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[fogrider]

Hello all, my 1991 2.5td estate needed l/h track rod ends recently.Whilst off, I centred the steering wheel and found the wheels were well off dead ahead. To sort it before going for proper alignment, I had to pull all the left adjust right in and the right side right out. It,s as though the steering rack is out of place by 25mm. It had a new idler before I bought it, but I can't see how that could put it all across. If anyone can give me some ideas to look at I,ll go and get oily!
Regards, Terry

[feeutfo]

as you say, the wheels should be set with the steering wheel straight, often the track rods seize and the steering wheel is moved straight instead, keeping the steering straight is important as it insures the steering box is centered as well, move the steering wheel and then set the toe to that and the track rods will be off to one side as the steering box isn't in the middle to match.

Not saying your steering wheel has definately been moved but its something to bare in mind during full geomotric set up. Tracking alone is only a fraction of the omegas set up issues, and most tracking jigs are barely an improvememt over string and a piece of chalk. Avoid.

[Marks DTM Calib]

What position is the pitman arm in when the wheel is centred?

Is is straight ahead or offset....if the latter then the wheel is wrongly fitted.

[fogrider]

Had a look underneath, that Pitman arm faces forward when the steering wheel is set for ahead. The left track-rod adjust sleeve has 15 mm thread showing each end of it, the right hand only 12 each side. Maybe I'm too critical ? It still has a very very light pull to the left and I remember having to screw the left well out and the right well in to get the wheels dead ahead with the steering set to the middle of its turns lock to lock. At least it's stopped scrubbing tyres.

[feeutfo]

Had a look underneath, that Pitman arm faces forward when the steering wheel is set for ahead. The left track-rod adjust sleeve has 15 mm thread showing each end of it, the right hand only 12 each side. Maybe I'm too critical ? It still has a very very light pull to the left and I remember having to screw the left well out and the right well in to get the wheels dead ahead with the steering set to the middle of its turns lock to lock. At least it's stopped scrubbing tyres.

should be fine once set up then, again, full geometric set up, nothing less. Try "Wheels in motion .com" or similar.

[2woody]

steering wheel, drop arm and idler arm should all agree when straight ahead, or you don't stand a chance of getting anything adjusted.

the track-rod end adjustment needs to be what it needs to be to get the correct toe-in.