The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

If anyone has one to hand, the MG Maestro steering rack is very similar to a Dolomite one, and is 2.3 lock to lock...

milesinfront wrote:The wink at the end of my text is supposed to let readers know I'm joking...

ok then....with that in mind you have pm.

The one I have fitted to my sprint has 2.8 turns and moves exactly the same distance as the original 3.75.
Have not checked how many teeth and will not bother either.

milesinfront wrote:Just so everyone knows, I want a quick pinion, and I'm prepared to pay for it.... Cheers! Rick

Here is the thing..........I advertised a so called quick rack on this forum a few weeks ago, free to a TDC member willing to make a donation to charity. Obviously there is a huge demand for these racks, after all I had a grand total of one reply.

Always the way... Getting the 'demand' to find the 'supply'...

Thanks to another great TDC member, I may have found one...

so is that everyone sorted out now who wants something other than 3.75?

I've always had an interesting experiment with steering racks that I'd like to try on a Dolomite.

We all know that the rack pinion splines are the same as a Mk1/2 escort as the escort group IV knuckle bolts straight on and helps reduce the waftiness (tech term).

Therefore is the logical step is to think about if an escort rack fits as you can buy high ratio racks (2.4 turns) for pennies for £65 from Rally Design?

The straight answer is no it wont work, the pinion sits on the wrong side of the rack as the escort track rods are in front of the axle, not behind like a dolomite, therefore the steering would turn the car the wrong way! (could be entertaining for about 10 seconds before you hit something).

BUT, I've always wondered if an escort LHD rack would work as if you flip it wouldnt the pinion be on the right side? The rack mounts would no doubt be different and you might have to use escort track rod ends but I reckon the idea has legs. And a LHD 2.4 escort rack is only a shade over a ton. http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/product_in ... s_id=10620

I cant see the point of spending a lot of money changing from 3.75 to 3.25 turns, but 2.4 turns lock, now your talking my language.

What do you think? Am I barking or am I on to something?

Nothing remotely barking about trying to find a sustainable source of replacements for a part that's no longer easily available.

As an aside, possibly barking and referring to the observation (of an Escort rack) that

the pinion sits on the wrong side of the rack as the escort track rods are in front of the axle, not behind like a dolomite, therefore the steering would turn the car the wrong way!

; there used to be a Herald that was a regular visitor to local shows which had the steering set up in that way on purpose. It also had its pedals in reverse order and people would cough up, ISTR, a Quid or so to have a go at driving the thing along a slalom course through about 50 Yards of traffic cones. Anyone who managed to make the course without clipping any cones would win a prize of a nice, fresh £10, the day that I had a go (and managed to win the prize) the car was painted in "Mr Blobby" livery as he was the in thing of the time.

It's not unheard of for steering bits from a LHD application to find an alternative home, upside-down, in a RHD car. The Reliant kitten uses a shortened Fiesta MK1 rack with mini TREs and the Rebel & Sabra use a Standard 8 or 10 box and idler mounted at the opposite sides from their intended fitting.

smifter wrote: I cant see the point of spending a lot of money changing from 3.75 to 3.25 turns, but 2.4 turns lock, now your talking my language.

well we have 2.75 available, which is really close and is a direct fit..

David, remind me - where is the source for 2.75 racks (not that I'm spending any cash on cars at the moment!)

Using an escort pinion therefore, in a dolomite rack...

smifter wrote:David, remind me - where is the source for 2.75 racks (not that I'm spending any cash on cars at the moment!)

I don't think there is a source per se. I have one, I know someone else that might have one for the right price. Mine are triumph parts not escort pinions.

After the CT 10cr I thought it about time I replaced the much worn rack, so to the shed I go to look though the racks I have with a view to make a good one out of all the bits. Low and behold I happen to have a 2.75 turn rack in very good condition along with a STD one that looks like its just been reconed. The annoying thing is 3 yrs ago I bought a "recon" rack that’s in the car at the moment. This had quite a lot of play in it (as the MOT man pointed out two weeks after fitting), when all along sat in the shed where two very good racks.

I'm surprised it wasn't in the boot of your car for the 10CR!

If anyone has a 2.75 pinion in good nick that they are prepared to sell and post to New Zealand, then I interested. No chance of me finding one locally.

Contact me offline geoff dotsparkes at internet dot co dotnz.