AndrewE Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 Hi is it possible to make minute adjustments to the steering wheel to rotate it so that it lines up square with the straight ahead driving position without resorting to adjusting at the track rods?My steering wheel is about 3 degrees (only really a tiny amount) of kilter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerobod - near CYYC Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 A small adjustment on each track-rod end will work. Start with 1/6 (one flat) of a turn out on one side and the same amount in on the other side.If the steering wheel is off to the left when driving straight ahead, then the left hand track-rod end needs to be lengthened (out) and the right hand needs to be shortened (in). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim 123 Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 3 degrees sounds like it is possibly the alignment of the splines on the bottom of your steering column that sits into the U/J with the rack. If your car is running straight on an uncambered road, I'd try the following. Roll the car back and forward with no steering input to get the road wheels running true. Then slacken and remove the locking bolt that holds the splined end of the steering column into the U/J. Gently ease the column out of the splines by pulling the steering wheel rearwards. Reinsert the column with the steering wheel cantered. Refit the bolt and locking nut and tighten all back together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerobod - near CYYC Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 There are approximately 40 teeth on the steering rack spline, so one spline would be 9 degrees or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted January 14, 2018 Share Posted January 14, 2018 I think setting the tracking by eye is easy on the seven as you have full visibility of the wheels. Just apply the same number of turns each side and you'll be fine.Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewE Posted January 14, 2018 Author Share Posted January 14, 2018 Thanks,I think its too small an adjustment for moving column by a single spline Looks like its track rod adjustment!thanks for the responsesAndrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted January 14, 2018 Leadership Team Share Posted January 14, 2018 Andrew, the amount you need to adjust should be achievable by making minor adjustments to the track rods.Simply rotating the column by a spline is quite frankly bad maintenance and ultimately could prove unsafe, it's being done without knowledge of what's happening at the track rods. If such a marked adjustment is needed, it's necessary to check how much of the track rods are threaded into the track rod ends, and only when it's determined these are "similar" should the column be adjusted at the splines. If the car has been built and maintained correctly, no "adjustment" should ever be needed at the splines.Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewE Posted January 14, 2018 Author Share Posted January 14, 2018 Just tried 1/8th turn at track rods which is not enough so trying some more nowJust for reference this is a newly fitted new rack that I have aligned using a Track Ace but just need steering wheel centre-ing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim 123 Posted January 14, 2018 Share Posted January 14, 2018 Andrew if you need the track setting this is given in the build manual towards the back. Stu's point about checking the similarity of threads each side is well made. Are your track rod ends both the originals and identical. Re your comment about having replaced the rack, if you have changed the rack, the steering col U/J would have been disconnected and refitted on the rack splines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewE Posted January 14, 2018 Author Share Posted January 14, 2018 Thanks I have the track settings for my car and now have it as 18' toe-in which is good for a S3 DeDion K series SupersportI had to fit a new rack as the old one had play inboard of the knucklesFitted new TREs having noted turns required to remove old ones, set tracking but now just need a minute recetreing of steering wheelGood point about amount of thread which is fine both sides - both pretty similar amount of thread showingFinally happy with result Why did they get rid of the flats on the track rods which would have made it sooooo much easier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted January 14, 2018 Share Posted January 14, 2018 Why did they get rid of the flats on the track rods...Could they be hiding behind the rack gaiter?JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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