Uniball Tie Rod End

[kayj_prod]

Just checking my car over prior to my grand tour in a couple of weeks and I've got a slightly worn near side rear tie rod end. (I should have checked the advisories on my MOT as its on there!)

 

I've found the replacement part from the kit on Eliseparts, but I'm not sure if I need the LH or RH thread.

 

Just to be clear, this is the hub end of the near side.

 

https://www.eliseparts.com/products/show/70/611/uniball-rod-end-replacements/

[Martin R]

It depends how its been installed. You need to disconnect it and check the thread by winding in and out. AFAIK they can be installed either way round. That or buy one of each and change both?

[kayj_prod]

I guess it makes sense they could go either way around. Thanks, Martin.

I need to watch my pennies at the moment and though I can see it being logical to replace both at the same time, they've not really done that many miles. Less than 5000. I'm hoping this one is just a duff one.

New tyres this week too. Erk.

[russelld]

You should be able to tell by undoing the locking nut. If it loosens off the normal way it will be a RHT if not it will be LHT.

[kayj_prod]

Thanks Russ. Will get on to that in the morning.

[kayj_prod]

Slightly related update to this. I went to have my tracking done today... the last time it was set up was the MLOC trip to Tollbar Racing. I was really just aiming for the steering to feel a bit more neutral as it had been feeling very 'darty'. Anyway, the measurements suggest it was all over the place. They said they couldn't get into cambers and any adjustment to camber would upset any tracking work done. I asked them to correct the front anyway, but had them leave the back especially since I've that toe-link to change anyway. 

The front does feel a lot better now and I can't really feel the back end doing anything strange. 

Thoughts?

[Martin R]

Front does not look too bad ( apart from the slight difference in camber ) However the back is awful. Change the tie bar and aim for approx 1mm either side toe in on the rear ( 2mm total toe in on rear ) That will feel ok IME. I would not be driving it quick as it is now.

 

You also need all the cambers a lot closer to each other across axles.

 

I am currently running 1mm toe out total on front with 1 degree camber and 2mm toe in total on rear with 2 degree camber IIRC. Nice and neutral.

 

If im reading it right it looks like one side on the rear is toe in and one side toe out?

[Phil S1]

The readings do appear a bit awry Keith, did either place put any ballast in the car at all?

Shouldn't that be toe out on the front and toe in on the rear Martin?

[kayj_prod]

Phil, Tollbar did it with me in the car and corner weighted it. That would make a difference to the camber settings wouldn't it?

 

Martin, yes, the rear is wanting to crab! (It doesn't feel that way, but that's what the numbers are saying.)

 

Think I'm going to have to squeeze in a trip to someone who knows what they're doing with geo.

[Phil S1]

Yeah that may well explain the difference in camber that you're seeing from one side to the other although tbh I would've expected the figures to be the other way round. If the Camber's were right with you sat in the car then without you in it I would expect the camber on the driver's side to be less than on the passenger side.

[Martin R]

The readings do appear a bit awry Keith, did either place put any ballast in the car at all?

Shouldn't that be toe out on the front and toe in on the rear Martin?

 

Phil, you are quite right i should have checked? editited to correct ta    

[kayj_prod]

Hang on, I'm a little confused. So the front wheels SHOULD be toe out and the rear SHOULD be toe in? (So the intersection of the wheels would make an X as opposed to a diamond?)  Of course, at the moment, mine are more like { } !

[KurtB]

Hi Keith,

 

Yes the fronts should toe out and the rears should toe in.

 

I hope you have a good trip!

 

Cheers,

Kurt

[russelld]

The rear wheels should definitely toe in ( The car will be prone to oversteer if there is any toe out ). The fronts can be either parallel toe in slightly or toe out slightly.

 

If the fronts toe in you will find the car will want to drive straight and this is an advantage when driving on motorways etc. ( most normal production cars are set up this way for this reason )

 

If you toe out the front slightly you will find the car will be more responsive to slight steering inputs & turn in will be sharper. The downside to this is the car will always want to enter a turn so on straight roads constant steering corrections can become tiresome & give the car a feeling of being un stable.

 

Parallel,  1mm toe in overall & 1mm toe out overall ( 1/2 mm each side ) are all good non aggressive settings. For your road trip I would suggest 1mm toe in.

 

Russ.