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My rack is knackered (has some play in it), so I need to source another one.
I thought this would be easy to solve, and ordered a rack to match the ball joints I bought years ago, and what I understood was the correct rack: Austin Metro 1980-1990 (or thereabouts).
Well the rack has arrived and it's not the correct one! Damn!
I've looked at the labels on my worn rack, and they're not totally legible, and what characters I can find don't correlate with anything I can find on the internet.
Can't help with your query, but maybe give Dave a ring to see if there are any numbers on mine?
Would love to change my rack at some point to accept good fit, metric track rod ends. I take it the one you have is imperial thread. Is there much difference in the racks?
I spoke to Dave last night, as I know he had the same problem a while back. Sadly he doesn't have a reference number for the correct rack.
Interestingly the rack I have acquired is labelled a Metro Mk1 rack, and the part number on the rack aligns with those of Drivelink racks online, yet Dave G has an identical rack which was sold to him as a Rover 200 manual rack.
Since starting this thread, I have found pictures of my rack when I first installed it, but the numbers on it (ESK09) haven't led me to an answer.
My rack is in the boot of my car, and I'm going to head to a local motor factor at lunch.
Thanks for the information. Maybe armed with them I will be able to resolve my dilemma.
For future reference of others, below are some pictures of my used rack alongside a metro rack.
Some numbers first:
Length of rack body from ege of pinion casting to flare of tube.
Marlin - 440 mm
Metro - 375 mm
Approx length of complete assembly from end of tie-rod to end of tie-rod
Marlin - 1130 mm
Metro - 1020 mm
Pinion shaft spline:
Marlin - 17t relatively coarse spline with one flat surface
Metro - 36t fine pitch spline with wasted centre complete circumference.
Marlin - 30 mm
Metro - 20 mm
Two racks together (Metro on right, Marlin on left)
From what I can gleam of the label on Steve's rack, and the length of the pinion shaft, it's the same rack as mine.
The track rod ends are different (possibly shorter), and the steering arm is diferent (no bump-steer adjustment), which would explain the need for the extensions.
Firstly, I'm assuming it was you who asked me the same question on ebay?. If not I need to get back to another John looking for steering rack info!!
My rack was a new rack from Quinton Hazell Automotive, part no ESK09. I can't remember why I was looking, but I do remember that you used to be able to go on to their web site and see it, and buy it I guess.
QH are now part of the Klarius Group and their web site ([url]www.qh.com[/url]) is no longer as transparent but if you give them a ring I'm sure they'll be able to help.
I've tried AMK, TRW, LX / Excel, QH, and none of them sell the rack. I tried seearching for ESK09 on the QH site to no avail. Most odd.
I presume you want to sell the rack you have with your kit, but at the time asking it wasn't individually listed, so thought I'd chance that you might.
Still investigating this as well. Found something intetestng on this site. Notice the picture of the two racks together. Look at the column shafts. Different lengths.
It's not a MGF rack - my local motorfactor ordered one in, and it was very different to the Marlin rack. Shorter casing, shorter track rods, and different angle of pinion shaft.
Just a little update. Hope it helps fellow builders.
I think I've tracked the rack down that is used. I'm still trying to find out the spline numbers. It seems to be a rack that was only used on the MG Metro/MG Turbo Metro and 6R4. It's 110CM long so still could do with some extenders.
It has M12X1.25 thread for the track rod ends. Not sure how you got the older/imperial version rack John.
Also managed to find the correct TRE's. But first, they differ from manufacture to manufacture of parts supplier.
Both M12X1.25 threads. QR2381S (Quinton Hazell) and FTR 4211 (First Line). Both for the same model of Metro. But different enough, for one not to be suitable for the 5EXI. The one you need is the First line part, as the QH taper is too short.
