Are inner tie rod ends adjustable?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 370
Likes: 6
Are inner tie rod ends adjustable?
I just put a new AC Delco steering rack on my 1986 Z51 Corvette and I think something is wrong. I have an appointment for a alignment in 4 days but when I put the new rack in I tried to get the front toe as close as I can with the wheel straight but I dont have enough treads on the driver side to toe in the wheels. Are the inner tie rod ends adjustable so that the alignment shop can get it right or is my rack need exchanged. Also when I turn to the left the wheel turns way more than it should and to the right not enough.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 69
Likes: 1
Sounds kind of like you didn't have the rack set straight when you attached it to the steering column. Attaching it a turn or two off would create exactly the condition you describe.
Not having seen the hardware, my advice would be to disconnect the steering column from the rack, set the steering wheel and rack straight, and then reattach. When I say set rack straight, you should have equal extension on both sides from the rack housing.
Not having seen the hardware, my advice would be to disconnect the steering column from the rack, set the steering wheel and rack straight, and then reattach. When I say set rack straight, you should have equal extension on both sides from the rack housing.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,772
Likes: 64
From: Mystic CT
When I say set rack straight, you should have equal extension on both sides from the rack housing.
Another easy way is to count the turns from lock to lock then use a marker on the shaft and rack and to hard lock in one direction and then go half the travel in the other direction make a straight ahead mark and then do the tie rod ends to get toe with the wheels pointing straight ahead.
Dave
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
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From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
If your rack is for a regular C4, putting it in a a Z51 car will give you that problem of more turns to one side than the other.
You need a steering shaft from the column to the rack from a base car because the bolt to lock it onto the rack is in a different position on a Z51 rack. Or go get the right rack. They sold you one for a base car.
You need a steering shaft from the column to the rack from a base car because the bolt to lock it onto the rack is in a different position on a Z51 rack. Or go get the right rack. They sold you one for a base car.
Last edited by coupeguy2001; Oct 24, 2010 at 12:42 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 370
Likes: 6
I double checked and the rack is centered but still have this problem. What I think gm did is put the wrong inner tie rod end on the driver side because it looks different and is longer than the passenger side
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
It wouldn't be GM. It would be whoever the lowest bidder was to AC Delco. I think the AC Delco racks are just rebuilds.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,287
Likes: 448
From: Upstate NY
I just put a new AC Delco steering rack on my 1986 Z51 Corvette and I think something is wrong. I have an appointment for a alignment in 4 days but when I put the new rack in I tried to get the front toe as close as I can with the wheel straight but I dont have enough treads on the driver side to toe in the wheels. Are the inner tie rod ends adjustable so that the alignment shop can get it right or is my rack need exchanged. Also when I turn to the left the wheel turns way more than it should and to the right not enough.
This must be a real problem, because NAPA has a separate PN for the Z/51 and Non Z/51 rack
They sent me a replacement and I bench tested it before installing and it had the same problem.
I eventually spoke with the NAPA helpline and the rebuilders and they finally bench checked a third one and sent it -it was fine.
I'll bet that there are other Corvettes out there that have the wrong rack -which you can still align, but won't turn as far one way vs the other.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
I went through this earlier in the year with a NAPA rebuilt rack. I intsalled the rack and from center it had about 1/2 turn more one way than the other.
This must be a real problem, because NAPA has a separate PN for the Z/51 and Non Z/51 rack
They sent me a replacement and I bench tested it before installing and it had the same problem.
I eventually spoke with the NAPA helpline and the rebuilders and they finally bench checked a third one and sent it -it was fine.
I'll bet that there are other Corvettes out there that have the wrong rack -which you can still align, but won't turn as far one way vs the other.
This must be a real problem, because NAPA has a separate PN for the Z/51 and Non Z/51 rack
They sent me a replacement and I bench tested it before installing and it had the same problem.
I eventually spoke with the NAPA helpline and the rebuilders and they finally bench checked a third one and sent it -it was fine.
I'll bet that there are other Corvettes out there that have the wrong rack -which you can still align, but won't turn as far one way vs the other.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,287
Likes: 448
From: Upstate NY
Again, they made it right, but I still had to do all thework!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...last-call.html
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
As I recall, they were rebuilt wrong -internally they were not centered correctly -they have marks to line up or something?
Again, they made it right, but I still had to do all thework!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...last-call.html
Again, they made it right, but I still had to do all thework!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...last-call.html
