Mark,
I once had a similar situation.
My problem turned out to be the fact that I had bolted on the steering
rack while the front of the car was off the ground. The flex in the
crossmember
caused the rack to flex just enough when the car was back on the ground
to cause the rack to bind excessively. Simple fix, go out and loosen all 4
of the rack attachment bolts while the car is on the ground and then
re-tighten
them. You may have to pull the radiator.
On the other hand, it does take new ball joints a number of miles to free
up, I know because mine still seems tight with not enough steering
self-centering
after several years. Also, who ever went through your rack may have made
it extra-tight.
Gary
----- Original Message -----
From: <CoolVT@aol.com>
To: <tigers@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2003 7:29 PM
Subject: Steering question
> For a years now the Tiger has suffered from stiff steering. The steering
> column has been gone through and moves nicely, the steering U joints are
fairly
> new, lubed and free, the steering rack has been gone through and moves
nicely
> and easily, the tie rod ends are fairly new, but seem stiff. The upper
and
> lower ball joints are about 10 yrs old, but I think the stiffness began
when they
> were installed.
>
> The symptoms of the car are: seems hard to turn even when moving, but is
a
> little hard to judge without another Tiger close by to compare with.
After
> some effort to make a turn at any speed the car wants to go only in the
> direction turned. There is almost no self centering of the wheels. The
steering
> wheel must be turned to straighten the wheels.
>
> It seems like it must be either the stiff tie rods (kind of doubt that
one)
> or the upper or lower ball joints. Does anyone have a simple test that I
can
> use to compare the turning effort to a known good steering Tiger. How
about
> using something like a fish scale to pull on the steering wheel at rest to
> determine pressure needed to turn wheels? How about if the tie rod ends
are
> disconnected and the car is raised...how much effort is needed to turn a
wheel?
> Would something like pushing on the tire with a bathroom scale begin to
give
> some indication of stiffness? Again, I would need something to compare
it with.
> I tried some slim wedges to increase caster and it only made the car
steer
> harder, but still no better self centering. Have had two alignments done
and
> the car is pretty much on specs.
>
> I am open to suggestions. Something has to be too stiff!
> Thanks,
> Mark L.
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