TR2/3/3A TR3A rolls to the left?

[TFR]

Just wondering if anyone could give me a starting point on repairing the problem of the car wanting coast left? I am thinking it might be that the rear axle assembly is not perpendicular to the chassis. Don't think it is the front alignment because they are equally spaced in the front and rear of the tires.
Any starting ideas would be appreciated.

 

[NickMorgan]

I have known the axle to move from its normal location on the rear spring after a heavy impact. I suppose that there could be any number of other reasons for this. Is it something that has just started happening?
You will need to check all of the suspension and steering and check for broken springs, worn bushes or ball joints, etc, etc

 

[Tinster]

An obvious could be very uneven tire pressure.

Did you use at least a 4 foot length of straight edge
when you marked the inside and outside edges of both
front tires onto the concrete floor? I used a 6 footer
myself. Measure distance spacing at the ends of the lines.

My drift to the left was an improperly adjusted tie
rod end. An easy fix even for a non-mechanic like me.

d

 

[TR4]

Would measuring the distance from the front tire to the rear on both sides give you an indication that the rear is off? Both sides should be equal.

 

[Tinkerman]

Pretty tough for the rear axel to have moved unless there was an impact as Nick said. The way the axel and the springs mate, would preclude "just because" lateral movement. I would certainly look to the front end components as the culprit. There are 392 of them exclusive of the fastners and they all have to be dead on.

Good luck,
tinkerman

 

[Don Elliott]

The rear axle is located by a round headed bolt head on the the top of the spring. One of mine (RHS) had this locating hole elongated (worn) close to 1/4" and this put my axle out by 1/4" on one side.

 

[TR3driver]

Not long after I bought TS39781LO, I discovered that both rear springs had broken main leaves. Not obvious, since the broken ends were trapped against the rear axle; but enough to allow the axle to move around somewhat.

But I agree, it's more likely a front end problem IMO.

 

[TFR]

All of the components in the front are new. I even have rack and pinion steering. That is not to say that they may need adjusting.
Wonder if the modern shops can adjust the alignment on an old car.

Logic check for me.

Pulls when coasting but not obvious during acceleration or under engine power.

Guess its back to measuring and adjusting...

Thanks guys.

 

[Russ Austin]

Hey Larry; So you did the R&P, are you sure you got everything correct with the rack. Was the R&P the kind that you switch your tie rods, left side to the right and visa versa. Make sure the spacers are correct. When I first did mine 6 years ago I think I may have had the same problem. Went back and redid it and it has been fine.

 

[startech47]

Make sure your brakes are working correctly and adjusted properly.

 

[TFR]

HI Russ,

I think I'm okay on the steering system. Am going to check as soon as I can.
I also build and drag race motorcycles so I'm extremely busy right now.
Have to share a story with you about my TR3.

I live on a hill and my driveway goes from the street up to the house on the hill. I pulled up a couple days ago and got out. Went down to get my mail and heard a pop sound. Looked up and saw the car rolling backwards toward the street and a telephone poll. As it rolled down I paniced and started running after it. I ran across a busy road after it with out thinking of the traffic. Since it rolls to the left it started to turn and missed the poll, mail box and a large tree. It also was spared from any traffic... It ended up in the neighbors front yard undamaged.
How's that for a lucky story...

 

[startech47]

Maybe you don't want to fix it. You never know when this will happen again. LOL My Sprite did much the same thing when I was in high school and ended up on a neighbors bush. A nosy neighbor called the police and he ended up having fun with the report ( maker of bush = god, ...). The owner of the bush thanked me as they wanted to get rid of it.

 

[Russ Austin]

Larry that's crazy as in crazy good luck, Didn't we meet at the Bash in Louisville a couple years ago.

 

[PlaidMan]

Larry, you might try switching the front tires from right to left to rule out a radial pull. If after you switch them it pulls to the right, then it's new tires you'll be needing. good luck, Charlie

 

[Twosheds]

Pulls when coasting but not obvious during acceleration or under engine power.

The rear on my old TR3 racecar was bent. The symptom was a dart in one direction upon acceleration and a dart in the other direction upon lifting.

I forget the dart directions. The rear was bent in such a way as to cause toe-in.

 

[TFR]

Russ, I met you last year at the bash. I'll be there this year if all possible.

 

[SpannerMan]

My advice would be to check tire pressure, and for any gross discrepancies in size or wear. Then check you don't have a brake hanging up - just coast to a stop slowly and see if there is a 'jerk' when you come all the way to a stop. Or jack up each corner and spin the wheel by hand. Next thing is take it somewhere to check the alignment. Caster is a big factor in setting the centering forces you'll feel in the wheel; if you have uneven caster between sides you'll have a pull. I would look for an alignment/frame specialist; I doubt a regular tire shop etc will touch a TR3A and you probably wouldn't want them to...

 

[Russ Austin]

Larry; See ya there, should be a nice one. After the show last year it rained on Barry Schonberger's 56 TR3 and my 58 for the hour and a half drive back to Evansville. I had this silly grin all the way, I was drenched!

 

[CraigLandrum]

You were lucky with that driveway. Was doing a tuneup on my 63 AH 3000 years ago and had it outside the garage. For reasons I cannot fathom now, I finished what I was doing and wanted to see how it ran. Leaned over the door and pressed the starter button. The good news was that my tuneup worked great and the car started immediately. The bad news was that I had a massive brain [censored] and had left the car in reverse. Off it went backwards. I managed to catch the thing and turn off the ignition just after the rear end had completely trashed the garage door. Was renting the house at the time and my landlord wasn't pleased, although I bought him a brand new door. Expensive mistake. Gotta love those starter buttons on the LBCs....