Steering Lock

[Brandt]

My '83 Esprit can turn a lot more sharper to the left than to the right.

I checked the amount of thread on the Tie rod ends, and they seem about the same on left and right, so nothing obvious there.

(Of course the previous owner said he had the steering rack reconditioned.....)

How many steering wheel turns does it take on the Esprit, form lock steering on the left to lock steering on the right?

[andydclements]

My '83 Esprit can turn a lot more sharper to the left than to the right.

I checked the amount of thread on the Tie rod ends, and they seem about the same on left and right, so nothing obvious there.

(Of course the previous owner said he had the steering rack reconditioned.....)

How many steering wheel turns does it take on the Esprit, form lock steering on the left to lock steering on the right?

More importantly, how many turns from central to left lock then how mnay from central to right lock on your car?

Is there anything out of place that prevents full lock on the right hand turn?

Andy

[Brandt]

It takes roughtly 1 and 3/8 turns to lock to the left, and roughtly 7/8 turns to lock to the right. So basically 2 and a 1/4 form lock to lock. Is 2 and a 1/4 turns normal for the esprit?

I have checked for obstructions, but haven't found any.

[iainskea]

From your post, are you saying there is more travel (1 and 3/8) to the left than right?

Have a look at your tie-rod ends and inspect the amount of thread left on each tie-rod. See if there is a big difference between left and right. If one has 16 threads and the other has 10 threads, it would make sense to put them both to 13 ..etc / and get a wheel alignment to confirm. Your steering wheel would need re-centralising.

Just an idea. Iain

[andydclements]

Have you tried checkingt he movement with the hub carirs not connected to the steeirng rack? Remove the track rod ends from the arms of the hub cariers, and see how far the wheel will turn then, consider doing 1 side at a time so you can check when the steering is set to straight ahead.

If the steering them gives equal results on lock to lock, then there's something not right that's restrictingthe hubs, if it's the same as before, then it's something to do with the rack & arms.

If all else fails, I'd suggest you move the steering wheel to the mid point of the locks, so that's approx 1/2 turn to the left, then adjust the track rod ends to suit ( move the left one out and the right one in) so that the wheels them point straight ahead.

You're sterring wheel will then need to be corrected.

Andy

[Brandt]

I just found out it should take 2.9 turns lock to lock.

As the amount of turns to the left sounds OK, I believe the rack is centred. So something is blocking movement. I just have figure out if it is in the rack, or somewhere on the body: Project for the weekend.

[JOHNDOYLE]

Hi Brandt

I recently had my rack serviced in Cape Town - nearer to you actually - it cost about R 1000 and works like a bomb.

The bearings in mine were both seized and a lot of rust had got in through a broken gaitor.

Not a nice job to remove but not the end of the world.

Let me know if you need details.

John

[molemot]

Turning harder one way than the other is due to paddlewheel effect of the propeller..oh no, that's boats...I'll get my coat...

[andydclements]

It takes roughtly 1 and 3/8 turns to lock to the left, and roughtly 7/8 turns to lock to the right. So basically 2 and a 1/4 form lock to lock. Is 2 and a 1/4 turns normal for the esprit?

I have checked for obstructions, but haven't found any.

How did you get on with this?

I think you'll find the quick racks were less than 2.9 turns, I think mine's closer to 2.5 than 2.9.

If the rack is allowing more movement to the left than to the right then either the rack isn't centred correctly (and the rest is taken up on the track rod ends or something to the same effect) or you have an item obstructing the wheels on right hand lock, but the total seems about right so i'd go for the former.

First, are both track rod ends on the threaded sections to approximately the same amount? If not, work out the mid point, wind one to reach the mid-point, counting how many turns it has to go through to get there, then wind the other back out by the same number of turns. Then, straighten the steering, remove the steering wheel, align it so that it is central and bolt it back on. Then do the counting turns from centre to lock either way, has it improved it?

Andy