group 4 steering knuckle problem

[dawesy1700]

no doubt somebody will have had this problem and can give me some advice please, i changed the steering knuckle and....my column is to short for the new one, , ive managed to get it to fit by takin the spring out from behind the steering wheel but i dont thinks its the best or safest thing so want to get ot sorted before its built up and put on the road, do i have to get the longer type column or is there another way? help please,

[LGreen]

I know you can get long and short stems that come out of the steering rack if that helps. think its to clear things. Just be careful you have a mk2 everything. We had to change to a long stem on a mk1 rally car for clearance and ended up putting a mk2 column on (dont know where it came from as we havnt got any mk2s unfortunately) it meant when ew put the boss on the column although it looked and felt like it was seated ok in the rush it was only just on the splines and meant that on the stage they gave way leading to no steering and the car getting friendly with a tree. Dont want to see it happen to others. LG

[beenie]

hi,

 

i've read about other people having just that problem when they try to fit a `Group 4' joint in place of the squishy plate standard one.

 

the long and short stem thing isn't the problem here - a long stem rack shaft is over 100mm longer than a short one.

 

on my Escort i've got a Triumph steering UJ which is easily long enough. the Ford Rally Prep book recommends one from a Triumph Dolomite I think, but i got mine from Rimmer Bros for a Herald. i've just checked on their site and the one they show now is like a miniature version of the Escort one instead of a UJ, but still loads better standard.

 

Bernie

[dawesy1700]

well after talking to darren @ escort tech and a few other people i now know its cause its an early mk2 (1976) and therefore has the slightly shorter column, 1 payment later and a later type column is on its way to me, whoop.