ??
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Fri May 30, 2008 9:07 pm |
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Tim Rowe (1130)
The Terrible Tims
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:56 pm Posts: 747 Location: In the garage,Sileby, LEICS GTM: Cox/Coupe
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Re: Steering Rack & Column
You can get anything to fit, but it is all about the spines on the rack/column. I'm fitting a maestro column, as it has the same end fitting as the mini rack, but has got 2 universal joints, so you can line up the wheel properly.
_________________ Tim Rowe
"Is est totus perfectus per fumi quod speculum"
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Sat May 31, 2008 1:08 pm |
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Tim Rowe (1130)
The Terrible Tims
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:56 pm Posts: 747 Location: In the garage,Sileby, LEICS GTM: Cox/Coupe
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Re: Steering Rack & Column
I've had one of my changes of plan, so I'm mainly going to be using the Dolomite column, but with the bottom of the maestro column. However, I'm in the process of stripping the column, I can't seem to get it all apart. The handle for the adjustment comes off, but the screw seems to be fixed somehow and doesn't want to come out. Am I missing something? Is the bracketry supposed to slide off the column? Mine stops on the welds at the end.
_________________ Tim Rowe
"Is est totus perfectus per fumi quod speculum"
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Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:28 pm |
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gtmdriver
On the Road
Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:44 am Posts: 632 Location: Chester le Street
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Re: Steering Rack & Column
There's a pin which needs to be drifted out. The bolt has a flat or a slot on it ( I forget which) to stop it rotating as you turn the adjusting screw and it's located by the pin.
_________________ GRP rules!
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Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:30 pm |
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Tim Rowe (1130)
The Terrible Tims
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:56 pm Posts: 747 Location: In the garage,Sileby, LEICS GTM: Cox/Coupe
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Re: Steering Rack & Column
Cheers John. I spotted it straight away once I knew what to look for. Managed to get the whole thing apart (including all the column) tonight and now have a fully functional steering column, including steering lock etc. Was a bit of a rebuild in the end, but all has turned out well. All I need to sort out now, is what screws etc are used to mount the cowling. I can see that the middle one is unc something or other, when I can sort out with the thread gauge at work, but how are the two side fixings done? (Oh, and I need to find a set of stalks for it too!)
_________________ Tim Rowe
"Is est totus perfectus per fumi quod speculum"
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Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:40 pm |
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gtmdriver
On the Road
Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:44 am Posts: 632 Location: Chester le Street
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Re: Steering Rack & Column
If you're talking about the tiny screws which hold the two halves of the plastic shroud together I've a feeling they're BA. I tried tiny metric and unf and I couldn't get them to fit correctly.
_________________ GRP rules!
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Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:09 pm |
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Andy
Ready for SVA
Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:22 pm Posts: 363 Location: Ireland
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Re: Steering Rack & Column
I tapped my out to suit UNF threads, makes it eaiser to remember bolt sizes etc when they are all the same type.
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Fri Jul 25, 2008 10:30 am |
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Andy
Ready for SVA
Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:22 pm Posts: 363 Location: Ireland
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Re: Steering Rack & Column
Here's a pic of my steering rack gaitor design, works well and makes it possible to get at the pinch bolt and keeps everything water tight, the gaitor (CV boot) is held in place via a pressure plate fixed to the body through 4 bolts, it effectively squeezes the bottom rib against the body. I cut the first rib off so that a flat sib was left.
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Sat Mar 21, 2009 5:46 pm |
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