<VV> Tie Rod Ends - followup (humor?)

[Louis C. Armer,Jr.]

Just drive it on the Interstate and check out all the possibilities !!! <GGG>

FrontMan
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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
>

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1965 Corsa Coupe
1964  Greenbrier
1966 Monza Convertible
1966 WTBRT #112 xcrosser 1/2 owner
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