Steering arm thread size

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 11:26 pm

Hi, anyone know offhand what thread the steering arms are where they screw into the ends of the rack? (Not the track rod end end, but the inner end). I need to re thread one, and it would be easier if someone could say its a .... whatever, rather than going into an engineers supplies and saying 'got any taps wot fit this?' or some such ignorant sounding comment....

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 9:19 am

Steering arms are the parts that fit into the king-pin uprights. Track rods connect to the main rack body with large ball type nuts to secure them. Dunno the thread for these - although I do have new spares. The thread is very fine and you are unlikely to get a die that size - they would be machine turned during manufacture. Hard to imagine how these threads could be damaged - but only hope will be patient work with swiss files!

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 9:15 pm

Yes, ok I called them the wrong name... It was late when I typed it

It is the track rods I mean. It's a narrowed rack for a non standard application, so needs one of the threads completely re drilling and tapping.

Post by **Alec** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 8:45 am

Hello Iain,

as this seems to be a relatively obscure question you may be quicker measuring the diameter and thread pitch (use a thread gauge) and identify the thread that way.
It's a long time since I dismantled a Morris rack, so I assume the cup end of the rack is screwed into the rack itself? as the track rod is a ball and the cup that holds it is a male thread?

Alec

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 8:55 am

Yes, thats right the ball and socket joint has a male threaded end which screws into the end of the rack. Yes I expect I'll have to take it to an engineering place and measure it, as I dont have any thread gauges. It was just a thought that if anyone knew offhand, it'd save a bit of hassle.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 10:31 am

I 'think' a Mini rack is very much the same rack - but narrower!! Try that first. Otherwise - would it not be much easier to just shorten the track rods ? I know that won't give absolutely perfect geometry - but it won't be far off.

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 12:07 am

Hmm, will look into a Mini rack. That could be the answer. Lopping a bit of the end of the track rods was the obvious solution, but was trying to do it 'right'. As you say though, probably not a lot of difference in real life...