Tracking the easy way

SteveG4TRA · Aug 20, 2018

I am having to replace both tracking and drag rods on my S2 and would like any advice as to the easy process to get the steering tracking as near spot on as possible.
My intention is to line up the new to the old bars to get the dimensions transferred to the new rods. Lock the steering box with a bolt in the straight ahead position, mount the bars and check tracking with a piece of string from the tow bar around the rear wheels to the front wheels, to check front and back of the front tyre is parallel.
Never having done this before is that all there is to it, and will this approach work please?
Thanks
Steve

lynall · Aug 20, 2018

What i do at work is simply measure from the end of the rod to the centre of the steel cap on the track rod end and make sure the new joint is the same measurement.

99.99999 percent of the time this works just fine, but the other day for the forst time ever in 30 years after I had replaced the complete track rod the steeirng wheel was out of line and I had to dig out the trakcing gauges and its was quite some way out.

On a live alxe vehicle parellel is just lovely, toe in would be nice, but sod it parellel works and is easy to arrive at!

Gazbo · Aug 21, 2018

lynall said:
What i do at work is simply measure from the end of the rod to the centre of the steel cap on the track rod end and make sure the new joint is the same measurement.

99.99999 percent of the time this works just fine, but the other day for the forst time ever in 30 years after I had replaced the complete track rod the steeirng wheel was out of line and I had to dig out the trakcing gauges and its was quite some way out.

On a live alxe vehicle parellel is just lovely, toe in would be nice, but sod it parellel works and is easy to arrive at!

I do the same on my D1, no toe in/ out, just using the "string line" method, getting nice even front tyre wear and drives/steers like a dream, move fronts to rear and vice versa every 10,000klm get great tyre life.

sierrafery · Aug 21, 2018

Or you can count the remained threads

lynall · Aug 21, 2018

sierrafery said:
Or you can count the remained threads

Thats what a lot of truck mechs do, sadly you cant always be 100 percent especially if using pattern parts.

SteveG4TRA · Aug 21, 2018

lynall said:
Thats what a lot of truck mechs do, sadly you cant always be 100 percent especially if using pattern parts.

Well, as always I appreciate the experience of others and have taken the string route round the back wheels to the front, with a touch to the front and rear of the front tyre at the same time, indicating zero toe in/out. I will watch tyre wear accordingly.
Thanks guys
Steve

Dippypud · Aug 21, 2018

Had one of these for years, they work well ....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Trakrite...245981?hash=item35e120215d:g:Wt8AAOSwIylZ0iC3

gstuart · Aug 21, 2018

Dippypud said:
Had one of these for years, they work well ....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Trakrite...245981?hash=item35e120215d:g:Wt8AAOSwIylZ0iC3

That’s a good item to have , that’s gone in my shopping list

I used one of these, knowwhere as good but used it when I adjusted my rear wheel camber

Tracking the easy way

SteveG4TRA

Active Member

lynall

Well-Known Member

Gazbo

Well-Known Member

sierrafery

Well-Known Member

lynall

Well-Known Member

SteveG4TRA

Active Member

Dippypud

Never Knowingly Understood

gstuart

D3 Grandad

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