Steering Rack Gaiters - Alternate Sources

[revilla]

Just for reference ... I know they are not exactly expensive as parts go, but after carefully measuring and comparing I'm sure that these here from Caterham at £11.40 plus postage are exactly equivalent to these here for £6.99 with free postage (and generally available all over the place).

 

Part Number Cross Reference:

 

- First Line FSG3033 (Pair)

- Ford 1454203 (Left Hand - Long) 1454202 (Right Hand - Short)

- Quinton Hazell QG1001 QG1014

 

Original Application:

 

- Ford Escort Mk I 1968-1976

- Ford Escort Mk II 1973-1981

- Ford Capri Mk I 1968-1974

- Ford Capri Mk II 1974-1977

- Ford Capri Mk III 1978-1987

- Talbot Avenger 1970-1981

- Talbot Sunbeam 1977-1983.

 

Measurements:

 

- Left Hand: 155 long, 32mm dia. at rack end, 10mm dia. at rod end.

- Right Hand: 125mm long, 42mm dia. at rack end, 10mm dia. at rod end.

 

http://www.revilla.plus.com/TrackRodGaiters.png

[BenF]

Andy

 

Good research.

 

Just fitted new gaiters (supplied by Caterham) just a couple of weeks ago to get me through the MoT....

 

Would be interested if anyone buys these and finds that they do fit, if so, they're so cheap, it's worth having a spare set in the garage just in case....

 

Ben

[revilla]

Ben,

 

I've now managed to get a pair of Caterham ones and a pair of First Line ones side by side. See the pictures below. My comments would be:

 

1) I think the Caterham sourced ones are probably slightly better quality of finish.

2) If anything the First Line ones may be a tigher fit onto the rack, but only by a fraction of a millimeter. I haven't actually tried installing them, but I've found some "round things" that the Caterham ones just slip onto. The First Line ones do slip on but are a little tighter.

3) I can't see any reason why they wouldn't fit in practice.

4) I think from looking at them that the Caterham ones are indeed supposed to be to the same spec as the Escort / Capri / Sunbeam ones. I think the differences are just differences between brands and manufacturers. Ford or Quinton Hazell parts may be better quality than First Line parts.

 

I would also welcome confirmation as to whether they fit or not. If anyone needs to change theirs and wants to give them a try, let me know. I'll post the pair I have out for nothing. If they fit OK, you can pay me for them. If not, they're no use to me either so you can just bin them!

 

http://www.revilla.plus.com/Gaiters%20LH.JPG

 

http://www.revilla.plus.com/Gaiters%20RH.jpg

[thompster]

Holy '18 month old thread' resurrection.  I found this helpful but inconclusive thread and thought I should confirm that what Revilla says is correct.

I fitted Quinton Hazel QG1001 steering rack gaiters today which are identical to the standard caterham parts.  Useful to know if you need them in a hurry.

[SM25T]

Certainly Ford Escort Mk1 and Mk2 gaiters from local shop worked on mine this year.

[revilla]

Thanks for the confirmation!

[Julian H]

Hi

I have a friend whose Seven needs the steering rack gaiters replacing How difficult is it to get the toe adjustment right when you reassemble? Or do you go for realignment afterwards?

[SM25T]

Well .... I thought it was easy enough. I marked, measured and counted threads .... but a subsequent check found it way out. Maybe it was like that from before ?

[Jonathan Kay]

How difficult is it to get the toe adjustment right when you reassemble? Or do you go for realignment afterwards?

It's easy to set them to where they were before. And the whole job's even easier if you fully unscrew the rod rather than splitting the joint: Stu's trick.

Jonathan

[Julian H]

Super thanks JK, we can do it ourselves then. Ian, i suspect it was out before. Its not something that you would muck up without realising your error!