<VV> Tie Rod Ends - followup (humor?)
Louis C. Armer,Jr.
carmerjr at mindspring.com
Sat Jan 6 17:17:59 EST 2007
Just drive it on the Interstate and check out all the possibilities !!! <GGG>
FrontMan
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
At 01:41 PM 1/6/2007, you wrote:
>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
>
CORSA Member
CORSA Tri-membership Chairman
Corvair Atlanta Member
Corvair Atlanta BOD
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1965 Corsa Coupe
1964 Greenbrier
1966 Monza Convertible
1966 WTBRT #112 xcrosser 1/2 owner
http://carmerjr.home.mindspring.com/
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