Tracking adjustment

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Stuballsed

Stuballsed

New Member
Posts
1,093
Location
Oxfordshire
Hi All

Just had my tracking done by local fitters, who supposedly know what they are doing. But not entirely happy.

The steering wheel is is quite off centre. They set up with a brace holding the wheel centre then set tracking. Driving shows wheel off centre. They have not tried to adjust the drag link to centre the wheel after doing tracking and have suggested I take the wheel off and turn it a bit. I know you can take the wheel off, but, should they not have adjusted the drag link?? If so, is this easy enough for me to do?

p.s. There s a bit of a kink in the track rod near the nearside end. Should this be here?

Cheers all
 
track rod dhould be perfectly straight ,to adjust drag link or track rod they are easiest done by sliding clamps out of way and spraying with penertrating oil and hitting with 2 x hammer decent size using one on opposite side as anvil,hit all around rod at the part thread is in covering as much of where the thread reaches as possible done enough at both ends rod will be adjustable easily you need hammer on opposite of rod that you are hitting otherwise it wont work,can also be adjusted on steering linkage using small chisels or wedges in clamps to aid removal and refitting
 
Yes, track rods should be straight - if it's bent it'll make setting the tracking more difficult. You can centre up the steering with the drag link but it will depend on how free the threads are - JM's advice above should work but you might have to remove the rod to free up the ends properly. If the ends were assembled with coppaslip you should be OK, they have opposite threads so turning the link with a pair of stilsons will shorten or lengthen it.
 
Cheers Gents. Looks like a new track rod and, whilst I'm at it, new track rod ends are now on the shopping list.

So, the garage should have centred the wheel by the drag link after setting the tracking then?? When my indie replaced the drag link ball joint, then said they centred the wheel up at tad at the time, but that I should go get the tracking checked. At least the threads should be relatively clear.
 
OK, a bit more reading and stuff plus busters guide, looks like replacing the track rod and track rod ends should not be to difficult (tracking check after):) Might go HD and replace the drag link while I'm at it.

Haynes book of lies suggests if steering wheel is up to 5 deg out, you should adjust by pulling the drag link ball joint and screwing in or out. More than 5 deg and reset the steering wheel. OK, I can deal with that.

Another question if I may. I just checked steering wheel rotation and, using a clock to describe it, from centre, it turns 1 hour 35 min to one lock and 1 hour 50 minutes to the other lock. What influence this? how do you know when it's all centred, i.e same rotation from centre, from one lock to the other?
 
Got new HD track rod fitted with new geasable TRE's. Easy job, took about 15 minutes. Got tracking ckecked and only 3mm out. Cheers all for advice. Drag link next!

The track rod protection bracket wont go back on without touching the thicker HD track rod. Do I need to bother with this now? or should I try and shim it with washers to try and keep it? Theire aint much room for it though.
 
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