<VV> Tie Rod Ends - followup

[Doug Mackintosh]

Just a followup on my front end alignment problem. When I finished, the LH tie rod was adjusted about as long as possible, and the RH tie rod was as short as possible. Today I went back to basics and started by finding the center where the gearbox would be centered and the pitman arm and idler arm would be straight ahead. I figured out why I was off before.
   
  When I did it before, I jacked up the front end and counted the number of turns from lock to lock, then turned it half that number of turns to "center" it. What I didn't know was that when I turned left, it took about 1.75 turns before it hit the bump stop where the RH steering arm contacts the end of the strut rod. Normally this should be about 2.25 turns. When I turned right, it took just over 2.5 turns to stop, but it never hit the bump stop. Instead, it went until the steering gear itself ran out of worm travel (at which point it was still about 0.2" from the bump stop. Since it actually turned further right than left, when I "centered" it by going half way back it was actually turned significantly right still, hence my unequal tie-rods to get the wheels to face forward. I even removed the steering wheel and replaced it 180 deg off on the assumption a previous owner had installed the shaft without indexing it to the mark on the steering gear. 
   
  Now that I have re-done it, the steering gear is actually centered. I have reinstalled the steering wheel properly aligned with the mark on the shaft, and my tie-rods are close to equal length. I still don't hit the bump stop on RH full lock (it misses by about 0.12"). I'm not sure if something is bent or if it is affected by my non-standard alignment settings (more caster, less camber and less toe-in than Chevy spec, intending to compensate for the radial tires). 
   


-- Doug Mackintosh
  Corsa member since 1996
  Corsa/NC member since 1996,  Virtual Vairs member
  Corvair owner 1969-1971 and 1996-on
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