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TR2/3/3A Steering Stiff

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mgedit

mgedit

Jedi Knight
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Just about got car on road, but on short test drive, the steering is too tight (not returning to centre when coming out of curve). Assume the steering box is the culprit. Can it be adjusted in situ or does it need to be removed from the car to adjust? Any hints/suggestions from those who have addressed this would be appreciated. Cheers, Mike
 
Sorry if I missed something but what work have you done with the steering?
 
Stiff is one thing, and can be worked on. The TR3 does not have any castor, however, so there is little tendancy to return to center like on most cars. They fixed that with the TR4, by adding castor to the front suspension.
 
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Front suspension and linkage all rebuilt. So it is possible something back together incorrectly. Anything that tends to be a possible area for error? This was one part of car that was redone by previous owner before I got car, but looked OK to me when I looked it over when body was off car. Cheers, Mike
 
The most likely problem is the steering gear was shimmed too tight. The least play is at the center point in the gear. If the shims were adjusted with the gear off center, then the center position will bind. As you turn the gear away from center, the play increases, do to the way the gears are cut.

With an all new set-up, make sure you got all the joints greased well. When you steer with the wheels on jacks, how does it feel?

One final thought...these spindles are very light duty. Both of my spindles were bent when I got the car. The axis of the threaded portion of the spindle on the bottom should point directly through the center of the ball joint hole at the top. If the spindle is bent, these axis will not line up, and the steering will bind, even though everything else is nice and new. If you bump a curb, you will likely bend a spindle...they are that flimsy.
 
I see that you also have a TR6. Question is - have you ever driven a TR3 before? Steering is way different than on the 6. Wheel won't return to center like modern cars as CJD explained, the TR3 has zero caster and no adjustments other than toe. If you changed the adjustment on the steering box, maybe you have it too tight. But too tight would also feel like it binds at center. And being that your 6 is r&p steering versus the old ball style on the 3 is another reason for a difference. When stopped, the TR3 takes arm power to turn the steering wheel. Good thing they have a large diameter wheel.
 
Like CJD said try to steer it with no or little weight on the front wheels. If it still feels bound up the problem might be in the gear box or possibly the steering column. If it is a split shaft then there are a few things to mess with on the mounting brackets.
 
Thanks for the input guys. Has been many years since I drove a 3. Not split shaft, will try to examine everything over the next couple of days. Cheers, Mike
 
On a tr3 you always want to make sure the idler arm is free moving. They can be difficult to grease and look good on the outside when bad. Pump some new grease in and move the wheels back and forth. Make sure you see grease coming out the top of the idle arm while greasing.
 
Thanks ... one more thing to check. Just got car jacked up, but out of time till Sunday to investigate further. Anything look wrong in these pics?

Pass_Side.JPG
Drive_Side.JPG
 
Much too clean for starters Mike...:smile:

Cheers
Tush
 
mgedit said:
Anything look wrong in these pics?
Click to expand...


Yeah, I can see a problem - dust on the top of the coil springs! Looks very nice Mike. Nothing seems out of miss there at all, and everyone has hit anything I could think of - John mentioned the one that caught me before, and that was a bent vertical link. But with my car that also showed up with a very worn trunnion and a lot of play in general. If you don't mind messing up your toe in, it might be worth disconnecting the tie rods on each end - that should let you feel how the steering box and idler arm feel by themselves. You could also rotate each wheel separately as well and see if one side or the other is binding.


Randy
 
OK so did a bit more checking this morning:


With wheels off ground the steering is not really stiff, but not very easy either. I cannot move the wheels to steer at the wheels if you understand what I mean, they are too stiff to turn side to side.


Not "excessive" play or binding that I can feel at steering wheel, these points are subjective as I have no real point of reference.


Think all bolts are tight throughout the steering links. Will try some more greasing.


As suggested, thinking maybe taking tie rods/ends out might help identify where binding may be occurring.


Thanks for help/suggestions. Much appreciated. Cheers, Mike
 
taking the rods loose will certainly give some insight as to where the problem is. It may come down to changing/loosening a few things to pin point what make a difference.
 
Personally, i wouldn't be too quick to take anything apart. Depending on how close you are to hitting the road, it might just loosen up a bit with use. I took delivery of a brand new '62 TR3B and when I made the first turn I nearly hit a parked car on the left side of the street I turned onto. I had expected the wheel to return like the "Detroit iron" I had been use to but without castor it just didn't.
 
So have got things pretty much apart. With tie rods and centre link removed, here is what I observe. Both wheels turn smoothly and with little effort. Tie rods ends are "stiff" but according to local mechanic they are about what he would expect with new units. With only steering box and drop lever attached steering wheel from lock to lock is very easy to turn (one finger) at lock and as it get to centre it gets a little stiff (but still can be turned with one finger) and then as it approaches end of travel toward opposite lock becomes easier to turn again ... so some level of resistance or stiffness near centre position. Does this sound correct, or does it indicate need for some adjustment? Thanks to all for help and suggestions. Cheers, Mike
 
That is correct. there should be a little resistance at center. I would imagine that when you drive it you will notice little issue with the stiffness that you feel with it sitting still. It may even loosen as you break her in a little.
 
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