Just wAndering.... Why?

D

dlmims

Junior Member
I just rebuilt the front end of my 30 coupe. New kingpins, bushings, bearings (wheel and kingpin)tie rod end components with F100 steering. Very little play in steering wheel with smooth turning but the rascal wants to wander left to right. After a test run the tie rods were tightened a complete turn. Even put on a new radius ball holder thing under the bell housing and there is no play there. Used a jack to see if it moved up or down when lifted up. No play seen there. Still likes to wander. Steering gear was one of the new ones I just bought with everything set on it. I even have installed new tires!
Prior to rebuild the steering was ok just a lot of play in the steering box.
Anyone have any idea as to what I've missed?
 
You need to set the toe-in. This is accomplished by adjusting the length of the tie rod. One end is reverse threaded from the other end. Loosen the clamp bolts on each end and then turn the tie rod in or out. The task is to get the wheels pointed slightly inward. There are a number of technical articles around describing how to do it. You will need a simple jig or at least a tape measure. The amount of tow in is from 1\16" to 1\8" depending on what article you read.

Tom Endy
 
Re: wAndering days are over!!!!

Thanks guys!!!!!!!!!!!! Toe in was out over 1 inch. Now steers great with no wandering.
 
When I set my toe-in I put a piece of masking tape on the front of each tire and marked an X on it, 6" up from the floor. I then measured the distance between the two X's and pushed the car forward and measure the X's again when they are 6" up from the floor on the rear side. I adjusted my tie rod so the rear measurement was 1/8" more than the front measurement, and the car steers great.
 
Tom, when I took auto mechanics in hi-school in the sixties, our shop teacher showed us a method kinda like your thought. He had a 1X2 with a finish nail protruding out of on end and we would jack up the front end, spin the tire and rub the nail against the tire to leave a faint mark at the center of the tread pattern and repeat for the other tire. Then lower the tires back on the floor and hold the nail on one mark on the front of the wheel and put a fine line with a pencil at the mark on the opposite tire. Then transfer the stick to the rear of the tire and put a mark on the stick at the rubbed line. He would then say" if the mark is here,( and show us a point) it is toed out (or in)" or " if the mark is here, it is the opposite" We would then go under the car and adjust the joints until the preferred toe in was realized. A very good learning experience and quick and easy to set up and store the stick by slapping the nail into a board on the wall up high on the wall. We all noticed that board just hanging on the wall early on but no one ever asked "What the ????" Then one day he sent one of us to gather up that stick and then proceeded to teach.
 
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