611 Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 So i need a little help with the old steering setup on the A series!! Due to the lack of space and the angle the A has for the steering im ditching the Manta rack and fitting a mini one as its wider than the A and more adjustable. The mock i have so far is looking like its going to work ok. But i need to find some steering rod ends to fit. The mini just has the threaded ends so i cant use the A track rod ends. i need to find something that will screw onto these and fit the A series end on the Hub. So does any one work for vauxhall (or maybe know) what i can use? the distance from the center where the ball joint fits the steering on the wheel to the start of the steering rack is 5 inches and then the thread runs up another 1 1/3 inches. So a track rod end that measure around 6 inches would do i think? (or longer that i can cut down) This is from an asta, but if it was the right length would it fit an A? anyone work somewhere that could measure any or have access to dimensions. Thanks Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rutts Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 Put the rose joint conversion as used on chris colliers a series. Think tjm has them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
611 Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 Put the rose joint conversion as used on chris colliers a series. Think tjm has them. I did find this place (http://www.compbrake.com/product/opel-manta-a-track-rod-ends-pair/) that did the rose joint ones but wasn't too sure what they were like. Anyone got feed back on using them as they are £66 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANTAMAN Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 You will have to investigate the geometary when using a wider steering rack, during suspension compression the radius the steering arms will travel through will be different to the suspension arms thus generating the possibility of bump steer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
611 Posted November 6, 2015 Author Share Posted November 6, 2015 Good point, a bit of googleing on the subject i think :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
611 Posted November 6, 2015 Author Share Posted November 6, 2015 You will have to investigate the geometary when using a wider steering rack, during suspension compression the radius the steering arms will travel through will be different to the suspension arms thus generating the possibility of bump steer. Waht about this sort of setup?? http://www.cachassisworks.com/p-2704-bumpsteer-set-sm-rack-adjusta.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANTAMAN Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 Not entirely sure what they are, they appear to be extensions to add to a narrow rack to make it the same width as the suspension pivots. Ideally when looking from the front of a car with wishbone suspension, if you drew an imaginary line through the to top and bottom inner suspension pivot points then the swival on the end of the trackrod will fall on this line with the wheels in the straight ahead position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
611 Posted November 9, 2015 Author Share Posted November 9, 2015 Not entirely sure what they are, they appear to be extensions to add to a narrow rack to make it the same width as the suspension pivots. Ideally when looking from the front of a car with wishbone suspension, if you drew an imaginary line through the to top and bottom inner suspension pivot points then the swival on the end of the trackrod will fall on this line with the wheels in the straight ahead position. Thanks for the info. Looks like i need to try a different setup :-( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
611 Posted November 10, 2015 Author Share Posted November 10, 2015 Not entirely sure what they are, they appear to be extensions to add to a narrow rack to make it the same width as the suspension pivots. Ideally when looking from the front of a car with wishbone suspension, if you drew an imaginary line through the to top and bottom inner suspension pivot points then the swival on the end of the trackrod will fall on this line with the wheels in the straight ahead position. They are suppose to allow you to adjust the height of where the ball joint sits on the steering rack so you can iron out bump steer on very lowered cars. Thanks for pointing out the bump steer as i think you have saved me lots of time and money as the rack i have is way out and would never work now i know all about bump steer!! So its back to seeing if i can route the steering around the manifold. if that doesn't work its bin the manifold!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANTAMAN Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Suspension geometery, particulary the front suspension is a very involved subject, i have read quite a bit about it and looked under very many cars and i have only got a basic grasp of it. One method of determining what movement is going to take place is to make a cardboard computer !! make an accurated 2D scale representation of the suspension (viewed from the front ) out of cardboard strip using drawing pins as pivots, that way you can check if the steering arm moves in the same plane as the suspension. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
611 Posted November 12, 2015 Author Share Posted November 12, 2015 (edited) Suspension geometery, particulary the front suspension is a very involved subject, i have read quite a bit about it and looked under very many cars and i have only got a basic grasp of it. One method of determining what movement is going to take place is to make a cardboard computer !! make an accurated 2D scale representation of the suspension (viewed from the front ) out of cardboard strip using drawing pins as pivots, that way you can check if the steering arm moves in the same plane as the suspension. I like making mockups :-) But i going back to my original plan to route the steering around the manifold and use the manta rack as that will be the better way and probably a lot better! if he can do that to get round a Corvette engine im sure i can sort it for the A!! http://www.britishv8.org/Triumph/CalvinGrannis.htm Edited November 12, 2015 by 611 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANTAMAN Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 That is one 'eck of a build, a TR 6 with a 'vette engine !!! hope he can afford the back tyres !!! The universal joints would have to high quality, he used Wilwood, or there could be a problem with lost motion. This set-up might make the MOT examiner stare for a while but as long as it is engineered properly then there shouldn't be a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
611 Posted November 13, 2015 Author Share Posted November 13, 2015 (edited) That i one hell of an engine he has. and as you say what a build. Looks like a few quid spent there! I have a few Borgeson joints. The plan is to come off the column with an anti vibration joint and bring it slightly towards the chassis rail with a bearing holding it, then use a double joint to go around the exhaust and down towards the rack, another bearing and then onto the steering rack. I have had the big anti vibration joint removed and the spline made into a Double D to fit the Borgeson joint. So i now just need to mock it all up and see how it work and then away we go! i hope. Got to be easier than doing the rack :-) I think the old MOT man might be scratching his head on a few of my mods anyway!! Andy Edited November 13, 2015 by 611 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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