Classic Mustangs List Archive

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: (email redacted) (Larry W Blum)

> From: "Tim Kreps" <(email redacted)>
> To: <(email redacted)>
> Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 23:34:13 -0700
> Subject: [CM] Steering
> Reply-To: (email redacted)
>
> This has been a very interesting week for the Mach1. To get to the
> bottom
> line and before delving into my lengthy story, when it comes to
> steering, I
> currently have 1 full turn of steering to the left and 1 3/4 full
> turns to
> the right. Some may not see this as a problem. I see this as an
> inconvenience and it needs to be solved.
>
> How did this little oddity appear? Since I have owned the mustang
> (about a
> year and a half now), I have always noticed that the steering was a
> little
> sloppy (power steering) but more importantly it was a little off.
> Back then
> it was just the opposite. I had a little more steering to the left
> than I
> did to the right. This prompted me to do some deep investigation!
> I looked
> underneath. What I had noticed was that the left hand tie rod
> sleeve was
> backed very far out (tie rods far apart) and the right tie rod
> sleeve was
> screwed very far in (tie rods very close together). I also had
> noticed on
> the outer tie rod ends that while there associated connecting nut
> was tight,
> the ends themselves were a little loose connecting into the spindle.
> What I
> had come to find out was I had a front disc system and spindle from
> a '70
> mustang. I was actually glad to see this but I will not go into
> this now.
> What the previous owner did was use '69 outer tie rod ends on a '70
> spindle
> (big no no). So what I decided to do was replace most of the
> steering
> components that could be worn and correct this problem at the same
> time. I
> replaced:
>
> o The inner tie rods ('69)
> o The outer tie rods (making sure I used '70 outer
> tie rods)
> o The sleeves ('69 and '70 are the same)
> o and the idler arm ('69)
>
> I did not replace the steering center link nor the pitman arm.
> After it was
> completed, I then took the mustang to an "alignment guy" who
> (believe it or
> not) specializes in classic mustang front end alignments. He has
> one of
> these alignment systems that gives you a computer readout showing
> where your
> alignment was before he did anything to the car and again where it
> is after
> he has completed his work. He said that everything went in to specs
> fine
> and in the process centered both sleeves on their associated tie
> rods.
> However, now I have the problem I mentioned at the beginning of this
> lengthy
> e-mail. Alignment guy could not figure out why I had more steering
> in one
> direction over the other. And in the opposite from where it was
> before he
> did the work.
>
> Does anyone know what could cause this?
>
> I should also point out, just in case it matters, within the past
> year, I
> also lowered the upper control arm and I installed a wedge kit.
> Alignment
> guy said every thing there was fine too. I am also going to have to
> pull
> the steering wheel and reinstall it to make it centered again.
> Alignment
> guy said this is normal for how far things were tweaked out before
> he put
> everything back into specs. Alignment guy also said that
> everything
> underneath was centered nicely and nothing was even close to being
> out of
> tolerance.
>
> Any comments would be greatly be appreciated.
>
> Tim Kreps
> '69 Mach1
> Napa, CA (Home of Sears Point Raceway)
>
Tim,

This may not be of any help but some disc brake spindles have a cast in
stop on them. When swapped to a different application they sometimes hit
an obstruction and do not allow the wheels to turn all the way one way.
It might be something to look at. Have someone turn the steering wheel
for you while you watch the travel from full left to full right and see
if anything hits anything. (It's worth a look.)

Larry W. Blum, Jr.
Pensacola, Fl.
"mailtoemail redacted)"
"students.uwf.edu/lwb1/homepage.html"
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, the Ark was built by
amateurs and the Titanic was built by professionals.
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This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: (email redacted) (David McCracken)

The tie rod adjusting sleeves are not set correctly. one is too long and
the other too short. This can happen and the toe in still be set correctly
as it simply shifts the steering linkage (in relation to the pitman arm) to
one side. If both are about the same length then the steering will be
centered, then just set the toe in correctly and you will have the same in
both directions.

