I'm fitting a new rack to my sapphire 4x4. After much fannying about, I picked up the reconned one from the motor factors today, and fitted it.

The insides of the tyres are rubbing the inner arches on full lock at the front and rear of the tyre at lock in BOTH directions.

This says to me that the lock has either too many turns lock-to-lock, or the wrong ratio. Looking at the manual, it quotes 2.84 turns. My new rack is roughly that, yet it's rubbing.

One thing that sticks in my mind is when I asked the fella in the shop if he was sure it was a cossie rack, he was adamant it was, and said that the XR4x4 rack is the same part - surely this isnt right?

Anyway, any ideas gratefully received!!

Neil.

 

I thought they were about 2.4 turns lock to lock ? Or is that the 2wd?

 

I had a quick look at the old one before I stripped it, and it was about 2.5

This one appears to be a tad more, but not enough for it to be obviously wrong

Neil.

 

the xr racks are differant pal, the steering arms are longer, i would also like to bet your tracking is now a mile out ?????

 

Cossie racks are different ratios than normal 4x4 sierras

They have supplied the wrong one cossie one is £8 more in Burtons

£142 exchange if that helps

 

I had a nightmare getting a recon rack a couple of years ago. Ford didn't have a clue, eventually got one from Oak Road MF in Redcar (been using them for ages, very helpful) the Cossie one's are unique, they do not fit anything else (as far as I know!).
I had the wrong part sent through twice before they got it right. Could give you a part no. Neil but mines 2wd innit!

 

Exactly as I thought lads!!

Markk: I didn't get that far - it rubs like a bastard!

plynchy - is the part number TS326? I've been on to LT's this morning, they're the only factor I can find who have a different part number for the cossie, and thats the number they've given me

I'm really particular about how my car drives, I put a rack on about 3 years ago as the OE one felt a little bit vague. I got it from a place who shut up shop a while ago, so can't go back there Sure it was an AMK part that went on though - TS326 is an AMK number I think.

Yet another cossieless day, and the sun is shining

Neil.

 

Will have to have a look when I get home mate, sun is shining, stuck at work till 7pm.

 

bah me 2

 

OK fella, no probs

I'm going to try and get S&J to either refund me the whole shebang + the surcharge, or order me one from AMK

Neil.

 

BTW....I ended up paying just over £100 exchange...

 

neil, order an escort cosworth one as I have said before

steve

 

If you can tell me what the difference(s) are, and why that makes it better, then no problem!

Considering that the escort has flared arches and different wheels (offset and width) I reckon it's a non-starter...

Anyway, shouldnt you be swearing at a certain red sierra?

Neil.

 

I believe Cossie one differs in heaving movement limiters fitted so wheels don't catch?

 

why dont you go have it tracked up and see what happens there

obvioulsy you have fitted track rod ends but you will not get them perfect until it is tracked so it will rub id imagine

when i cossied my xr4x4 i used my stanadrd rack and just changed the hubs to cossie spec, it didnt rub after i had it tracked up

the only difference i saw between the racks was where the power steering pipes went in and one had to be bent a little bit to fit as i had to cossie pipes

other than that had no problems

id go get it tracked if it still does it then go back to the company

 

Tracking won't help me mate - it's rubbing at BOTH the front and the rear of the wheels at full lock in BOTH directions - therefore it has too much lock.

If incorrect aligment was the cause, it wouldn't behave like that IMO

I think Azrael may be correct

The motor factors has rang me back - he's getting my original rack reconned, but it wont be back till friday, and I wanted to go and terrorise some country lanes tonight!!!

Neil.

 

don't need to carter of all people sussed it along with dropping the arb

steve

 

Best get your bike out then.

 

It's not the same on a pedal bike!!!

Neil.

 

Right, I've FINALLY got a rack that fits!!

Problem is, the steering feels like it's got a lot of resistance to it - it doesnt find its way to the centre after small inputs, and generally feels heavier than it's suppsoed to IMO.

After about 40 miles of varied driving, the pump has just shat itself There's fluid everywhere Seems to be coming from behind the drive pulley...

What could be afoot here? I was thinking sticky TCA balljoints might be causing the heavy feel (Car has been laid up for 6 months), but I guess the rack could be shite.

Regarding the pump, do you think it could just be coincidence that it broke imediately after fitting a new rack?

There seems to be no end of chew with the bloody thing!! All I want to do is drive the fooker!!!

Neil.

 

its possible when reconning the rack they have not set up the lock relief valves (called something like that). Its were when u reach full lock it opens a relief valve so the pump don't shat itself and relieves the pressure.

Could be wrong though

 

a no how you feel a also went to change ma rack the day and the pipe from the pump to the rack broke away, now its in the garage for the weekend

 

Nightmare toff!! At least it's raining down here at the moment, so I'm not THAT bothered today

Bri - I think there's something amiss for sure, but I never hold any car on full lock for that reason so I'm not sure it could be that...

Thing is, if there was too much pressure, I would have expected it to blow one of the push fit hoses before it popped the pump. Thinking about it though, there arent any on the low pressure side You may be on to something there!!

I'll go down to the place I got the rack from tomorrow lunchtime and explain the situation - the pump didn't have any issues before I fitted the new rack - the two have to be related IMO

Cheers!!

Neil.

 

I got a new pump today - how fecking expensive are they please? £98+VAT!!!

Anyway, I fitted it, fired her up and bled the system, then went round to the front of the car to discover that the pump was covered in fluid again!!

Suffice to say, there was nothing fucking wrong with the old pump

The problem was that the return hose from my PAS cooler had moved and rubbed though on the pump drive pulley - i didnt spot it as it was on the underside of the hose...

So today, I have mainly wasted £115!!!

And to top it all off, the steering STILL doesnt feel right

Neil.

 

shit nightmare neil, suprised you missed the failed pipe your normally on the ball m8
can you not remove and clean the pump then take it back?

steve

 

Hi Neil

Have you fixed the problem where the steering feels like it's got a lot of resistance to it - it doesnt find its way to the centre after small inputs, and generally feels heavier than it's suppsoed to IMO.

Thanks muppet.

 

Right, The problem was finally traced to the fact that Drivelink can't build racks for shit!!

After a good while to-ing and fro-ing, I got them to refund me the cost of the rack and the pump which was good of them.

If anyone is after a quality rack, I'd try AMK. The one I got off them was spot on first time

It took Drivelink 4 goes:

The 1st one was cockeyed and wouldn't fit the crossmember.
The 2nd had too much lock.
The 3rd was SUPPOSED to be my old one reconned, but sure as shit wasn't off any sierra I've ever seen!
The 4th one had the high spots and wouldn't return to centre on it's own.

Avoid at all costs!!

Neil.