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View Full Version : Interesting info, need verified...



Wobba
09-02-2009, 01:31
In the Williams Technical Guide, it has a section on setting the front suspension geometry and tracking etc. It makes an interesting point, and if true, could help me a lot with setting mine up:

It says...

With the steering lock applied there is still a certain amount of play in the steering wheel. The steering 'centre point' is obtained by turning the wheel slowly to the left (left hand stop)

After this it then goes on to describe you can set the tracking at this point.

So I guess, if this is true, you could do as it says, remove steering wheel, set it to straight ahead and have the wheels tracked at straight ahead...right?

Matty86
09-02-2009, 02:55
not quite sure what you mean...


I normally count the lock to lock turns and divide by 2 and work out the central position from there to get the rack centred

Wobba
09-02-2009, 09:25
not quite sure what you mean...


I normally count the lock to lock turns and divide by 2 and work out the central position from there to get the rack centred

I used that method too, but it my above post is right then my steering is wrong by a bit and I like things just right :)

Wobba
12-02-2009, 18:13
So no-one here can verify this then?

white16valver
12-02-2009, 18:21
Your first post has confused me :oops: lol

Matty86
12-02-2009, 18:53
I guess he means if you remove the ignition key and apply the steering lock then turn the wheel to the left whilst locked (as it has a bit of play) you get the centre of the rack..

Wobba
12-02-2009, 19:11
You know when you have no key in the ignition, your car is parked, your security steering lock engages, right?

Now, there is some play in the steering still. Turn the steering wheel left until you get the the end of the lock. If what the guide is saying is true, it SHOULD be the straight ahead point ... so the steering should be centred on the rack.

If it's not, then simply set the steering wheel to how it should be for going straight forward, then set the tracking accordingly.

Is this true? If so, mine is out, and I will correct this weekend...

stevie_b
12-02-2009, 20:33
I removed the steering lock as a weight-saving measure, so I guess I'll never know if my tracking is spot on :lol:

Wobba
13-02-2009, 00:49
Oooh! Good plan! :D

Wobba
13-02-2009, 12:24
Can no-one verify this then?

16v_paddy
13-02-2009, 12:26
I can verify that I haven't got a clue :wink:

white16valver
13-02-2009, 12:39
You know when you have no key in the ignition, your car is parked, your security steering lock engages, right?

Now, there is some play in the steering still. Turn the steering wheel left until you get the the end of the lock. If what the guide is saying is true, it SHOULD be the straight ahead point ... so the steering should be centred on the rack.

If it's not, then simply set the steering wheel to how it should be for going straight forward, then set the tracking accordingly.

Is this true? If so, mine is out, and I will correct this weekend...
WTF

I think I'm going daft in my old age as I swear that is the most confusing post ever :shock: :oops: LOL :lol:

So what you're saying is...

With the key not in the ignition and the wheels facing where you think straight ahead is, turn the steering to the left so the steering lock engages. When it's at the end of its travel to the left while 'locked', that is the straight ahead????

Wobba
13-02-2009, 14:48
You know when you have no key in the ignition, your car is parked, your security steering lock engages, right?

Now, there is some play in the steering still. Turn the steering wheel left until you get the the end of the lock. If what the guide is saying is true, it SHOULD be the straight ahead point ... so the steering should be centred on the rack.

If it's not, then simply set the steering wheel to how it should be for going straight forward, then set the tracking accordingly.

Is this true? If so, mine is out, and I will correct this weekend...
WTF

I think I'm going daft in my old age as I swear that is the most confusing post ever :shock: :oops: LOL :lol:

So what you're saying is...

With the key not in the ignition and the wheels facing where you think straight ahead is, turn the steering to the left so the steering lock engages. When it's at the end of its travel to the left while 'locked', that is the straight ahead????

That's what the tech manual says it should be, yes. So in theory if that is true if you have a sttering wheel that points left, even a bit, then the lock is engaged then the rack is not where it should be. I am going to test this theory before having the tracking done.

stevie_b
13-02-2009, 16:53
I have a manual rack and wound out track rod ends for my widetrack so I'm more interested in having a balanced amount of thread on each side within the rod, rather than having it technically 'spot on' by the tech manual but leaving me with a dangerously small amount of thread within the rod on one side. It would be interesting to see if both methods give the same result anyway though! I guess I can try by lining up the hole in the column with the hole that the steering lock would have gone through and seeing if its out.

white16valver
13-02-2009, 17:08
My head hurts lol

Wobba
13-02-2009, 17:39
My head hurts lol

*Pat*


Stevie, yea if you have a spare bit of time, check it out and see what it looks like :) I am going to test it tomorrow or Sunday if I have the time.

Matty86
13-02-2009, 18:19
I aligned mine by manually finding the centre of the rack.. i've just been out and checked that with my steering lock on and left hand down, the the wheel is bang on centre... so both methods work, but wobbas would be easier :p

Wobba
13-02-2009, 20:59
I aligned mine by manually finding the centre of the rack.. i've just been out and checked that with my steering lock on and left hand down, the the wheel is bang on centre... so both methods work, but wobbas would be easier :p

Ahh nice one!

I did actually do the counting rotations method when I had the track rods off to calculate the central position for the rack, but for whatever reason, its no longer central (I blame the shit tracking I had done not long ago).

As I have new suspension I want it set to straight ahead for when it goes to the specialist 4 wheel tracking place that can do my car with lowered suspension. I'll adjust tracking to roughly what it should be before I go.

I could let them do it, but I like to do as much as I can myself.

Wobba
17-02-2009, 13:32
Just to confirm: This method works.

For those of you doing track rods or wishing to reset their geometry etc, this is an effective way of setting it up and ridding the car of years of people tracking the car but not resetting the rack/steering wheel.

The balance between left and right turns has been restored (i.e. one side does not feel 'lighter' than the other when turning) and handling has never been better.

white16valver
17-02-2009, 13:44
If I can get my head round this when I'm sitting in the car, I might give this a go lol

Wobba
17-02-2009, 14:38
It's really simple.

When you do your rod ends etc, get in the car whilst it's jacked up prior to getting tracking done

Take the key out of the ignition so the steering lock locks the steering wheel

Turn it left to the max it will allow

Remove steering wheel

Readjust it so the max left position becomes straight ahead with steering wheel

Re-affix the steering wheel

Lock it in position (i used a rubber handled mallet jammed in the steering wheel spokes against the steering cowl)

Set the tracking by adjusting the track rods as well as you can by sight to be straight ahead

Job done.

white16valver
17-02-2009, 15:10
ok, I think that makes sense... lol

Cheers! :D