Re: Gross Misalignment? I think not!

["Fred Munro" <munrof@isys.ca>]

-----Original Message-----
From: Graydon D. Stuckey <graydon@apollo.kettering.edu>
To: JustaxPHX@aol.com <JustaxPHX@aol.com>
Cc: quk@isham-research.demon.co.uk <quk@isham-research.demon.co.uk>;
quattro@coimbra.ans.net <quattro@coimbra.ans.net>
Date: Tuesday, February 02, 1999 6:36 PM
Subject: Gross Misalignment? I think not!


>On Tue, 2 Feb 1999 JustaxPHX@aol.com wrote:
>
>> > This is bad alignment, guys.  There's absolutely nothing vague about
>> > Galvin's 200TQ (aligned by Paul Beaurain at Pro-Align in Northampton).
>>
>> Maybe and maybe not ... the Gross Scruggs I met last year seemed to be
pretty
>> meticulous about his car maintenance and setup, and I'd be surprised if
he
>> wasn't keeping a pretty close eye on his alignment settings.  More
likely,
>
>Agreed.
>
>> it's being caused by the low-profile tires we're both running, which have
a
>> greater tendency than normal to follow ruts in the road, etc.
>
>But lower profile tires will not make the steering vague.   They'll make
>the car follow ruts more accurately, but not vaguely.  Vague, to me,
>spells out a disconnect between the tire contact patch and the steering
>wheel.  This could be worn bushings (as Gross has already addressed), a
>worn rack, or inconsistent power assist.  I would think that a worn rack
>would have an apparent looseness or sloppiness.  I could see how
>inconsistent power assist might make the steering vague though as the
>required steering effort would be constantly changing.  If the seals
>were starting to leak in th erack, then this might produce the
>vagueness that Gross is noticing.  Maybe Gross' rack is about to go south
>for the winter...
>

    After 260,000 kms, the steering on my 200q was getting a little "vague".
Adjusting the preload on the steering rack solved the problem. You turn the
10 mm bolt clockwise until the steering does not centre itself after a turn
and then back off on the bolt until it does centre itself. The procedure is
in the Bentley. It worked wonders for the steering feel on my car - also
solved the clicking sound I was noticing through the steering column when I
turned the wheel.

HTH

Fred Munro
'91 200q  267k km