close ratio steering snafu
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 211
Likes: 2
close ratio steering snafu
hello...70 w/o power steering. Read some posts way back and saw in a repair manual that you can move the tie rod ends to a different hole to tighten up the turning ratio. One of the posts mentioned that you MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT getting an alignment afterwards. After moving the tie rods I saw that both tires were severely toe out. I drove the car half a block before I turned around because the drag was amazing. I am tempted to put the tie rods back in the original holes and pretend it was all a dream. Does anyone care to convince me to stay with the new holes. I didn't hate the steering before but I don't want to get frustrated and turn back if there is a benefit to this modification. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Well, you could pull the toe back in a little by adjusting the tie rods, just get it straight "by eye" to get it to an alignment shop, or just to see how the steering feels with the higher ratio. I don't think I'd take it out on the highway, or any other high speed maneuvers.
Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,065
Likes: 1,395
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
I have a '70 w/o power steering. I also have thought about moving the tie rods to the inner holes. I haven't done this primarily because of the increased steering load/resistance for the driver.
If you are young and "robust", then this may not be a concern. However there would be increased strain on the rag joint. A u-joint from Flaming River would solve that.
Thanks, Barry
If you are young and "robust", then this may not be a concern. However there would be increased strain on the rag joint. A u-joint from Flaming River would solve that.
Thanks, Barry
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
I've run manual steering with both quick and slow ratios, and IMHO the "slow" setup is almost always preferrable. (That would be the holes in the steering knuckles furthest from the spindles.) Not only will that make it easier to muscle around in parking lots, but quick steering isn't necessarily your friend at high speeds.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 211
Likes: 2
I've run manual steering with both quick and slow ratios, and IMHO the "slow" setup is almost always preferrable. (That would be the holes in the steering knuckles furthest from the spindles.) Not only will that make it easier to muscle around in parking lots, but quick steering isn't necessarily your friend at high speeds.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
FWIW, I believe all stock C2/C3 boxes are 16.1:1, with overall effective ratios being either 20.2:1 (slow) or 17.6:1 (quick). And, to extrapolate for those with bumpsteer blocks ~18.9:1, tho the increase in Ackerman may affect that. As for steering effort at low speeds, tho noticeable, I doubt the difference correlates directly with the percantage change between ratios, given scrub is also a factor.
