Steering adjustment this weekend

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Thorsten
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Steering adjustment this weekend

#1 Post by Thorsten » Fri Jun 21, 2019 9:39 am

Dear all,
On my way to the National I’ve experienced some troubles with my 2500 Mk2 (manual steering) which ended in not reaching the ferry from Rotterdam to Hull in time. I’ll give it another try tonight (as I’m 20km away from the ferry terminal I’m positive that I’ll make it this time - fingers crossed!).
One of the troubles I experienced is a bad vibration in the steering - when I checked the car this morning I found a front wheel bearing with some play (which I addressed by tightening it a bit more) but probably worse is the following:
The steering wheel would turn 1 1/2 turns to full lock to the left but 2 turns to the right! That seems like an ill-adjusted steering, doesn’t it?
Funnily while on 13” wheels this was not an issue but with the 15” TR6 wheels I fitted the morning of departure things worked out differently...
My idea is to address this problem while in England. I’ll arrive in Hull tomorrow morning and I’ve booked two nights in Newcastle before continuing to Bamburgh on Monday. Do you have any recommendations where to go to in that area? Is there a garage (with some knowledge of our cars) which might work on Saturday?
Any ideas gratefully appreciated.
Thank you ,
Thorsten
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Charles H
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Re: Steering adjustment this weekend

#2 Post by Charles H » Fri Jun 21, 2019 3:56 pm

Thorsten
If you did not have the vibration with the 13" wheels and do with the new wheels, then I would suggest it is a wheel balance issue. As far as the steering goes, that is easily adjusted by adjusting the track rod ends. It will not affect anything else and is not unsafe. Something you could do in Bamburgh perhaps!
Any tyre shop should be able to correctly balance your wheels.
Have a good time in Bamburgh.
Charles Harrison
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Re: Steering adjustment this weekend

#3 Post by johnnydog » Sat Jun 22, 2019 12:19 am

Hi Thorston,
Sorry to hear of your steering issues. It sounds like your rack is not centralised resulting in the different number of turns on either lock, but I wouldn't say that the vibration is caused by the tracking being incorrectly adjusted. What is the tyre wear like (although I appreciate you have only just fitted these wheels and tyres)? It would be worth checking for play in the track rod ends and / or bottom ball joints as well as checking the wheel balancing, which I would do first. I don't know anywhere in the North East unfortunately, but if you do decide to get the steering alignment checked I would recommend that the rack is centralised before any adjustments are made. It isn't shown in the workshop manuals for our cars, but is in the Stag manual which uses the same rack. A small blanking plug is removed (where a grease nipple can be attached for greasing), and there is a small indentation in the inner rack which indicates when the rack is central. If you insert a small drill bit or thin screwdriver, and gently turn the steering, it will drop into the indent when central. It only has to be turned gently, and probably not too far from the straight ahead position. A helper makes it easier to do. The tracking can then be adjusted as normal.
See you in Northumberland Thorston!
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Re: Steering adjustment this weekend

#4 Post by johnnydog » Sat Jun 22, 2019 12:21 am

Charles H wrote:
Fri Jun 21, 2019 3:56 pm
Have a good time in Bamburgh.
I take it you are not coming this year Charles?
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1967 Mk1 2000 in Gunmetal Grey
1969 Mk1 2000 in Royal Blue
1970 Mk2 2000 in Valencia Blue
1972 Mk2 2.5 PI in Triumph White
1973 Mk2 2.5 PI in Sienna Brown
1976 Mk2 2500S in Carmine Red

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Re: Steering adjustment this weekend

#5 Post by johnnydog » Sat Jun 22, 2019 8:35 am

One very simple thing that I would definitely check before anything else (and it has happened before) is to make sure all the wheel nuts on the replacement wheels are properly tightened! You wouldn't be the first or last this has happened to!
Regarding the wheel bearings - don't overtighten them! Taper needle roller bearings are designed to have a small amount of play in them - something that has been 'politely' discussed with MOT testers over the years!
Good luck with it anyway!
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1967 Mk1 2000 in Gunmetal Grey
1969 Mk1 2000 in Royal Blue
1970 Mk2 2000 in Valencia Blue
1972 Mk2 2.5 PI in Triumph White
1973 Mk2 2.5 PI in Sienna Brown
1976 Mk2 2500S in Carmine Red

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Thorsten
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Re: Steering adjustment this weekend

#6 Post by Thorsten » Sat Jun 22, 2019 2:03 pm

Hi John, hi Charles,
Yes, you’re most probably right. I’ll go drive the car up north now and see if I can get the tyres balanced somewhere...
Cheers & see you next week,
Thorsten
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tony
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Re: Steering adjustment this weekend

#7 Post by tony » Sat Jun 22, 2019 8:38 pm

Thorsten,
You say your problems only started when you fitted the 15 inch wheels. Are you sure that the wheels are not fouling something on full lock ?
Tony.
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Re: Steering adjustment this weekend

#8 Post by Charles H » Sun Jun 23, 2019 10:06 am

Not making it this year unfortunately. It's too far especially when we can't leave until 5pm on Friday and must be back for Monday morning. The disadvantages of Emma being a teacher!
Charles Harrison
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Re: Steering adjustment this weekend

#9 Post by Thorsten » Sun Jun 23, 2019 7:20 pm

Tony, good point. Tried to check that as good as I could in a hotel car park. Went to a KwikFit today and got the wheels re-balanced. Seems as if the front wheels both have a slight knock. With loads of weights added the steering vibration is better but not gone. Still have a strange sensation at 60mph when the whole car seems to swim ... at higher speeds that‘s better again. Will switch front to rear tomorrow and see where that gets me. (To Bamburgh hopefully ;-) )
Regards
Thorsten
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Alec
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Re: Steering adjustment this weekend

#10 Post by Alec » Sun Jun 30, 2019 10:42 am

Hello Thjorsten,

what wheels have you fitted, I have experienced after market wheels with too small a counterbore to fit the hub correctly, which can affect true running of the wheel?

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