I've sliced 3.5" off an escort rack. The rack mounts are now only about 8" apart so I'd like to hold the rack body nearer the ends. Idea is to make some clamps aout of ally to hold the very ends of the rack while also holding the gaiters on. So it'll 1) hold on the gaiters and 2) put a bit of rubber between me and the wheels. I'll retain one of the original mountings to add strength in lateral location. Can anyone tell me whythis is a seriously bad idea?
Rescued attachment track.gif

Just out of interest, how come you've chopped an Escort rack?

James

It's way too long for a book chassis (about right for the guys with +4" at the front) & I wanted to avoid bump steer etc. The rack teeth are hardened but the rest of it is lovely stuff to machine, feels almost like malleable cast iron, so the job's easy. I believe MK also shorten racks - how do they mount them?
cheers
Bob C

I have seen gaitors damaged from the clamps holding them on being too tight - this seems like they'd be held even tighter.

I'd want to be sure the outer ends of the rack are as strong as the normal rack mounting locations - it doesn't look like it, at least from your drawings.

Bob

What about putting a spigot on your clamps to hold the gaitor, then you can clamp directly to the rack body with your clamp and you can put a normal clip round the gaitor.

Gordon

Oh by the way the rack for the indy that MK shorten is the sierra rack and it has mounting holes in it.

HTH Gordon

Cheers Gordon - yeah - could do the separate gaiter mounting on clamp thing...
Ta
Bob

Shortening the rack's OK but trying to get engine to fit afterwards would be tight, assuming it's a book chassis.

By shortening you will have moved the rack pinion closer to centre of car and possibly straight though some engine bits.

Ok you can do a shaft offset with bearing support but I'd be interested to see how it's done.

Rob Lane

Ahh I see from ID it's a R1 engined beasty.

Should be able to make rack fit then.

I think TAS used to sell a ali block fastening for the rally boys that fit Escort rack tube.

I'm using a shortened rack (130mm) with the normal escort mounts, no problems in 10K, but I did make the book mounting brackets substantially stiffer

That's interesting Wimmera - your mounts must be early touching! any chance of a photo? Did you shorten the rack housing by the same amount or a bit less & put up with limited lock? Any issues with the cut out part of the rack (where the teeth are)sliding through the non-pinion end support slide?
Cheers & thanks
Bob

The mounts are 120 mm centre to centre, shortened the housing by 130 (same as rack) no issues with the rack teeth in the l/h bush, from memory I don't think the teeth get out that far even on full lock. I have a couple of pics but haven't got a clue how to post them

No worries mate - put mine together last night & it looks much better than I thought it would. I've only shortened my rack body by 3", rack itself by 3.5" Because it's a quick rack the "cut out" for the teeth is even more pronounced, hence worry about nearside slidey bearing - turns out it's not a problem.
picture:
http://freespace.virgin.net/bob.carter/images/rackbits.jpg
Bob C