Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

When tightening the end float collar on steering rack it all gets a little tight, same number of shims put back in.

As per photo i have two collar marks on rack, not sure if these are new (from 20 turns in press) or from 50 years of use.

The manual refers to using feller gauge between lock nut and housing, it however does not offer and sizes, only that you should be able to rotate opinion with 7lbs of force.

Logically thinking the spring will always apply constant pressure to the collar, therefore the collar will always be in contact with the rack, grease will ultimately be pushed off, leaving metal on metal and leave tell tale track marks?


thanks

Street

Is the pinion fitted correctly ie fully seated. Make sure the pressure pad is in correctly under the spring and screw cap

John

Hi Street, What manual are you reading?
The procedure in the factory Plus 2 manual (and the factory Triumph manual) is to assemble without shims until all end float is eliminated and then measure the gap between the nut and the housing, subsequently reassembling with a shim pack of this figure plus 0.004". The unit is then checked by applying a force of 2lbs at a radius of 8 inches to rotate the pinion.

Brian.

Hi Brian,

yes I am referring to your comment below from +2 manual, any suggestions on how to measure end float without special tools would be great and 2lbs of force...........

to eliminate the endfloat hold the rack bar and turn the pinion. When the play between the two has disappeared then so has the endfloat.
See pm for details of applying 2lbs of force per the manual..

Brian.

thanks Brian

will play with it later tonight.

thanks

street
Things seem to be getting confused here or at least I'am.
Pinion end float is the axial movement of the pinion in the body of the housing. This should set before the rack pressure pad is set. The pressure pad is set by a shim pack with a 0.004 clearance as stated in the manual.
The pressure pad keeps the rack in constant contact with pinion, if the pinion is not set to minimum end float it will induce free play at the steering.
If you want to set up the pinion without a clock gauge do it dry without the rack bar, shim it to give free movement by hand without end float. then install the bar and pressure pad.

That's how I would do it
Hope this is clear