Second.
-----Original Message-----
From: fot-bounces@autox.team.net [mailto:fot-bounces@autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of Greg And Alison Blake
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2013 3:01 PM
To: vandecarr@aol.com
Cc: fot@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Fot] Reproduction Steering Racks
Can you post a photo to the Facebook page of your fix, or send me a private
email?
Thanks
Greg
> On Nov 11, 2013, at 1:47 PM, vandecarr@aol.com wrote:
>
> I had my quick ratio rack fail when I hit a semi moveable object at an
> autocross. I didn't hit that hard and I loss all steering. I
> fabricated a steel retainer to hold the pinion adjusting nut in place.
> Haven't had any trouble since then. If anyone is using this rack in a
> track situation I'd recommend doing the same.
>
>
> Dean VanDeCarr
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TR4 Tony <tr4.tony@virgin.net>
> To: fot <fot@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Thu, Nov 7, 2013 8:00 am
> Subject: [Fot] Reproduction Steering Racks
>
>
> All
>
> I thought I'd give you all a heads up on my position with reproduction
> TR4 steering racks made in Argentina and supplied by MOSS or via others.
>
> I have had another near lethal failure this weekend on the Rally of
> the Tests, costing me a high placing and a class win as well as the
> car or worse.
People
> could have been hurt very badly. This is the second time.
>
> The issues are threefold in my experience, the first two are serious
> safety matters hence my email to this group.
>
> 1. The main steel rack tube is pressed without any notching or
> machined scoring into the alloy pinion housing, meaning that on left
> hand lock the rack tube parts from the housing and control is lost.
> This is because the rack
has
> nothing to bear against and therefore the wheels end up pointing in
opposite
> directions. The alloy housing appears to be made from a material of
> insufficiently high quality in my opinion and the press fit is poor.
>
> I am aware of 7 failures now, 6 on competition cars, one of which was
> mine and which I was lucky to walk away from.
>
> 2. The nut and spring on the top of the pinion housing (which allows
> the
rack
> preload / play to be adjusted) unwinds and falls off, causing loss of
control
> and excessive play in the rack, as well as ingress of material as it's
> open to the atmosphere. This is another potentially lethal failure
> mode and caused because the peening of the pinion housing / nut fails
> and the nut just
spins
> itself off. Again my opinion is that this is due to poor material,
> design
and
> manufacturing.
>
> I am aware if two such failures now, one on my car again which we were
lucky
> to survive unscathed.
>
> The cast alloy pinion housings also appear to be poorly cast, with
> blow
holes
> evident in the assembly indicating poor material, process and quality
> control.
>
> 3. There is a third problem in that the threads on ends of the rack
> are not cut properly, so track rod ends will not fit. Theses need to
> recut and
again
> is evidence of poor manufacturing and dimensional control.
>
> I am working with TR Enterprises in the UK to develop a short term fix
(which
> we have done) and ultimately have some racks made that are fit for
> purpose, however meantime my opinion is that anyone who has one of
> these 'Made in Argentina' steering racks should talk to their supplier
> and satisfy themselves of their safety in use.
>
> I for one will not be using such a rack in an unmodified form and will
> replace it as soon as is possible with a product that is designed to
> be safe in
use.
>
> Needless to say I wish to discuss this with MOSS and I am awaiting
> their response.
>
> Regards
>
> Tony
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