Some of you may know I have had a few problems with the steering and ball joints on the Ghia. Hopefully now this is done but I just want to make sure as I have one more, issue...
So I replaced all 4 ball joints and the steering coupler. When I eventually got it all back together it was tight but working. Only thing was, there was a single knock on turning and two tight spots going from lock to lock.
So I take of the wheels, jack her up again and decide I have one faulty tie rod end ( just ) and possibly a worn steering box. I decide to do the whilst I am in there and ordered up 4 new tie rod ends and a steering box.
This is where it gets a bit awkward, a case of too many cooks possibly.
Anyway, I get the old tie rods off and my son asks if I need a hand. I say, yes, measure the rods/threads etc so I can put the new ends on so they will be the same length and position. Make sure you mark them...
Long story short, the new ends went in and had slighlty different shoulders etc and so threads were different blah blah. Had to reassemble rods using visual of old parts to see where the threads had corrosion or were clean. Pretty sure the rods were reassembled to within about 1-2mm of original.
Had already removed the steering box after making sure wheels were straight ahead and steering wheel was also.
On fitting new box, pitman arm would not go on as it fouled part of the frame. Turned the box about 1/2 - 4/4 of a turn, put arm on and the turned box back to original position.
Made a big assumption here, that the new box would have been supplied in the central position.
Now reassemble stuff and daughter comes out to help. tighten up steering box and pitman arm. Reconnect tie rods and steering damper. All looking good, both wheels facing straight ahead as I can see.
Tell daughter to make sure steering wheel is straight ahead and install steering coupler.
When all back together, put wheels on and turn full lock to lock, all seems good.
Drop car onto wheels and turn lock to lock, all ok.
It is at this point I notice steering wheel is about 180 degrees out, ie upside down! Daughter thought it was correct!
So, questions...
Is it safe to drive to get her all aligned properly?
Is it ok, once aligned, to simply remove steering wheel and place in correct postion?
Do I need to jack her up again and redo the steering coupling to get steering wheel in correct position?
I read in the book that the wheel should not be moved to get it central but I thought as I have had everything apart and reassembled, if tracking etc was ok then this would be OK.
Sorry for long post but I want to be sure about safety here.
Thanks
So I replaced all 4 ball joints and the steering coupler. When I eventually got it all back together it was tight but working. Only thing was, there was a single knock on turning and two tight spots going from lock to lock.
So I take of the wheels, jack her up again and decide I have one faulty tie rod end ( just ) and possibly a worn steering box. I decide to do the whilst I am in there and ordered up 4 new tie rod ends and a steering box.
This is where it gets a bit awkward, a case of too many cooks possibly.
Anyway, I get the old tie rods off and my son asks if I need a hand. I say, yes, measure the rods/threads etc so I can put the new ends on so they will be the same length and position. Make sure you mark them...
Long story short, the new ends went in and had slighlty different shoulders etc and so threads were different blah blah. Had to reassemble rods using visual of old parts to see where the threads had corrosion or were clean. Pretty sure the rods were reassembled to within about 1-2mm of original.
Had already removed the steering box after making sure wheels were straight ahead and steering wheel was also.
On fitting new box, pitman arm would not go on as it fouled part of the frame. Turned the box about 1/2 - 4/4 of a turn, put arm on and the turned box back to original position.
Made a big assumption here, that the new box would have been supplied in the central position.
Now reassemble stuff and daughter comes out to help. tighten up steering box and pitman arm. Reconnect tie rods and steering damper. All looking good, both wheels facing straight ahead as I can see.
Tell daughter to make sure steering wheel is straight ahead and install steering coupler.
When all back together, put wheels on and turn full lock to lock, all seems good.
Drop car onto wheels and turn lock to lock, all ok.
It is at this point I notice steering wheel is about 180 degrees out, ie upside down! Daughter thought it was correct!
So, questions...
Is it safe to drive to get her all aligned properly?
Is it ok, once aligned, to simply remove steering wheel and place in correct postion?
Do I need to jack her up again and redo the steering coupling to get steering wheel in correct position?
I read in the book that the wheel should not be moved to get it central but I thought as I have had everything apart and reassembled, if tracking etc was ok then this would be OK.
Sorry for long post but I want to be sure about safety here.
Thanks
