Steering rod ends (Birkin)

[Jackal]

Hello Everyone.

 

I have run into another snag with getting my little beast on the road. This time it is directly related to the steering rod ends that came with the suspension components. My car currently has heim joints on the steering rod ends, and that will not pass inspection. I am in a panic to find a replacement for them as I was hoping to be on the road in the next couple of weeks. I found a shop locally that will make some for me, but it is a custom build and machining which comes at considerable expense.

 

The steering rack seems to be off a Escort MK 2, but the rod ends are different than the ends I've seen on Ebay for the MK 2. I called Texasmotorworks and they were not sure about what car the rack came from. I also asked about replacing the heims and he mentioned he has not had to deal with the challenge before, and was not sure about where to get ball joint replacements. He put me in touch with a fellow here in Alberta, and I caught him on the phone just after selling his Birkin. This other fellow mentioned he didn't remember what he had on the ends, but that it was not an issue at the time of inspection.

 

Specifically for Birkin owners (1999), what ball joint replacements are you using? Do your Birkins have any part number markings on the steering rod ball joints that I could look up?

 

Pictures say thousands of words right? Here's my current setup.

 

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l294/nivaguy/9FC79093-AAFD-4212-9838-B4CD546380CC-29187-0000186DA76D246C_zps8927d40b.jpg

 

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l294/nivaguy/4F18F920-5010-4B12-B4FC-6AB80F5580C6-29187-0000186DAF548233_zps3392bca8.jpg

Edited July 10, 2013 by Jackal

[xcarguy]

To the best of my knowledge, all Birkins emit the use if hiem joints in lieu of ball joint type rod ends. My Birkin had hiem joints.

 

With the time, energy and expense you've put into this build (not to mention heart, soul, sweat, blood, etc.), I would, if necessary, have machining done (mounting brackets, couplers, etc.) to allow the use of ball joints.

 

X

[rzempel]

As far as I know, the earliest Birkins used uprights and steering components from Triumph Spitfire, but fairly soon changed to the aluminum uprights with spherical bearings on the steering arms.

 

It *might* be possible to go backwards and fit Spitfire uprights with ball joints.

 

 

Randall

[Jackal]

I am hearing the same thing from the Yahoo Birkin group as well. Birkins have always seemed to use heim joints on them. This is problematic though, as two inspectors have told me that they will not pass inspection here in Alberta.

 

I was hoping there would be a simple swap across to satisfy the inspectors and be a reasonably priced/ timed solution. It appears if I have to swap the heims out to satisfy the inspection, it could be a lengthy search for the parts and rebuild the front of the car.

 

The shop that machines the ball joint solutions mentioned that the turn around time is around six weeks. That kills most of the season for me. It is a solution though, as it can be a full custom ball joint solution that will fit exactly as the current parts do.

 

I spoke with another fellow yesterday, and he mentioned the use of a safety washer that would make the heims fully legal for road use here, and I am searching for further clarification from both my inspector and resources on the internet. This would be the best solution for me, I just hope it is considered on the up and up.

[xcarguy]

The safety washer is worth a try for oassing ibspection. Personally, I have always run safety washers on any 'open-ended' hiem in the unlikely event of the hiem joint incurring a hard (catastrophic) failure. I refer to a hard failure as when the hiem housing separates from the spherical joint and, in turn, the hiem housing separates totally from its mounting point a slips over the retaining bolt while leaving the spherical joint inplace. A safety washer, placed directly over the upper/opened end of the hiem joint, would aid in keeping the hiem housing in place if a hard failure occurred. Even if the car could pass inspection 'as is', I would still employ the use of aafety washers.

[xcarguy]

Sorry about spelling errors in the last post, pecking this out on the Bat Phone and spell check sometimes has its way with me. :/

[Jackal]

The safety washer is worth a try for oassing ibspection. Personally, I have always run safety washers on any 'open-ended' hiem in the unlikely event of the hiem joint incurring a hard (catastrophic) failure. I refer to a hard failure as when the hiem housing separates from the spherical joint and, in turn, the hiem housing separates totally from its mounting point a slips over the retaining bolt while leaving the spherical joint inplace. A safety washer, placed directly over the upper/opened end of the hiem joint, would aid in keeping the hiem housing in place if a hard failure occurred. Even if the car could pass inspection 'as is', I would still employ the use of aafety washers.

 

 

I agree completely. I have heard back that there is a good chance that the heims will pass with the safety's and have just had two rush ordered to me. All I need now will be some metric 10.9 10 mm carriage bolts that are a bit longer to accomodate the washer and give it a go I guess.