Is this is MK2 escort steering rack?

[andrew001]

Hey guys,

You've been so friendly in my first thread, that I thought I'll pick your brains on something more specific.
It turned out the link between the rod end and the actual steering rack mechanism popped out and damaged the part which was holding the link with the ball..  Went to my local shop hopint they will sell me just the damaged link (the one with the ball) and the part which screws into the rack, but it wasn't that easy

Rang couple companies today (rally design and burton power) but they couldn't tell what it is from my little markings I had on it..

Few pics for you guys hope you can identify what I need.. I guess I will need to buy the whole steering rack, but quikcly looked on ebay, if its mk2 escort, it's not that expensive..

[SPAXIMUS]

Looks to me like an Escort, but could be Mk1 or two. the thread size of a Mk2 is 14mm, which is the easiest way to tell. Also you need to count how many turns from lock to lock. If buying a new one dependent upon the car, a quick rack is a good upgrade especially if used on track.

[paintman]

I agree, you definitely need a quick rack|

[andrew001]

Hi SPAXIMUS,

this is great ! Will measure the thread tomorrow but pretty confident it will be MK 2.

Does anybody know if separate parts can be purchased for these racks?
I managed to find a drumstick here which makes be believe I can also find that part which I insert the drumstick into?
Anybody knows what is it called? I hold it in my 4th pic

Drumstick can be purchased here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Escort-Mk2-Heavy-Duty-Steering-Track-Rod-Arm-Tie-Rod-M14-Thread-/230951908124?hash=item35c5ce731c:g:Jq8AAOSwBahVDX6T

Regards,
Andrew

[andrew001]

I agree, you definitely need a quick rack|

Hi paintman,

I think i might start with the standard first I'm the guy who drives cayenne turbo so I think even the standard one will be far too responsive for me anyway!

[andrew001]

OK, silly me. I think all I needed was called 'inner tie rod'? would appreciate if somebody could confirm, so I can order this asap

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/QH-FRONT-TIE-ROD-INNER-RC490708P-TO-FIT-FORD-ESCORT-1-6-80-90-OE-QUALITY-/110923884024?fits=Model%3AEscort|Plat_Gen%3AMK+II&hash=item19d39425f8:m:maXSBjrbRLb9O-o6BZMuJdQ

[andrew001]

Received the inner tie rod..
Silly me, it is completely different.. not sure how I missed that in the first place, the thing which goes into the steering rack should be 'female' and escort mk2 is 'male'.
The length, even the thread for the tie rod end is completely different

Did any of you guys come across this as looks like this is the only part I'm struggling with in order to get my car on the road..

[andrew001]

If my car is F reg and was probably based on Sierra (year 88), would you think the steering rack could have been used of sierra too?
Found this, and the length seems to be the same:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Sierra-87-93-Inner-Tie-Rod-steering-rack-track-rod-x1-/360470124871?fits=Car+Make%3AFord|Model%3ASierra&hash=item53edb19947:m:mQLZTnYAFKQC0FeFj6rG8Yw

[sanzomat]

http://www.fordmanuals.org/page-1619.html
Just googling this (i'm sure you have too!) but every sierra one I've found looks the same as the new one you've already got i.e. with the male inner end. The attached link shows an exploded view of the sierra rack.

I can't check your ebay link as I'm at work and ebay is blocked by the thought police!

[benchmark51]

Looks like an early ford focus is nearer or maybe cortina/granada '71 ish?

[andrew001]

http://www.fordmanuals.org/page-1619.html
Just googling this (i'm sure you have too!) but every sierra one I've found looks the same as the new one you've already got i.e. with the male inner end. The attached link shows an exploded view of the sierra rack.

I can't check your ebay link as I'm at work and ebay is blocked by the thought police!

Trust me I did some googling too Funny enough that particular listing/link shows the female ending however the other sellers show same year inner tie rod with male ending as I've got.. so confused. sent them an enquiry, so hopefully they will help me out as looks like they've got all sorts of these parts.

[andrew001]

Looks like an early ford focus is nearer or maybe cortina/granada '71 ish?

Granada looks pretty promising as the one I've found (in taiwan only) looks pretty similar..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-INNER-TIE-ROD-END-FOR-FORD-CONSUL-GRANADA-71-73-CORTINA-71-77-/131513231486?fits=Car+Make%3AFord|Model%3AGranada&hash=item1e9ecca87e:g:hy0AAOSwZd1VVrRH

[benchmark51]

It's not just Ford inner track rods, corsa ones have female connection too I think. So if you find one with the correct type end, threads and length, could be cooking.

