I just noticed (car stationary) that the whole firewall flexes amazingly much around the steering rack mounting area when torque is exerted on the steering wheel. There's at least 6mm of movement left/right on the steering rack when the wheel is rotated CW/CCW, and before somebody asks, I see none of that coming from the rack bushes. On all newer cars the rack is attached to the same subframe as the track control arms, which is a far superior solution...

But, my question is, has anybody actually done anything to improve the rack/firewall rigidity?

 

Some cars have brake master cylinder support brackets for the same reason

I'd imagine you could get some form of bracing fabricated to support it, it's probably not going to flex anywhere near as much with the car rolling forward

 

The cabriolet had a support bar from the steering column frame to the A pillar. I've got one on my Orion and it makes the whole thing rock solid, definitely worth getting one.

Looks like this

 

Where on the a-pillar does this go? Ive got one to fit, but the dash is in and like feck can i see or find a locating/bolt hole. Realise dash out would be easier but was hoping to get away being lazy...

 

Sorry mate, it's a dash-out job because you need to get a spanner into the A pillar to hold the nut/bolt to tighten it.
Can't remember the exact position but once you pinch the "fork" end onto the column, it pretty much only goes in 1 way.

Found this picture for a LHD model

 

You learn something new everyday!!

 

So it seams nobody has done anything to strengthen the rack mounting, only column supports.

 

Bit late.. I have mods for rack brackets which heighten and tighten. Then have twin support bars for master cylinder and also steering column.

 

Are these something that can be used on a fiesta Rs turbo. Doing some rust repairs to mine, and would like to strengthen it if I can