For reasons I'll go into elsewhere, I've had my rack rebuilt, but the main casing was beyond help, so it was rebuilt with a different second hand casing the company had kicking around.
On collection I note it has isolation bushes pressed into the mounting points. For some reason, Lotus used two top hat bushes at each end to fix the rack without isolation to the chassis.
Not best photo but on left you can just about make out the isolation bushing.
The owner of the company, an ex Burman guy was most surprised saying he could think of no other vehicle with a rigidly mounted rack.
Presumably Lotus did this intentionally.
Thoughts anyone on what they could have been trying to achieve?
Anyone else done any rack work and fitted using isolation bushes?
Should I be getting those bushes out and using the rigid Lotus intent ?
Tony
Steering Rack - Why rigid mounted not isolation bush
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- MetBlue
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Steering Rack - Why rigid mounted not isolation bush
What goes together.... Must come apart.
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Re: Steering Rack - Why rigid mounted not isolation bush
Mounting the rack solid removes flex and gives more steering precision, which is what a Lotus is supposed to be about.MetBlue wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 21:02For reasons I'll go into elsewhere, I've had my rack rebuilt, but the main casing was beyond help, so it was rebuilt with a different second hand casing the company had kicking around.
On collection I note it has isolation bushes pressed into the mounting points. For some reason, Lotus used two top hat bushes at each end to fix the rack without isolation to the chassis.
Not best photo but on left you can just about make out the isolation bushing.
The owner of the company, an ex Burman guy was most surprised saying he could think of no other vehicle with a rigidly mounted rack.
Presumably Lotus did this intentionally.
Thoughts anyone on what they could have been trying to achieve?
Anyone else done any rack work and fitted using isolation bushes?
Should I be getting those bushes out and using the rigid Lotus intent ?
Tony
- Alan_M
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Re: Steering Rack - Why rigid mounted not isolation bush
As Marten says - more precise control. What our cars are renowned for, so I’d certainly want to keep the original setup.
Having a rubber bush will allow small movements of the rack losing some of the precision and feedback between road and hands. Similar concept to using rose joints rather than rubber bushes for suspension for race cars.
The Elise etc also use rigidly mounted racks
Having a rubber bush will allow small movements of the rack losing some of the precision and feedback between road and hands. Similar concept to using rose joints rather than rubber bushes for suspension for race cars.
The Elise etc also use rigidly mounted racks
- MetBlue
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Re: Steering Rack - Why rigid mounted not isolation bush
Had decided the rubber bushes were heading for the bin, but became a no brainer anyway. Bolt for the bush was M10. Chassis hole and bolt is M12.
Didn't take a lot to remove. Only the inner sleeve was steel, so pulled out easily with a long bolt and a socket to draw into.
Didn't take a lot to remove. Only the inner sleeve was steel, so pulled out easily with a long bolt and a socket to draw into.
What goes together.... Must come apart.
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Re: Steering Rack - Why rigid mounted not isolation bush
So do you know what the original application for the steering rack was with the bushes in place?
Pete
Pete
- MetBlue
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Re: Steering Rack - Why rigid mounted not isolation bush
The casing is badged FORD logo.
Sierra Cosworth definitely. May be also the wider Sierra range.
Sierra Cosworth definitely. May be also the wider Sierra range.
What goes together.... Must come apart.