|
Post by troppo on Oct 20, 2014 7:33:26 GMT 1
Just watched Wheeler Dealers and Ed fitted a steering rack in place of a worn steering box in a (i think) 63 split screen kombi. Anyone know if this has been done or thought of for our old girls? I just thought someone might have had a go at one point.
|
|
|
Post by FredTransit on Oct 20, 2014 12:09:09 GMT 1
IFS has been done a few times, dunno how the rack could be done on its own
|
|
|
Post by muttleymk2 on Oct 20, 2014 21:26:58 GMT 1
Impossible (practically) to use a rack with a beam axle
|
|
|
Post by troppo on Oct 21, 2014 3:18:24 GMT 1
Thanks for that, just thought someone had frankensteined something at one stage
|
|
|
Post by conrod on Oct 24, 2014 10:29:18 GMT 1
you would have to bolt the rack to the beam axle. Then dream up a way of coupling the rack (which will move up and down with the suspension) to the steering column. Therein lies the problem! As Muttley said, not practical to do.
|
|
|
Post by troppo on Oct 25, 2014 0:18:12 GMT 1
Yeah i can understand it but there was no harm in asking
|
|
kenb
New Star
Posts: 25
|
Post by kenb on Nov 5, 2014 2:08:24 GMT 1
It can be done with beam mounted rack. You can buy whats known as slip joints/slider joints. Usually used in hot rod customizing and racing applications and usually originate from the USA, though I guess there may well be suppliers over here now. Years ago I used a beam mounted rack on my stockcar, and had all the nayers come round and give all the old it'll never work shite. That was until i started winning races. Back then cos it wasn't going on the road I used i think it was a Cortina mk3/4? steering column which has a sliding joint in it. not really designed for constant sliding as thats the collapsible bit in case of accident, but obviously it was designed for strength in its turning come rotational abilities. As said you can buy the proper thing for road use now. Here's an example. www.summitracing.com/int/parts/brg-450024/overview/
|
|
|
Post by troppo on Nov 5, 2014 5:23:18 GMT 1
A very interesting post kenb, thanks for the link and the mind food
|
|
kenb
New Star
Posts: 25
|
Post by kenb on Nov 5, 2014 15:53:11 GMT 1
No problem I should clarify though for it to work the rack must be attached to the beam axle not to the chassis. Also the rack will need to be positioned on the axle in a position that your Ackermann still works. So a little homework would be required to figure all that. Its all on t'net but when I googled the slider last night, it came up with a lot of people under the impression the rack could be attached to chassis and work with a beam- it cant.
|
|
|
Post by troppo on Nov 6, 2014 2:04:35 GMT 1
Yeah, no way could it mount on the body but i dont see it being impossible to secure it to the I beam. I just need to get my priorities sorted and actually get myself moving
|
|
|
Post by conrod on Nov 6, 2014 11:12:52 GMT 1
agree that it would work if attached to the beam, and ackerman/steering arms could be sorted, which does not look that hard to do on a Transit, as they bolt on with 2 bolts to the stub axle. Would be guaranteed zero bump steer too!
The biggest concern I would have is that if the telescoping steering coupling locked up when hitting a bump, it would bend the shaft, or worse. I wonder if you could minimise the travel required by the telescope part by running it close to hoizontal, and letting the U'J's take up the articulation? Much the same way a one piece propshaft moves? Only slight movement in and out of the gearbox compared to quite a lot of up/down movement.
|
|
kenb
New Star
Posts: 25
|
Post by kenb on Nov 6, 2014 17:35:31 GMT 1
You would need a UJ either side of the slider thats for sure. I'm not sure how long the sliders available are, but I suspect you would need at least 6" of travel in either direction for bumps and undulations yes. If you run the slider horizontal agreed would be better, but possibly with the position of rack and column be tricky to achieve without using a bevel box (Volkwagens use one I think), but thats just adding in more potential for play/wear/slack in the steering.
|
|
|
Post by muttleymk2 on Nov 6, 2014 23:56:13 GMT 1
Possible then, seems a lot of work though
|
|
kenb
New Star
Posts: 25
|
Post by kenb on Nov 7, 2014 16:03:43 GMT 1
Yes lot of work. If my finances/life hadn't taken a turn and forced me to sell my Transit, I had planned to to do this long term on mine with a power rack. I think Romany on here fitted a complete front IS clip from a mk3 to his Mk1 fire Transit- seems to work well but that option isn't light on work either. So I think its the old 6 and two 3's scenario, with no straight forward solution to a worn steering box.
The other thing that always puzzled me, why do boxes seem to wear so prematurely compared to racks. Never been able to figure this out. Its not just confined to Transits either is it.
|
|