power steering rack

[Number 7]

Anyone had their rack refurbed by Kiley Clinton, and did you come to any conclusions about its origin? There seem to be numerous threads, bu few definitive answers that I could see, other than it will either be a late Cortina (V6?) or a Supra (not Toyota!). Will phone them anyway but just wondered if anyone had already been down that route?

[Wedg1e]

No, and yes. Mine's definitely a Cam-Gears rack as used on the V6 Cortina.
Hasn't been refurbed in my ownership, car now shows 122,000 miles so who knows what happened pre-2000 when I bought it.
I have replaced one O-ring a couple of times; it seals the rack outer tube to one of the end castings and it didn't leak until I painted the chassis... on refitting the rack I tightened the bolts good and proper and over time the paint was forced out from between rack and chassis, allowing the rack to become loose. The hydraulic action then tried to push the ends off the tube!

[B@man]

KC Did my 400 Rack which was of the Supra Engineering type, as both my housing and valve block where scrap I found out that...
1. The same housing is used on an Aston Martin with longer Tie Rods
2. The SD1 PAS rack housing is a direct replacement for the TVR / SUPRA one but approx 3kg heavier.

My Rack is now and SD1 housing and valve block with the Supra / TVR Rack, Pinion and tie rods !

[Number 7]

Cheers chaps. Phoned them today. They said there is an ally cased version and a steel cased version. I suspect mine is the latter from memory, but will check. £295 plus vat for basic refurb, unless something more major is worn.

[350zwelgje]

When looking for a replacement rack for the SD1, came across rimmers that have RHD powersteering racks for a decent price (seems to have increased quite a few pounds over the last 6 months!). Needed a lhd of course, which wasn't available for a normal price and got it from Spain of all places, for more than double of the rhd rimmers....
If you get stuck Paul, you could perhaps install one and have yours refurbished as and when you like...

Manual rack on my lhd wedge, so cheap cortina rack (like 150 pounds or so) went in a couple of years ago.
Powersteering who needs it
only for parking or drifting the wedge.

Rob

[Number 7]

350zwelgje said:

only for parking or drifting the wedge.

Rob

You've seen me in action at Zolder

[Number 7]

Ok, so work is progressing. Rack is definitely a Ford fitment - the name is cast into the housing. Everything is disconnected, and I'm at the stage of attempting to remove it from the car. Does anyone know whether its necessary to disconnect and move the ARB out of the way, and / or whether the pinion assembly needs to be removed in situ to clear the chassis (or even whether the latter is advisable - I'd rather not have to install the pinion once the rack is back on the car)?

[briantvr350i]

Hi,

I installed a refurbished (by Kiley Clinton) PAS rack earlier in the year as a replacement for the worn manual version...

From the number of times I put the rack in and took it out while I was modifying the cross member etc I have some experience. I removed ARB from car 1st, then rack comes out from drivers side, there isn't much clearance but it will come out without dismantling, needs a bit of twisting and turning (and its heavy)

As an aside, I took the rack in to Kiley Clinton, rather than courier, discussing the various racks with the guys there, they weren't bothered by the Ford rack I took and the price dropped from £295 + tax to £125 + tax. He explained that they almost always have problems with the "TVR" alloy rack which is why they charge a lot more to refurb...

For those of you who haven't been, KC looks like a good "old fashioned" factory where they still make and repair things properly, quite a rarity these days!

Regards,

Brian (and a Red 350i)

[mrzigazaga]

Paul....Strange how you have a Cortina mk4-5 pas rack...Im sure mine has the TVR engineering "Supra" rack and mine is an 87 350i...Yours is a later 400SE?...

@: Brian.....That sounds very reasonable for a rebuild..Sound like a good ole fashioned company too...Thanks for the heads up..Ziga

[Number 7]

Thanks Brian - I thought I probably would have to take out the ARB, but wanted to check whether someone had already done the job.

Mark, yes, mine's an '89 car. TVR ....whatever was lying around at the time I guess.