David

> > How did this little oddity appear? Since I have owned the mustang
> > (about a
> > year and a half now), I have always noticed that the steering was a
> > little
> > sloppy (power steering) but more importantly it was a little off.
> > Back then
> > it was just the opposite. I had a little more steering to the left
> > than I
> > did to the right. This prompted me to do some deep investigation!
> > I looked
> > underneath. What I had noticed was that the left hand tie rod
> > sleeve was
> > backed very far out (tie rods far apart) and the right tie rod
> > sleeve was
> > screwed very far in (tie rods very close together

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: (email redacted) (Edward Chase)

Dave, I don't think this is the case. I'm not sure if you noticed but
another message came in today that describes things further. I think his
alignment guy would have noticed if the sleeves were off as you describe.


At 09:50 PM 8/18/2001 -0400, David McCracken wrote:
>The tie rod adjusting sleeves are not set correctly. one is too long and
>the other too short. This can happen and the toe in still be set correctly
>as it simply shifts the steering linkage (in relation to the pitman arm) to
>one side. If both are about the same length then the steering will be
>centered, then just set the toe in correctly and you will have the same in
>both directions.
>
>David
>
> > > How did this little oddity appear? Since I have owned the mustang
> > > (about a
> > > year and a half now), I have always noticed that the steering was a
> > > little
> > > sloppy (power steering) but more importantly it was a little off.
> > > Back then
> > > it was just the opposite. I had a little more steering to the left
> > > than I
> > > did to the right. This prompted me to do some deep investigation!
> > > I looked
> > > underneath. What I had noticed was that the left hand tie rod
> > > sleeve was
> > > backed very far out (tie rods far apart) and the right tie rod
> > > sleeve was
> > > screwed very far in (tie rods very close together
>
>_______________________________________________
>Classic-mustangs mailing list
>(email redacted)
>mix.twistedpair.ca/mailman/listinfo/classic-mustangs

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: (email redacted) (Tim Kreps)

That is correct. If you read the entire, message the sleeves were
originally adjusted incorrectly. I had a little more steering to the left
then to the right. And I think it was misadjusted to compensate of the
problem I see now. But after alignment guy centered the sleeves and
completed the associated other adjustments (strut rods, lower control arm
eccentric, etc.), I now have more steering to the right than I do to the
left. Alignment guy said everything centered well in the adjustment area as
it should and said that the steering anomaly is not the cause of an
alignment adjustment. Per the suggestion of others in this thread, I plan
on looking underneath to see if it is hitting something that is physically
stopping it from steering any further to the left. Could it be possible
that the power steering gear is not centered (steering wise) and is running
out of room in one direction?

Tim Kreps
'69 Mach1
Napa, CA (Home of Sears Point Raceway)

-----Original Message-----
From: (email redacted)
[mailtoemail redacted)]On Behalf Of Edward
Chase
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2001 8:11 PM
To: (email redacted)
Subject: Re: [CM] Re: Off center steering


Dave, I don't think this is the case. I'm not sure if you noticed but
another message came in today that describes things further. I think his
alignment guy would have noticed if the sleeves were off as you describe.


At 09:50 PM 8/18/2001 -0400, David McCracken wrote:
>The tie rod adjusting sleeves are not set correctly. one is too long and
>the other too short. This can happen and the toe in still be set correctly
>as it simply shifts the steering linkage (in relation to the pitman arm) to
>one side. If both are about the same length then the steering will be
>centered, then just set the toe in correctly and you will have the same in
>both directions.
>
>David
>
> > > How did this little oddity appear? Since I have owned the mustang
> > > (about a
> > > year and a half now), I have always noticed that the steering was a
> > > little
> > > sloppy (power steering) but more importantly it was a little off.
> > > Back then
> > > it was just the opposite. I had a little more steering to the left
> > > than I
> > > did to the right. This prompted me to do some deep investigation!
> > > I looked
> > > underneath. What I had noticed was that the left hand tie rod
> > > sleeve was
> > > backed very far out (tie rods far apart) and the right tie rod
> > > sleeve was
> > > screwed very far in (tie rods very close together
>
>_______________________________________________
>Classic-mustangs mailing list
>(email redacted)
>mix.twistedpair.ca/mailman/listinfo/classic-mustangs

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