Difference in Steering Racks?

[Peter Laidler]

Mmmmmmmm..... I'm not a metallurgist but a uni grad mech engineer - and being a 2:1, not even a good one. That said, I agree with Geoff...., cool naturally to retain what we used to call 'the normalisation of the material. Oil cooling is not the answer here as Norman says quite rightly.

There must be standard Mk1's around and we already know that the steel spec is the same for the standard as the Cooper and S. It is tough material but not hard

If it was me........ bright orange on the bend - but not into white hot, bend to required angle. Stop and allow to cool naturally and definitely no quenching of any sort.

Do I press submit or do I think about it for a while. Yep, think about it for a while. Thought about it so here goes

[goff]

Polarsilver i think Nick want's to recreate MK1 arms ????? quenching in oil or water is to harden the material , it alters the molecules ect , then temper after hardening .

Like i said if Nick is concerned about the after affects , get one tested to see what carbon content is , maybe a spark test would be suficiant , me !! if i was bending them using heat i would not bother just let them cool in air , i would imagine steering arms will flex so they will be probably be little carbon content , the MK1 Cooper S ones bent that is why they beefed them up.

Nick cherry red heat Oxy Acet , i will post up photos later of the lower arms that i cut and welded , first time i did this in the 60s .

[goff]

Nick this will make people on here shiver cut and welded bottom arms not in the middle like everyone use to do them , but very close to the ball joint holes , so not to alter the geometory , lengthen them by 1/4 inch by building both pieces about 1/8 to give V prep , then welded them up using low hydrogen rods , first did this in late 60s , both my Jem's are done this way , take a look .

[Nick W]

Goff
Looks like a strong weld on that job!

[MrNoo]

I have in the past heated MK2 arms and bent to MK1 angle, worked fine but guess some of the purists wouldnt agree with it. It does work though

Yes that's what I was contemplating
Looks like the new mk2 arm would easy bend to mk1 dimensions. What's the best method for tempering, after, seem to remember quenching in oil, in metal work lesons?

I used to let them cool slowly and never quenched them, as said cherry red then gently ease them to the desired angle. A jig would be ideal, I used to have one I made up but afraid long since gone now!!