[Healeys] Steering alignment

[warthodson at aol.com]

Bill, Marty,
Assume for the moment that the tight spot is perfectly centered & both wheels
are toed-in exactly 1/8" each. Now, if we adjust (decrease) the toe-in by
turning the track rod (making it effectively longer) such that the resulting
toe-in is 1/16" at each wheel, the tight spot will no longer be perfectly
centered. Here is why: The track rod is connected to the steering lever on the
steering box which in turn is connected to the non-adjustable outer tie-rod,
which is connected to the wheel assembly. There is no way to change the length
of the track rod without affecting the position of the steering lever & thus
the position of the tight spot.
Gary


If the "tight spot" is at or near center at any toe setting what would cause
it to change while adjusting toe? Turning the track rod to adjust the toe-in
moves both front wheels exactly the same amount in opposite directions because
one one ball end is a right hand thread and the other is a left hand thread.
Turning the rod shouldn't affect the position of the steering worm gear.






-----Original Message-----
From: WILLIAM B LAWRENCE <ynotink at msn.com>
To: warthodson at aol.com; David Nock <healeydoc at sbcglobal.net>
Cc: healeys at autox.team.net
Sent: Wed, Jun 2, 2010 9:54 pm
Subject: RE: [Healeys] Steering alignment


Actually I DON'T know that it would be possible. If the "tight spot" is at or
near center at any toe setting what would cause it to change while adjusting
toe? Turning the track rod to adjust the toe-in moves both front wheels
exactly the same amount in opposite directions because one one ball end is a
right hand thread and the other is a left hand thread. Turning the rod
shouldn't affect the position of the steering worm gear. If the tight spot (or
center of the worm) is not where it is supposed to be then the fault must be
in the other alignment factors, which are not adjustable on the Austin Healey
chassis (except by catastrophic means) or in the incorrect assembly of the
various steering rods and levers.


Bill Lawrence