Tie rod adjustment
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,114
Likes: 597
How many turns of the tie rod adjusting sleeves would alleviate this off center steering wheel?
Attachment 48311479
Attachment 48311479
To center the wheel you will need to lengthen the passenger side tie rod sleeve over all length and shorten the driver side tie rod sleeve. Start with 1/2 turn each side.
Now if you are interested in checking your alignment read this.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nt-method.html
Last edited by cagotzmann; Aug 6, 2020 at 10:00 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 258
From: Dublin Ohio
Originally Posted by cagotzmann
Without actual alignment readings adjusting the tie rods will center the steering wheel but the question is why is it off center.
To center the wheel you will need to lengthen the passenger side tie rod sleeve over all length and shorten the driver side tie rod sleeve. Start with 1/2 turn each side.
Now if you are interested in checking your alignment read this.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nt-method.html
To center the wheel you will need to lengthen the passenger side tie rod sleeve over all length and shorten the driver side tie rod sleeve. Start with 1/2 turn each side.
Now if you are interested in checking your alignment read this.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nt-method.html
Last edited by BarryB72; Aug 6, 2020 at 10:11 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,334
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Your roads must be flatter than the ones around here 
tie rods are 5/8-18 (I think) so 18 threads per inch = .055" per thread turn
pitman arm is something like 7" long (I'm guessing)
One turn on the tie-rod would be (math) .45 degrees on the box
standard box is 16:1 so .45 on the output times 16 is 7.2 degrees on the input
7.2 deg on a 15" steering wheel is (math) 9.4 out at the top
So 1 turn on the tie-rod would be about 1" off on the steering wheel at the top
ish.... ?????? (there's a lot of guess-ishs in there and I'm still on my second coffee...)
M
tie rods are 5/8-18 (I think) so 18 threads per inch = .055" per thread turn
pitman arm is something like 7" long (I'm guessing)
One turn on the tie-rod would be (math) .45 degrees on the box
standard box is 16:1 so .45 on the output times 16 is 7.2 degrees on the input
7.2 deg on a 15" steering wheel is (math) 9.4 out at the top
So 1 turn on the tie-rod would be about 1" off on the steering wheel at the top
ish.... ?????? (there's a lot of guess-ishs in there and I'm still on my second coffee...)
M
Last edited by Mooser; Aug 7, 2020 at 09:17 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,810
Likes: 469
From: Wichita Kansas
Your roads must be flatter than the ones around here
tie rods are 5/8-18 (I think) so 18 threads per inch = .055" per thread turn
pitman arm is something like 7" long (I'm guessing)
One turn on the tie-rod would be (math) .45 degrees on the box
standard box is 16:1 so .45 on the output times 16 is 7.2 degrees on the input
7.2 deg on a 15" steering wheel is (math) 9.4 out at the top
So 1 turn on the tie-rod would be about 1" off on the steering wheel at the top
ish.... ?????? (there's a lot of guess-ishs in there and I'm still on my second coffee...)
M
tie rods are 5/8-18 (I think) so 18 threads per inch = .055" per thread turn
pitman arm is something like 7" long (I'm guessing)
One turn on the tie-rod would be (math) .45 degrees on the box
standard box is 16:1 so .45 on the output times 16 is 7.2 degrees on the input
7.2 deg on a 15" steering wheel is (math) 9.4 out at the top
So 1 turn on the tie-rod would be about 1" off on the steering wheel at the top
ish.... ?????? (there's a lot of guess-ishs in there and I'm still on my second coffee...)
M
Nice work by Mooser once again, have another cup 
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 258
From: Dublin Ohio
Central Ohio is fairly flat but northwest Ohio is not just flat, it's level. Used to be swamp land.
I actually ran into a guy that called me a flat lander one time
Anyway, ever notice that the compass on your phone works whether vertical or horizontal? What about sitting on a horn button?
It's off 6 degrees.
I actually ran into a guy that called me a flat lander one time
Anyway, ever notice that the compass on your phone works whether vertical or horizontal? What about sitting on a horn button?
It's off 6 degrees.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,334
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
coffees have already worn off so take this with a grain of salt...
.055" moved the 7.2 degrees, when you turn the tie-rod sleeve both ends move in/out the same amount so 1/2 turn on the sleeve would move each end out .0275 (x2 = .055) , and whatever you do on the one side you need to undo on the other side so it still tracks/toes the same. Does it seem that you need to move the wheel roughly an inch to correct it?
M
.055" moved the 7.2 degrees, when you turn the tie-rod sleeve both ends move in/out the same amount so 1/2 turn on the sleeve would move each end out .0275 (x2 = .055) , and whatever you do on the one side you need to undo on the other side so it still tracks/toes the same. Does it seem that you need to move the wheel roughly an inch to correct it?
M
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,027
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From: US-PNW
I think another important point to make is to carefully monitor how the car tracks down the road and steers in general when you're finished. If it pulls to one side, then it needs to be realigned. Also, over the next few hundred miles, pay attention to tire tread wear to make sure a setting isn't off and causing scrubbing of the tire against the road surface.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 258
From: Dublin Ohio
Measuring movement at the bottom of the bottom spoke where it meets the wheel, I think an inch is a good round number for this discussion.
So would it be more like 1/4 turn since doing it on both sides affects 4 separate pieces?
So would it be more like 1/4 turn since doing it on both sides affects 4 separate pieces?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
No. And the direction of rotation for each side needs to move both wheels in the same direction. Since the OP needs to turn a bit to the left for the car to go straight, BOTH wheels need to be adjusted so that they point more to the LEFT. So the right tie rod adjustment needs to 'extend' that rod further, while the left one needs to be shortened by the same amount. (1/2 turn to start, IMO)
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 258
From: Dublin Ohio
I just took driver side wheel off so I'm ready to go.
I'll do 1/2 turns on each side.
According to the Jim Shea paper I need to shorten the left and lengthen the right.
To Shorten the left it looks like a clockwise turn and to lengthen the right looks like a counterclockwise turn.
I guess it also says to just mark it and turn it.
I'll do 1/2 turns on each side.
According to the Jim Shea paper I need to shorten the left and lengthen the right.
To Shorten the left it looks like a clockwise turn and to lengthen the right looks like a counterclockwise turn.
I guess it also says to just mark it and turn it.
Last edited by BarryB72; Aug 7, 2020 at 03:59 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Give it a little bit of a drive and over some bumps, etc. before you go after it again. Things have to settle back into place. Once it seems stable (and that may already be the case), make your fine-tuning move.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,334
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Was that a 1/2 turn or between 1/2 and 1/3?
Also, when your in there again, can you check the length of the pitman arm? I'm curious if the 7" guess was close enough.
Also also, make sure you have even turns on the wheel lock to lock, the zero position needs to be on the high spot of the steering box so it needs to be in the middle of the full left vs full right
M
Also, when your in there again, can you check the length of the pitman arm? I'm curious if the 7" guess was close enough.
Also also, make sure you have even turns on the wheel lock to lock, the zero position needs to be on the high spot of the steering box so it needs to be in the middle of the full left vs full right
M