My Steering Rack has arrived!

GreatOldOne · #1 29th July 2008, 16:51

Yay!

It turned up with my replacement wishbones and the bits that where missing from my stage 2 order (tank rubber, one way valve etc)

Now all I need is 4 new lower bushes - If I can find some...

Did anyone get to the bottom of the poly-bush sizing question?

peterux · #2 29th July 2008, 20:05

Jason,
that's excellent news, now you can crack on get the chassis rolling

The bushes are Fiesta Mk1 TCA inner.
I got mine from Rally Design
http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/product...oducts_id=5099
They seem to work fine.

Did they swap your wishbones or modify your originals

cheers

Peter

GreatOldOne · #3 29th July 2008, 20:14

They swapped them - my originals where OK from the point of view of the ball joint mount / plate - but the damper mounts where mounted too low (there's pics on an earlier thread).

Due to this, they gave me some new ones, which are exactly the same as Patricks replacements.

Stuart · #4 29th July 2008, 21:08

Marlin did eventually come up with my replacements they too are the same as Patricks and are now fitted and im back on the road enjoing the sunshine.

GreatOldOne · #5 30th July 2008, 08:20

I found these bushes on line:

http://www.floflex.co.uk/product_inf...59363be140b699

I've just rung them and it's £8 per pair, so for the whole front end it'd be £32 plus postage.

However, according to the email from Terry regarding poly bushes:

Quote:

Just managed to secure a better deal for the poly sups bushes. I can now get
these at £8 ea so £16 per arm plus Vat.

We can no longer source the original ones but if you wish to source yourself
these are Sierra front inner track control bushes. We can supply sleeve if you need it.

Looking on floflex, Sierra ones are more expensive - £12 per pair. As Peter's suspension is fine (as evidenced from his jaunt to the seaside and back

) I'll order the Fiesta ones.

Unless someone can persuade me otherwise!

MartinClan · #6 30th July 2008, 12:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatOldOne

I found these bushes on line:

http://www.floflex.co.uk/product_inf...59363be140b699

I've just rung them and it's £8 per pair, so for the whole front end it'd be £32 plus postage.

However, according to the email from Terry regarding poly bushes:

Looking on floflex, Sierra ones are more expensive - £12 per pair. As Peter's suspension is fine (as evidenced from his jaunt to the seaside and back

) I'll order the Fiesta ones.

Unless someone can persuade me otherwise!

They are definitely from a Fiesta. At this rate there won't be a single Fiesta bush left in the country lol.

It would be interesting to know how compliant they are compared to the original Fiesta one. At Stoneleigh, someone with a complete car (can't remember who) showed me how (alarmingly) the front suspension moves about, just by pulling on the wheel. Mainly due it seems - to how soft the Fiesta bushes were.

Robin

MartinClan · #7 30th July 2008, 12:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatOldOne

]

I've just rung them and it's £8 per pair, so for the whole front end it'd be £32 plus postage.

By a pair - is that the two halves of the bush plus one steel insert - or two complete bushes? - If it's two complete bushes it seems a bargain!

Robin

GreatOldOne · #8 30th July 2008, 13:06

No, It's definatly for a pair (4 halves, 2 sleeves) - I just rang again to confirm and to order.

So yes - a veritable bargain!

MartinClan · #9 30th July 2008, 15:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatOldOne

No, It's definatly for a pair (4 halves, 2 sleeves) - I just rang again to confirm and to order.

So yes - a veritable bargain!

Where's my chequebook ......

Robin

peterux · #10 30th July 2008, 21:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatOldOne

I found these bushes on line:

http://www.floflex.co.uk/product_inf...59363be140b699

I've just rung them and it's £8 per pair, so for the whole front end it'd be £32 plus postage.

However, according to the email from Terry regarding poly bushes:

Looking on floflex, Sierra ones are more expensive - £12 per pair. As Peter's suspension is fine (as evidenced from his jaunt to the seaside and back

) I'll order the Fiesta ones.

Unless someone can persuade me otherwise!

I guess knowing Mr. Ford that the Sierra bushes might be very similar

I think we established some time ago from markings on the old rubber ones that they were Fiesta, but can't remeber the exact details.
Those Floflex look like a good deal. I'll be interested in the feedback, as I haven't changed my top bushes yet.

Patrick · #11 30th July 2008, 22:01

I can confirm they are Fiesta ones, the part numbers match on the powerflex website with the ones I obtained.

GreatOldOne · #12 31st July 2008, 07:11

Peter - they should arrive today or Saturday, so I'll post some pics.

I spent last night getting the "old" bushes out of the top arms - they where exceptionally stubborn - so much so that the whole street got treat to the delicious smell of burning rubber as I blow torched them out!

"Ah - Smell those Touareg Camp Fires - Unmistakable..."

I then spent the rest of the evening cleaning them up and repainting them.

GreatOldOne · #13 1st August 2008, 14:39

The bushes have arrived, they look decent quality and they also look as if they'll fit a treat. They're black rather than the fetching shade of orange shown on the website.

I'll try and take some pics of them tomorrow once I've charged the camera up

MartinClan · #14 1st August 2008, 15:38

I have some as well. Unfortunately half of mine are orange and half are black!

I think I will see if I can do a swap....

Robin

GreatOldOne · #15 4th August 2008, 19:41

Sorry for the delay on pics - my Mum was visiting at the weekend, so all garage based activities where postponed for the duration.

Anyway, I've had the day of work and got some pics of the new bushes and the new suspension components.

Bushes:

Wishbones:

It's a lot easier to bolt the dampers in now!

On the car:

I put the rack on as well today, and have a few questions.

I've found the centre point of the rack, (1 1/4 turns from either end, 2 1/2 lock to lock). In that position, I've put the rod ends on and adjusted them so that they reach the uprights.

Several problems rear their heads here.

a) the rod ends aren't screwed on very much. To get them to reach, I think they're only turned onto the thread 2-3 turns.

b) the going from lock to lock produces different angles left to right - greater on right than on the left.

Centred:

Full Left:

Full Right:

Centred, showing the inner ball joints - the stops don't seem to be equidistant on the chassis. measuring, the left hand side is 50mm from the stop to the inner edge of the chassis rail, and the other is 40mm

Have I missed something here? Have I got the rack on correctly? I couldn't see any other way it would go on...

How much lock should there be?

peterux · #16 4th August 2008, 20:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatOldOne

Wishbones:

[img]
Have I missed something here? Have I got the rack on correctly? I couldn't see any other way it would go on...

How much lock should there be?

I think your steering is like mine but I haven't analysed it like you, so not sure.
I wouldn't worry about trying to line it up now, but wait 'till you get the wheels on the ground. I had to put some jubliee clips on the rack to stop the wheels turning to far, but my turning circle is a bit crap now.

But what is interseting is your new wishbones are diffrent to mine. Looks like the 'tangs' are on the other way up to mine??

I wonder what others have got......(wanders off to look at Patrick's website...)

MartinClan · #17 16th August 2008, 19:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatOldOne

a) the rod ends aren't screwed on very much. To get them to reach, I think they're only turned onto the thread 2-3 turns.

b) the going from lock to lock produces different angles left to right - greater on right than on the left.

a) As I remember mine were the same WHEN THE SUSPENSION WAS DROOPING. Try loading up the suspension (IE jacking it up under the wishbone) - I think you will find the geometry changes considerably meaning that you need to screw the track rod ends on further.

b) Mine is similar. I think that its largely irrelevant as you have to limit the travel for the SVA anyway using whatever method you think suitable.

Kind regards

Robin