Steering, Suspension, & Brakes

tips, technology, tools and techniques related to non-driveline mechanical components

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motek
George Smathers
Spokane, WA
(118 posts)

Registered:
09/12/2009 02:45PM

Main British Car:
1967 Morris Minor (48 hp @ crank!), 1971 TR6 302

Do u-joints = sloppy steering?
Posted by: motek
Date: June 26, 2011 10:56AM

I put three Woodward u-joints and two heims on the new steering shaft of my 1971 TR6. The handling feels vague. Each time I change direction with the steering wheel there is a slight pause before it engages. My steering rack, tie rod ends, etc. are stock and new and I do not have power steering.

What can I do?


Thanks,


George
GeorgeSmathers-BE.jpg


74ls1tr6
Calvin Grannis
Elk Grove,CA
(1151 posts)

Registered:
11/10/2007 10:05AM

Main British Car:
74 TR6 / 71 MGB GT TR6/Ls1 71 MGB GT/Ls1

authors avatar
Re: Do u-joints = sloppy steering?
Posted by: 74ls1tr6
Date: June 26, 2011 09:40PM

Hi George,

Congrats on your"How it was done article"!

Make sure your heim joint stand off points are tight, also your inner fender can flex a little where your bracket is which will add play to your steerinig. Check to see if all your allen screws are tight on your Woodward steering U-joints. Check your steering rack, make sure your mounts are tight. It looks like you have both lower and upper heim brackets mounted on the fender. The lower heim I have mounted on the suspension tower on the frame. So having both on the fender might have a little more movement.

I have a little play in my steering, but like just a little since I have the quick steering rack. My fender flexes a little where my heim bracket is. So I would say about 3/16" of play in my wheel.

Again great job on your TR6

Calvin


motek
George Smathers
Spokane, WA
(118 posts)

Registered:
09/12/2009 02:45PM

Main British Car:
1967 Morris Minor (48 hp @ crank!), 1971 TR6 302

Re: Do u-joints = sloppy steering?
Posted by: motek
Date: June 27, 2011 04:16PM

Thanks Calvin. I'll check all those.

George


motek
George Smathers
Spokane, WA
(118 posts)

Registered:
09/12/2009 02:45PM

Main British Car:
1967 Morris Minor (48 hp @ crank!), 1971 TR6 302

Re: Do u-joints = sloppy steering?
Posted by: motek
Date: June 27, 2011 07:48PM

OK, I'm home and I tightened everything. The problem is definitely the rack. The red arrow is where the first u-joint enters the rack.

What is happening is that the steering shaft turns with very gentle pressure on the steering wheel but until about 3 degrees of shaft turn (= 1.2" of steering wheel turn), the rack just sits there. Only then do the wheels start to move. I notice this on the ground and up in the air. It is also present throughout the range of motion from hard right to hard left (at least in my garage). I know there are fast racks and slow racks but it seems that I have a 1971 Buick Roadmaster rack!

Could I have installed the rack incorrectly? Could my Goodparts mounts be over tightened? It doesn't feel like the rack is binding because after the slack is taken up the rack will move with very little pressure. Also the force to move all this is so slight that the fender can't be flexing.


Thanks,


George

http://i883.photobucket.com/albums/ac39/motek999/IMG_4288.jpg


74ls1tr6
Calvin Grannis
Elk Grove,CA
(1151 posts)

Registered:
11/10/2007 10:05AM

Main British Car:
74 TR6 / 71 MGB GT TR6/Ls1 71 MGB GT/Ls1

authors avatar
Re: Do u-joints = sloppy steering?
Posted by: 74ls1tr6
Date: June 28, 2011 09:45AM

George,

That plug to the left of your red arrow real close to the radiator hose, could that be an adjustment to tighten the pinion to the rack adjustment? I know on the TR6 rack you can adjust that a little and not to tight so it will bind. I did this to my old rack and it would adjust the play out of the steering.

The photos are of a new standard rack I have showing the plug. There is the outside lock nut you can loosen then tighten the plug to find the best adjustment. Then tighten the lock nut back up. It could be that the rack is just worn out.



DSCN1476.JPG

Your plug photo shows your plug is in further than this new rack.

DSCN1477.JPG

This adjustment just may be the ticket to take care of the problem!


motek
George Smathers
Spokane, WA
(118 posts)

Registered:
09/12/2009 02:45PM

Main British Car:
1967 Morris Minor (48 hp @ crank!), 1971 TR6 302

Re: Do u-joints = sloppy steering?
Posted by: motek
Date: June 29, 2011 07:23PM

You da man!

The rack was new but the damper plug was not tightened. All play is now gone and the car handles nice and tight. I have much more confidence adding gobs of power in a corner.

Thanks a bunch,


George


74ls1tr6
Calvin Grannis
Elk Grove,CA
(1151 posts)

Registered:
11/10/2007 10:05AM

Main British Car:
74 TR6 / 71 MGB GT TR6/Ls1 71 MGB GT/Ls1

authors avatar
Re: Do u-joints = sloppy steering?
Posted by: 74ls1tr6
Date: June 30, 2011 12:38AM

Awesome, glad to have helped you out :-)



triumphtr2
tim body
St thomas ont Canada
(87 posts)

Registered:
08/18/2010 10:21PM

Main British Car:
1954 TR2 serial # TS 110 L triumph 2 litre

Re: Do u-joints = sloppy steering?
Posted by: triumphtr2
Date: July 07, 2011 10:02PM

Isn't that nice that somebody got help from somebody else hundreds of miles away. Alittle conversation some pictures back and forth and problem discovered and solved. Happy campers all round. That's what I like about this website. Good guys helping out.T. Body


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