Steering rack upgrade; Intended to avoid me getting 'behind the car' on those fast/speed change corners which tighten mid way. The new rack is a 2.4 replacing the old 2.9.
At the same time I'm upgrading the mounts to billet alloy:
First trick, I didn't want to take the radiator out and drain/refill the cooling system unless I had to. The rack cannot be extracted or installed from the side - it doesn't fit through the panel openings - so instead a convoluted route, threaded down the side of the engine and then up and out at the front, new one went back in the same way:
New (foreground) and old, identical external appearance:
It could have been a simple bolt in job, but changing the mounts also meant some adjustment of mounting holes on the nearside chassis bracket - again not easy due to leaving the radiator in place - but the results are tidy:
The bonus - steering wheel now straight, I actually checked it this time while setting up the wheel alignment:
Excuse for a test run this evening around 70 miles towards Faversham, via some great country lanes near Norton and back along the A2; the 2.4 rack does make manoeuvring, especially reversing, a little heaver. At medium speed not a huge difference, but when accelerating or driving at speed the slightest nudge on the wheel has a dramatic impact - like it!
Hi Richard. Fantastic way to get round not having to dismantle half the car to refit the new steering rack.
ReplyDeleteCan I ask where you got the new rack/billet mount's?
From GBS/Kitspare's or elsewhere?
Regards
Kevan
Hi Kevan/Nicola,
ReplyDeleteRe the mounts - search for:
"Ford Escort MK1 MK2 Aluminium Rack Mounts Kit Car Alloy Heavy Duty RD848"
On ebay - seller 'Rally Design', or direct from Rally-Design.co.uk
Thank's for that Richard.
ReplyDeleteWas the rack also from Rally-Design?
MSTRD816 - Escort mk2 mk1 High Ratio 2.4 Steering Rack quick rack
ReplyDeleteMotorsport-tools.com
You can pick them up at most shows cash in hand - just depends on your timing.
Again thanks for your info....
ReplyDelete