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MK1/MK2 steering racks
DaveFJ - 18/4/05 at 01:34 PM

OK this has probably been asked before but I can't find it using search...

3 questions:

1, what are the differences between a MK1 and MK2 escort rack ?

2, How long are the track rods ? (and are they the same between mk1 and 2?)

3, can the internals from a MK1 quick rack be fitted to a standard Mk2 rack ?

- as you can probably guess it seems that I may have been mislead and the Mk2 quick rack i bought of eBay may actually be a mk1

[Edited on 18/4/05 by DaveFJ]


David Jenkins - 18/4/05 at 01:40 PM

I believe that the major difference is the thread on the end of the arms - the Mk1 has imperial thread, while the Mk2 has metric.

But others may say something else...

DJ


Danozeman - 18/4/05 at 01:47 PM

Did u get that one from manningtree by any chance mate?


DaveFJ - 18/4/05 at 02:08 PM

nope - padiham, lancashire...

realised my error when I tried to fit my trckrod extensions at the weekend and the thread on the trackrods seems quite fine....

also the trackrods seem to be quite long and reach the hubs fairly easily with the T/R ends fitted - hence the question anout T/R length....

to cap it all off - the threaded insert on one of the bolts on the small top plate has stripped out and needs replacing


DaveFJ - 18/4/05 at 02:15 PM

this piccy may help explain.....


TR arm
TR arm


timf - 18/4/05 at 03:07 PM

early capri rack posibly

want to check it against a proper mk2 escort rack


flak monkey - 18/4/05 at 04:00 PM

MK2 has M14 threaded ends and the MK1 is 1/2" UNF. If the rack needs extensions then you can simply make them adapters.

The track rods look quite long on your rack compared to the ones on my MK2 rack.

I think the threads on the ends of the actual rack itself were the same between the MK1 and the MK2. The threads in the body of the rack are imperial, even on the MK2. It was only the track rods that were changed. (This could possibly mean you can fit a MK2 quick rack kit into a MK1 body).

As tim says it could be a capri rack with the longer track rods, or it could be a cortina one.

Some should be able to measure the body of their rack, and the length of the track rods to tell you (i would but i dont have my rack in coventry).

David

[Edited on 18/4/05 by flak monkey]


DaveFJ - 18/4/05 at 08:45 PM

Apologies for large post.....

OK got some piccy's and some dimensions....
(rack is fitted vewry loosely)
length of the trackrod is approximately 220mm
trackrod ends are about 65mm from centre of ball joint to the end.

rack1
rack1



the length of exposed thread available on the trackrod end is about 23mm (although it does appear some more is covered by powder coating)

rack5
rack5


the rack body is approximately 610mm

rack4
rack4


with the ends adjusted to give a roughly straight track (by eye only and at full droop of suspension) there is roughly 8mm of thread showing which means 15mm screwed into the tr end....

rack6
rack6


rack7
rack7


I know that until the suspension is loaded and level it is very hard to guesstimate but it would seem to me that I may not need rack extensions at all ? is 15mm enough bite ?
not sure if the hinge points of the trackrods are too far outboard as they are quite a bit out of the ideal (in line with the wishbone mounts)

Thoughts ???


flak monkey - 18/4/05 at 08:50 PM

Looks like the imperial threaded track rods. 1/2"UNF (24tpi IRC)

220mm from memory seems longer than an escort track rod (at a guess they ae about 180 (but thats only a guess!))

15mm of thread should be ok. Thats around 15 threads, so in my opinion its enough....some may disagree though

David


britishtrident - 19/4/05 at 12:27 PM

Cortina Mk3 to 5 track rods can be fitted to Mk1 Escort racks they are the same length.

It might (!) also be possible to use Mk1/Mk2 Fiesta parts but I don't know the length of the Fiesta track rods.


Mix - 19/4/05 at 04:05 PM

Are we in the same boat??

As far as I was aware you didn't need extensions if you were using a book front end, which I am, and I thought Tiger did. However I'm a bit concerned about the amount of engagement I have into the TREs, (about 15mm).
Having given it a bit of thought I don't see an easy fix for this situation.

Comments welcome and sorry for the kind of hijack

Mick


DaveFJ - 19/4/05 at 04:41 PM

SO the question is - how much is enough ?

there are some very knowledgeable people on here so a consensus of informed opinion would be good....

(BTW - the Tiger front end is wider than a book one IIRC)


Mix - 20/4/05 at 04:17 PM

Oops!! I'm wrong again

The Tiger avon front end is 12mm wider than the book one.

Mick


Northy - 20/4/05 at 05:40 PM

I'm in the same boat too! But my car is on the road!

I don't feel I have enough threads in the track rod ends, but also can't see an easy way round it.

Your rack looks like my standard MkII Esocort rack to me.

I've thought about using Sierra track rod ends as they are supposed to be a bit longer.


flak monkey - 20/4/05 at 08:40 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Northy

I've thought about using Sierra track rod ends as they are supposed to be a bit longer.


Quite true. They are indeed longer, not by a huge amount though (10mm at most). They are offset too, but this shouldnt cause any big problems....


Northy - 21/4/05 at 08:04 PM

Anyone any further on this one?
I need more length in my track rod ends!