<VV> Tie Rod Ends

[Andy Clark]

Doug, it sounds like your steering box is not centered. The steering wheel
may indicate center, but if it's been removed and replaced it may not be
correctly on the splines. You need to pull the horn button and center the
steering column between extremes using the small dot on its end as a guide.
Once you have done this, my guess is that you will find the wheels turned in
the direction towards the "long" tie rod that you currently have. The
steering wheel will also be cocked. R&R the steering wheel, and re-adjust to
toe-in. There is no normal condition in which a tie rod is that close to the
end of it's adjustment, unless the car has taken one h#ll of a hit and is so
bent that the doors won't close <G>, or you removed one of the tie rod ends
and didn't reinstall it far  enough into the sleeve. Overall length of each
tie rod should be right around 16 inches.
HTH.
Andy Clark
1966 140/4 Monza Sedan
1966 140/4 Yenko Clone
1966 180/4 Cord 8/10 #60
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Doug Mackintosh" <dougmackintosh at yahoo.com>
To: "Virtual Vairs" <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 5:38 PM
Subject: <VV> Tie Rod Ends


> Hey guys & gals! I need some of that expert advice from the old pros and
ASE certified guys about tie rods. I just finished aligning my front end and
centering the steering wheel. When I was all done, I noticed that one tie
rod is fairly close to its maximum length. I would estimate that I have
about 0.8 inches of thread engaged between each tie rod end and the
adjusting sleeve. My question is: How much thread engagement is required as
a minimum? How do you know if you've gone too far?
>
>   Thanks!
>
>   PS - remember I am a sensitive guy, so make sure you don't say any mean
things to me or you'll hurt my feelings.
>
>
> -- Doug Mackintosh
>   Corsa member since 1996
>   Corsa/NC member since 1996,  Virtual Vairs member
>   Corvair owner 1969-1971 and 1996-on

>