[Iancider]

Andrew,

Slowly catching up on this thread.  I would strongly recommend a quick-rack especially if it is an escort rack.  The escort rack was too light even on the saloon car and kit cars are lighter.  With a standard rack the feel is way too light and you will find yourself flailing you elbows too much on country lanes.

Burton Power do conversion racks for the escort kit (rack and pinion change) but for all the effort you might just invest in the whole new rack.  Made this change on my son's Westy and he loved it.

Good luck
Ian

[andrew001]

Just went through corsa's available inner tie rods but all seem to be 318mm (mine is 273mm) and the thread is M12 and mine is M14 (13.8mm when measured).

[andrew001]

Andrew,

Slowly catching up on this thread.  I would strongly recommend a quick-rack especially if it is an escort rack.  The escort rack was too light even on the saloon car and kit cars are lighter.  With a standard rack the feel is way too light and you will find yourself flailing you elbows too much on country lanes.

Burton Power do conversion racks for the escort kit (rack and pinion change) but for all the effort you might just invest in the whole new rack.  Made this change on my son's Westy and he loved it.

Good luck
Ian

Thanks Ian,

To be honest I'm not even sure if mine is not a quick steering one. How do you guys tell without ripping it apart?  I guess the most logical way would be by turns but it's a bit tricky without the inner tie rod..

[Facial Hair Optional]

Just thought re; racks - how quick is quick and when does it become too quick? I have an Escort quick rack in my garage (not sure if Mk1 or Mk2) it's supposedly a 2.2 quick rack that was taken off my Fury as the car was too twitchy on track. It was replaced by the one it has on it now which is either a 2.5 or a 2.7 I can't quite recall without looking in the paperwork.

[Iancider]

The 2.2 is a quick rack - it makes a big difference.

Ian

[sanzomat]

The "quicker" rack I'll be fitting to my GTM over the winter is 2.7 turns lock to lock to replace the very slow 3.6 turn metro one thats currently on there.

Just comparing turns lock to lock doesn't give the whole story though because the throw at full lock is a lot less on some racks.

You could turn a 3.6 to a 2.7 just by putting restrictors on it. Gearing would be the same but you might have trouble with the summer pub meets!!

[Facial Hair Optional]

You could turn a 3.6 to a 2.7 just by putting restrictors on it. Gearing would be the same but you might have trouble with the summer pub meets!!

It wouldn't be a quick rack though, still in effect the slow 3.6 you had before but with a restricted lock to lock movement and a 2.7 in name only cos you won't have changed the gearing. The point of a quick rack is the ratio of steering input to the amount the front wheels turn not just how many turns lock to lock (I'm not teaching you to suck eggs Dave, I am fully aware you know this but there may be someone who reads this and thinks he can make himself a quick rack by putting restrictors on, we don't want anyone having a nasty 'off' at Quarry cos their rack didn't work like thet thought it would do we!  ) You could make it one turn lock to lock but it would still be slow and I doubt you would get round Combe and defo not around Llandow without doing 3 point turns ha ha!! 

[andrew001]

Having a bit of a nightmare really now Even Rally Designs seemed to be a bit confused.. It makes me think that I actually received not MK2 escort inner tie rod, as my original seems to be metric (however can't be off the escort as the connection of the tie rod is female rather than male?) the new tie rod has a finer thread which would suggest it's UNF...?

It really might be easier to get a new escort mk2 quick steering rack and adapt the clamp positions if they don't match..
The total length seems to be the same, just dreading to think about the column connections, but will have to take a risk I guess..

[benchmark51]

I think you're right. I would have taken it for repair/recon first off. You are looking to get the car up and running right now so quick, slow isn't the point. As long as it is not indifferent . Mounting points can be changed, as can the column.

I don't know where you are located, but there is a chap in Brislington (BS4) that would be able to help,
can't think of his name right now but will try to find out.

[Camber Dave]

As I may have posted before, from hundreds of set ups on many types of cars.

Standard rack 1 turn of the steering wheel = 20 Deg of outer wheel turn
(about 22 or 23 deg inner wheel - google Ackerman )

Quick rack = 3/4 turn for the 20 Deg

A quick way to find 20 deg
Cut a piece of card 18" x 6 1/2" the diagonal is 20 deg to the long side.