Michael Sands writes :
>
> The steering rack is moving from side to side, and worse, rotating.
>
> I use the car for autocrossing and for open track events. I have sticky
> tires and have measured the G lateral G forces at 1.25 gees, when the tires
> were new.
How diid you measure these ? Sounds fun...
> The steering rack appears to be off a Triumph. It has the flanges at
> either end of the rack. The pillow blocks (right term?) that attach the
> rack to the frame are mounted just inside these flanges. This prevents
> side to side motion. The clamping force of the aluminium pillow blocks is
> supposed to prevent rotation.
This sounds just like the arrangement on my 93 Caterham - two sets of
blocks each comprising two pieces of ali.
>
> Now all of this would be ok except for one small problem. There is a
> universal joint at the input point of the rack, connecting the steering
> wheel shaft to the rack. This universal has several bolts that allow the
> universal to clamp to the shaft.
>
> The problem: These bolts interfer with a frame member. What to do?
You havent yet described the feature on my Seven that prevents this. The
upper block on each side as a hole tapped in it, smack bang in the middle.
Into this goes a pointed grub screw with a lock nut. This screw tightens
down onto the rack and the lock nut is then tightend up preventing the
arrangement from loosening. The point on the grub screw is what stops
the rack from revolving. I wont attempt any ascii art but if this isn't
clear get back to me....
> There used to be a couple of mm play in side to side motion of the rack
> that occurs only under extrememe side stress. I fixed that by moving the
> mounting holes on one pillow block out board to take up any slack left.
The above idea would surely help with this too ?
>
> Now the rack rotates slightly bringing the bolts near the rack. I have
> tried sanding the mating surface of the pillow blocks, to reduce the space
> between the bocks to further clamp the rack. I fear too much clamping
> force will deform the rack housing.
The assembly guide for my Seven instructed me to leave the rack loose until
everything else was in place so that the rack could be rotated to ensure
maximum clearance from in my case the oil filter.
> I guess I could cut a notch in the frame in that area, but the Seven is
> minimal anyway and that might be the straw that breaks the camel's back.
>
That sounds like a bad idea :-)
I hope that some of the above helps.
Cheers,
Ben.
--
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| Ben Hodson, | Email : hodsonb@prl.philips.co.uk |
| Philips Research Labs, | Tel : 0293 785544 ext 5750 |
| Crossoak Lane, |-------------------------------------------|
| Redhill, | I'd rather push a Triumph than drive |
| Surrey, RH1 5HA. | an MG, but best of all I'd vrooooommm |
| England. | in a seven. |
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