Steering Track tube question?

Hi all
I have a 1978 series 3 which i bought recently and it has been modified allot, and i am struggling to identify the replacement parts i need for the MOT.
It has a bent steering track rod tube, the tube which is on it has the steering shock absorber attached to it, to a bracket about 2"down the tube. The tube is approximately 29" long. I have contacted a few suppliers and they thought it was a discovery on until they measured it and the disco one is 40" long. I am struggling to identify which vehicle it is off..
Dose anyone know i it would be accepted by an MOT place if i put the tube in a vice and straightened it?
Cheers
Rob

Not sure i'm following your problem exactly..but seeing as how nobody else (probably better suited to reply than me!) has replied - i'll chuck my worth in, in the hope its of some use.

From my knowledge, an MOT tester simply wants to know there is no (well..minimal at least) free play in the steering system and that everything is secure and safe. Though having seen what some centres have passed, the latter is questionable in my eyes! So providing the steering has little free play in it (i.e. front wheels don't wobble too much & steering box / wheel doesnt 'knock' too much - track rod ends arnt shot etc), and nothing (within reason) is going to fall off, you'll be golden. Though I havn't got a steering dampner on my old girl, to my, limited, knowledge of how they work, I don't believe there imperative to the action or function of steering, they simply help. So if straightening the 'track tube' enables the dampner to function correctly and doesnt hinder the steering process in any way...I don't see a problem.

You coud of course always phone your local garage for advice - but be sure to see through any money making ideas they may have..

Matt

are you describing the rod that goes between the wheels or the rod that goes from a wheel to the relay?

nrgserv said:

are you describing the rod that goes between the wheels or the rod that goes from a wheel to the relay?

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The rod between the wheel and the power steering relay.

Side-show-bob said:

The rod between the wheel and the power steering relay.

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Sounds to me like someones made the bar themselves,series 3's don't have power steering unless it's on coils?
Where abouts are you cos I've got an old steering bar for a series 3,it just needs new track rod ends(or swap yours) it's yours for free if you want it

shirley iffits bent then its a different length than what it should be?

check tracking - if it's ok then leave it....

V8jon said:

Sounds to me like someones made the bar themselves,series 3's don't have power steering unless it's on coils?
Where abouts are you cos I've got an old steering bar for a series 3,it just needs new track rod ends(or swap yours) it's yours for free if you want it

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op said its been modded a lot!

the bar your decribing is a drag link.
track rod goes between the wheels and adjusts the tracking. this will be longer than the steering box to hub drag link/bar.
exactly which one youve got tho, is anyones guess!

edit
is it bent, damaged, or bent as in has the swan neck on the steering box end?

and where are you?

edit again.
just re read the original post, but does it have the swan neck?