[GV]

If I recall when i removed mine (MK Cortina Type) I removed from the driver's side as the column mounting gets fouled up quite easily. If you can get another pair of hands the other person can lift and move the rack from the other side whilst the other guides away from the car. Otherwise it can be taxing on your own...

[Number 7]

Finally got it removed. I thought I could get away with just swinging the ARB down. No.Then I thought it would work if I removed one of the drop links. No. So had to remove the ARB completely, and after a bit of jiggling, it's free.

Definitely Ford, although what the mish-mash of other stamped numbers on it are who knows - a right mess.

[Number 7]

Update:

All coming together now - rack back from Kiley Clinton, ARB cleaned up and painted, new track rod ends, new ARB bushes (note: the Superflex bushes are not split as the previously fitted versions were, i.e. you need to push them over the end of the bar and into place, which is fine if the bar is off as in my case, but a pit of a pain if not. Alternatively, it would be easy enough to split them). Chassis around the rack area cleaned and painted, second coat tomorrow. To be continued.



edit: whilst fitting the ARB bushes, I discovered that they are split after all - just not obvious until I started to bend them.

Edited by Number 7 on Sunday 20th September 16:57

[Number 7]

Just to wrap this up, has a geo check today at Dan Taylor. Needed some adjustment at the back (crabbing apparently!) of the camber and toe, plus a very small tweak to the front toe. Car feels so much better know - doesn't want to jump around on rough roads so much, and just feels more planted. Well worthwhile. While it was there he also dropped the sump to check the cam - all looking fine.

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Paul...Did you change the tie bar/Leading link and drop link bushes as well?...If so what did you use, My front end shakes about way too much...I have a feeling the inserts will need machining on the leading link bushes...I have an MOT Friday so i will see what they say about it...Cheers...Ziga

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

mrzigazaga said:

Hi Paul...Did you change the tie bar/Leading link and drop link bushes as well?...If so what did you use, My front end shakes about way too much...I have a feeling the inserts will need machining on the leading link bushes...I have an MOT Friday so i will see what they say about it...Cheers...Ziga

if you have a problem we can machine them on Sunday if your still coming.

[Number 7]

mrzigazaga said:

Hi Paul...Did you change the tie bar/Leading link and drop link bushes as well?...If so what did you use, My front end shakes about way too much...I have a feeling the inserts will need machining on the leading link bushes...I have an MOT Friday so i will see what they say about it...Cheers...Ziga

Mark,I put polybushes onto the leading link /tie bars years ago, and they still seem fine. As for the drop link, I fitted SH versions with rod ends, also a few years ago, so no rubber / poly bushes there at all. Assume you've looked at the wheel bearing adjustment and things like the 2 steering column ujs for wear /tightness of the bolts, upper and lower ball joints, track rod ends etc? As you say, the MOT will identify any significant problems.

[mrzigazaga]

Thanks Paul...I did have the rack rebuilt..New track rod ends..Drop link bushes..ARB bushes..Wheel bearings checked and adjusted..(3 months ago)..And the tie bar/Leading link done...Its mainly because i used polybushes and the steel inserts are apparently a tad too long due to the collar being on the bush instead of having the collared washers...Which i now have and will need to fit...Yes i will see what the MOT guy says....

@ Leigh...Hi mate..Not sure at the moment as funds are a little low and it does depend on the MOT....Should go through though....I hope.....I will let you know.

Cheers...Ziga

[Number 7]

mrzigazaga said:

Thanks Paul...I did have the rack rebuilt..New track rod ends..Drop link bushes..ARB bushes..Wheel bearings checked and adjusted..(3 months ago)..And the tie bar/Leading link done...Its mainly because i used polybushes and the steel inserts are apparently a tad too long due to the collar being on the bush instead of having the collared washers...Which i now have and will need to fit...Yes i will see what the MOT guy says....

Cheers...Ziga

Who did the geo check Mark?

[mrzigazaga]

I had it done at Dans but it might need doing again...I definitely need to sort the issue out with the bushes as its horrendous on a slightly bumpy road...Feels like an old horse and cart...I had the balljoints replaced and while i was at had the bushes changed...The car was a lot stiffer before this and they were only changed due to their age...Im not ageist by the way...