[TR] Tr3a steering tight after rebuild

[andrew uprichard]

Ask David Friedlander if  it can be done without removing the front apron.  I think he has just spent several days lying under his TR3 trying to get his steering right.

 

Andrew Uprichard

 

From: Art McEwen <amcewen2 at cogeco.ca> 
Sent: Friday, May 22, 2020 9:35 AM
To: andrew uprichard <auprichard at uprichard.net>; triumphs at autox.team.net
Subject: RE: [TR] Tr3a steering tight after rebuild

 

Further update. 

 

So I think what happened is my final torque down of the end cap on the steering box was tighter than my shim bench tests or something settled during that and caused binding.   When I took it all off and reset everything with a McGiver'd way of measuring the float it all seemed good on 2nd install.   The new bushings/felt in the upper shaft added some stiffness too.

 

BTW some claim this can be done without removing the cowl (and therefore presumably the rad), I'd pay good money to see that on youtube....

On 05/17/20, andrew uprichard <auprichard at uprichard.net <mailto:auprichard at uprichard.net> > wrote:

(Where is Randall when you need him?  😊)

When you say "significantly tighter" is this turning the steering with the tie rods connected ? You should be able to turn the steering wheel with a finger tip if the car is in the air.  You should also be able to grab a wheel and take it through its full range of motion (everything connected) fairly easily.

The felt at the steering wheel should not be an issue - and, if anything, should just be soaked in oil prior to installation.  

If it is binding, and not eased by loosening the box (and, by inference, the pressure on the peg) it is probably related more to the shims at the bottom of the box than the bearings themselves.  Did you follow the method Randall suggests with measuring end-float and shimming appropriately?

Andrew Uprichard
Jackson, Michigan

-----Original Message-----
From: Triumphs <triumphs-bounces at autox.team.net <mailto:triumphs-bounces at autox.team.net> > On Behalf Of Art McEwen
Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2020 2:11 PM
To: triumphs at autox.team.net <mailto:triumphs at autox.team.net> 
Subject: [TR] Tr3a steering tight after rebuild

Re-installed my rebuilt steering box and, even though it felt fine on the bench, back in the car the steering is significantly tighter.  Not quite a parking lot 3-point turn level of effort but well beyond finger tip effort.  And this is while still up on jacks with the set screw backed right off.  I loosened off the shim cover bolts thinking I was too tight but no difference.  It doesn't feel like it's binding at any point of the travel, it's tight lock to lock.  I waited until the shaft was reassembled before tightening the box attachment bolts so the box would align to the shaft, not vice versa.

Could this really all be down to resistance from the 2 new bearings in the split shaft (plenty of grease added) and the new felt at the steering wheel?  

Also should the upper felt be greased/oiled?

Thanks,

Art. 60tr
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