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[Seth]

Had a busy day today and changed the sump on the TD.

To facilitate this, the radiator and sub-frame were removed. The steering idler bracket was also removed from the chassis rail to give the necessary clearance for the rear of the sump to pass out over the centre tie-rod.

Everything's okay, except that the steering wheel is now slightly offset from the 'straight ahead' position.
The car runs 'straight' with no wandering.

Any pointers anyone?

[feeutfo]

If the subframe has been removed the whole front end will now be out to the rest of the car. Quite possibly a crab has been set by the new position by the sound of it, so caster will now be wrong/uneven, and the toe setting will be off centre, so to speak, so the steering wheel has to be off to get the car on line.

You could try repositioning the sub frame until the steering is straight again but in all probability it won't be right again until setup at wheels on motion or one of their franchises.

It is quite scary how much play there is in the subframe location holes, and no accuracy given to it in fitting at the factory either, they just fire in the bolts and send it on it's way. 

[Seth]

If the subframe has been removed the whole front end will now be out to the rest of the car. Quite possibly a crab has been set by the new position by the sound of it, so caster will now be wrong/uneven, and the toe setting will be off centre, so to speak, so the steering wheel has to be off to get the car on line.

You could try repositioning the sub frame until the steering is straight again but in all probability it won't be right again until setup at wheels on motion or one of their franchises.

It is quite scary how much play there is in the subframe location holes, and no accuracy given to it in fitting at the factory either, they just fire in the bolts and send it on it's way. 

I've been thinking along these lines too Chris ......

Am now planning on fitting a pair of Lemforder wishbones ASAP anyway, after noticing a split in the gaiter on the N/S ball-joint and deterioration of the rear bush on the other.
Then it'll be a trip to WIM for a full set-up.

If only I knew that this was the case beforehand, then it'd have been a simple enough job to do 'em whilst the sub-frame was out on the workshop floor.
 
The 'law of the sod' eh ..........
 

[feeutfo]

Ah, no point playing with subframe position then, and yes law of sod should be added to the Death and Tax rule, it is the third certainty in life. Sigh... 

[TheBoy]

Agree with chrisgixer, needs professional setting up afterwards...