Need advice on alignment/Tie rod issues ...?

[VR6 VDF 0]

Hi All,

Went to get my cars tracking and alignment checked and corrected last week but the guy (tyre pros in hertfordshire) said they couldn't do it?

After asking why, the guy mentioned that there wasnt enough adjustment on the tie/track rod and I need to change the track rod end. The camber was adjusted fine, but the tracking they couldnt do...

anyone else experienced this? Is there a reason why Ill need to change the track rod ends as surely there should be enough adjustment to put it straight?

My car is lowered about 50mm, would this cause a problem

[NicDale 0]

The lowering isnt a problem, mines lowered 60mm front and 40 rear.

Changing the track rod end isn't a difficult or expensive job though.

[Phat VR6 3]

you can do it a much easyer way fella... remove the streering wheel clamp

Tell him to wind out the track rod abit on the one his run out of adjustment with

Now get him him to turn the streering wheel untill the side his having troble with is tracked spot on or (close)

Now he has enuff room to track the other side then all you gota do it remove your strearing wheel to straten it all up again. indicator cancleation works off your strearing wheel so all is good

Hope this helps Tom

[VR6 VDF 0]

lol thanks for the reply guys,

Tom, thanks, but I need a bit more info.!!

- remove the steering wheel clamp (i.e. take off steering wheel?)

- and do you mean wind out the inner track rod end?! (From the link below it looks like it needs to be torqued up tight?)

after thinking about it im thinking about replacing my ball joints and tie rod ends with these DIYs I found on vortex, not too hard, and then just go for an alignment:

http://faculty.ccp.edu/faculty/dreed/Campingart/jettatech/tierods/tierods.htm

and

http://faculty.ccp.edu/faculty/dreed/Campingart/jettatech/balljt/balljoint.htm

[Phat VR6 3]

You can change them if you want.. Is the track rod bent? If not and theres no play then theres no point replacing anythink.

Nope dont take the steering wheel off untill after you've had it tracked. When you have it tracked they put a clamp on the streering wheel to hold it strate you need to track it up with the steering wheel offset so his got adjustment if that makes sence

Yep wind out the track rod end say 3 turns on the one you run out of adjustment on

I cba to read the link (to long) but you do need to tighten the track rod locking nut up tight after?

If you copy and paste my first post and give it to the geeza doing your tracking he should understand what im on about, wouldn't bother changing any ball joints or track rods unless theres any need

Good luck mate

[VR6 VDF 0]

Thanks again Tom,

Righty, Ill take it into get it aligned again on sunday and see what they say...

[VR6 VDF 0]

Bollox....

The drivers side ball joints bolts snapped yesterday night leaving me stranded yet again (passengers side went a few weeks ago!) so im just going to change them all over.