Hi all,

i have recently recieved my MKII rack from rallymotorsport.co.uk

but now i need the downlink for it? is there a way to adjust the one from the sierra???

if not wich one to use//where to buy??


TKS

do you mean the bit that goes between the splines on the rack and the triangular end of the steering column? if so, you just need to lengthen the original piece. If you cut it, it fits snug inside 19mm erw (or indeed any tubing). I did diagonal cuts and fully welded it, with a few more holes drilled and spot welded. Worked fine for ages.

just realised you are on about an escort rack anyway... check the splines match, if not you will need to make a hybrid one with an escort end and a sierra end.

quote:

---

Originally posted by JoelP
Worked fine for ages.

---

Sierra matches Escort rack as long as it's not power steering. I did mine the other day, cut the tube ends at an angle and just weld round it

I actually threaded the end s after cutting the link, taped ends in a solid bar (waisted part of the way down to save weight) and then screwed the three bits togeter.

Once I had everything mocked up in the car properly drilled through each joint and I fully welded fitted an interference fit dowel pin. Finally I welded everything in place using TIG, lots of current and not much filler material.

The reason for going to such lengths can be seen at the end of my legs. When I was a teenager I raced karts. One event I had a steering link fail and I went feet first into a wall. 14 pins and plates in one leg, 11 in the other ..... now I take no chances with steering components!!!!

Roger

the problem is that this thing doesn't fit...

to the rack, i have a movement of 2mm i guess....

would it work if i fill it with alu sheet end then with a bolt and nut tighten it soow the alu will take the shape of the teetsh..?? will it do the job??

TKS
Rescued attachment Steering 001.jpg

Was the Sierra powered steering? They use a bigger u.j. spline. Don't bodge it. You can buy weld in u.j's from some suppliers without the rubber doughnut in.

quote:

---

Originally posted by tks

would it work if i fill it with alu sheet end then with a bolt and nut tighten it soow the alu will take the shape of the teetsh..?? will it do the job??

TKS

---

Other cars that use the same connection but with a varitiy of link lengths are;

cortina;
capri;
grandarda (although not the sierra shaped ones ... all power steering I think)

I bought a complete and brand new Cortina item on Ebay for about £14.

Keep looking.

If you bodge steering you will certainly find your family and friends will be needed lots of black clothes very soon, provision for the cost those when you think about doing steering (or brake) linkages on the cheap!!!!

I am lucky, we found a sergion that thoguht he could save my left leg after the karting accident, NHS hospital said amputation was the only option!!!

How much is a new steering link????

But how fast is a nut when its fast??

i think i took it of from a diesel one.

surely it had power steering.

will swap it for one with out it.

will use the knee from it for the curves.

Will let a prof welder weld the crap.

Yeah you are right. on the total cost of this non locost hobby the steering would be the best point to spend it.

I already have new brake discs and pads.
and i use 8.8 to fit the calipers would it be enough??


Will try them hardly/rougly before i relie on them.

my rack was also a new/ non cheap one.

Does any one now years of sierra's with non powersteering // engine cap.??

here in spain they ask you this info standard.


Regards,

Walter

The heavy engine cars and "sporty" ones had power steering, most of the others a normal racks.

As I stated before there are loads of other cars which you can use the drop link from.

I would have a look around, see what you can get. It is also possible to replace the rubber joint at the bottom, will require bolting together but no problems other than looking different!

As far as break caliper bolts are concerned the original Ford ones are 10.9s. I would use at least that grade, and a heat resisitance threadlocking compound too.

Maybe I am overly cousious these days but I have bad memories!!!!

Check E-bay (UK), loads of steering links there and there is a guy who regularly has genuine Ford calpier bolts too.

buy one direct from luego new u.j's and made to length about £55 plus vat i think

luego steering link.

Just get this mate. 41 quid all in. Not worth the bother if uv got to fluff about finding the right bits.