Steering

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:29 am

Anyone know why my steering travels 1/2 a lock more going to the left as opposed to the right?
I have had an alignment done but it still turns too far and the wheel almost stops itself or is such an angle that when parking it feels like it goes under itself!
I did fit a 2nd hand left front control arm when i first got the car.
Appreciate anyone who can steer me in the right direction.Ta!

Ben.Nakagawa · Post by **Ben.Nakagawa** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:36 am

When your tyres are straight at centre, your steering wheel also straight?
(just to eliminate easy one...)
I would check that first but other wise many of other member here would give you more accurate answer.

Trevor · Post by **Trevor** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 1:00 pm

WideOpenThrottle wrote:Anyone know why my steering travels 1/2 a lock more going to the left as opposed to the right?
I have had an alignment done but it still turns too far and the wheel almost stops itself or is such an angle that when parking it feels like it goes under itself!
I did fit a 2nd hand left front control arm when i first got the car.
Appreciate anyone who can steer me in the right direction.Ta!

The set up is wrong and is not correctly related to the steering wheel position. Go back to the alignment outfit and ask them to correct it.

In the event that you made a mistake when fitting the control arm they should have fixed it. You have not got what you paid for.

Euen · Post by **Euen** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 5:43 pm

I agree with Trevor.

It sounds as if the control arm on one side has been screwed onto the track rod end too far and the other side has been backed off to compensate, shifting the centre point of the rack to one side.

Count the rotations of the steering wheel from lock to lock, then find the half way point. Then have a look at your front wheels and see which way they are pointing.

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:25 pm

So by centralising the rack & then putting a bit of toe-in on the left wheel & then the same amount of adjustment but this time toe-out for the right wheel should give me less travel to the left & slightly more travel to the right on lock to lock?
Then i centralise the steering wheel?
If thats the answer then the local guys at Fire...... dont know their job!
Unfortunately for me i had the alignment done well over a year ago as my car has been off the road, so i won't hold my breath for a freebie!
Thanks to everyones input so far

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 12:02 pm

Just got my WOF even with a de-powered steering rack[lucky meeeeeeeeee]! so i got another wheel alignment from another local tyre merchant and guess what? my original problem of it turning too far to the left is still there & i have been told that the chassis may be out a few mm so we are at the maximum adjustment. It looks like i may have to live with it for now.
The 17inch rims & tyres certainly have a mind of there own around "
'S' bends so it will be interesting to try my lighter 15 inchers especially for track days!
I can now get serious with my forced induction!

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 12:08 pm

Just needs lowering & some chassis bracing once its turbo'd

SLYDIT · Post by **SLYDIT** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 9:35 pm

theres no way you can be at "maximum" adjustment with the steering fault you described.

The tie rod ends have LOADS of adjustment in them and your chassis would have to be more than 30mm to one side for it to start to effect the steering the way you say.

what you need to do is turn your wheel left and right and find the True center of the rack. then remove your steering wheel and set it back so it is straight on the shaft. then drive back to your aligner and tell him to match the tie rod ends with the CORRECT position of the wheel.

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Fri Apr 23, 2010 7:33 pm

Went back to the alighnment shop & its now been re-adjusted to an acceptable level but in doing so one tie-rod is wound right in while the other one is showing a lot of thread.
Camber on the left side is slightly out but apparantly can be adjusted better once i lower the suspension.
Car feels good & straight but will keep an eye on tyre wear.
Karma to you slydit!

Euen · Post by **Euen** » Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:08 pm

Still sounds like there is something not right. Have you tried comparing your rack to another one.

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:29 pm

It might be that it had a prang on the front left side when i bought it so the problem may be chassis related.

Euen · Post by **Euen** » Sat Apr 24, 2010 9:29 pm

Subframes and suspension arms have a tendency to bend in collisions. Its not always that visible to the naked eye. The first front subframe I had for the TG was out of a car that been hit in the front right. It had a very slight kink just near the front mounting point for the bottom arm that was enough to throw the whole alignment out.

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