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I needed to get my rack inner tie rod extended as it was too short on the passenger side. So sent it off to get extended. Whilst there, they noticed about 8mm of play at the pinion. Not dangerous they said, but will feel a lot of play. So getting totally reconditioned now.
Whist the rack was off, I decided to investigate the rack pinion and uj splines. Not looked at them since building the car at the beginning. But remember some old posts saying the teeth in the UJ having different number of teeth. What I came across shocked me.
The column and UJ was off a Rover 220 turbo 1993. Going by the splines in the UJ, about 19 teeth and about 16mm in diameter. I say about, as it is badly worn both ends!
The Rack is off a MG Metro (rare as hens teeth now). Wider track than the standard Metro and a 17 teeth spline.
Rack end of UJ
Column end of UJ
Rusty end = Rack connection
So looking at possibly getting a forged one made up. Hoping a MGF UJ end will fit the rack. Going to try tomorrow so the right fitment can be identifed.
Very keen to see the outcome of this as so far it is the only thing on the car that I am not very happy with.I must admit that I have still got a lot of work to do so there is plenty of time for more issues to crop up .
Mike
If it's easier to get to on yours can you measure count the following?
Steering rack pinion teeth and diameter. Mine has 17 teeth and about 15-16mm in diameter.
Steering UJ number of teeth and diameters. Mine has, as far as I could tell around 19. But other half made it around 28. But was very worn both ends. 28 makes more sense as follows.
Count column teeth and diameter. Mine has 29 teeth and around 15-16mm. Pictures...
Flat section as well.
I'm looking at getting the correct UJ made for both rack and column. So if yours is the same as mine, I can get another ordered. If it's possible.
Oh, I feel slightly guilty now as I found a solution for this about April last year when I lost control of my car putting it on a trailer.
Anyway what I have done is SPLIT the UJ & SWAPPED the rack end of the UJ for one off of a Metro, squeeze them back together & your sorted.
So basically you have a Metro UJ on the rack end & a 200 UJ on the column end. That way it is a direct, but tight, fit on the spline of the rack. I still use a nut & bolt to hold it on though, just in case.
Metro's are very difficult to find but I just took the column out of one in the scrapyard and then swapped over the UJ's once I got home in the garage.
Might be cheaper than a forged one:P
Hopefully that makes sense sorry its not best explained PM me if want more details.
How do the split apart and go back together. Don't suppose you have any photo's do you? Looking at my UJ above, it looks like it welded/pressed together in the centre.
Mine are very worn anyway. But don't think they will be too dear. Wait and see for a price.
#There are some bronze colour caps which shown with green arrow need removing. I used a plunt punch and hammer.
#Once the bronze bits are protruding enough to get a grip, clamp in a vice gently and pull the the rest away from it leaving the bronze cap in the vice. Repeat for the other side.
#NOTE: the black rubber bits are important so take care not to loose them :P. Once both bronze bits are off, wiggle both bits until they separate, it is a little fidderly but not too bad.
#Once the old 200 rack clamp is off put the metro one in its place making sure the black rubbers are in place FIRST. Then push the bronze bit back through the wholes with fingers and place in vice.
#ENSURE IT IS EVEN WHEN DOING UP THE VICE & PRESSING THEM BACK IN. You can do one at a time if easier.
Hopefully that helps to explain but I will do a video over the weekend and post it up on here which should help more.
Looks like that is a far more cost effective method than getting the parts made from scratch, I can measure and count splines if you want just let me know if you went to go that route
The guy is enquiring at the minute to see if the company has the right tooling to make it. I was told it probably won't be expensive. Something like about £30 made up and new. Got another 5exi owner interested as well.
He has the same setup as me. Mk2 200 column and UJ. Not sure if there's a difference with the mk3 200 ones.
