>>> When the wheels are straight the boot on the left side is much longer >>> (twice the length?) of the one on the right.
That sounds really odd. If I stick with the theory of a bent rack, it would mean someone went out of their way to adjust the inner tie rod ends to try to hide the issue, but failed. That just sounds too weird. (I don't know if the inner tie rod ends can be adjusted) My suggestions: 1) Try disconnecting the uprights from the tie rods or rack to see if you get full travel left and right on both wheels 2) With everything still disconnected, see if the rack gets full travel left and right. 3) Pull the rack boots off and see if you can adjust the inner tie rod ends Luis _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Robert McElwee Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2011 5:01 PM To: Bill Cardell Cc: Miatapower Miata Power Subject: Re: Problems removing the steering column from the rack Replying to several posts here: Total number of turns is 2.5 lock to lock. I have heard that a manual rack should be 2.8 turns lock to lock. After 0.8 turns to the right the boot is completely compressed and therefore it cannot be turned any further. The left side is compressed after 1.7 turns (and the wheel is hitting the a-arm). When the wheels are straight the boot on the left side is much longer (twice the length?) of the one on the right. I don't have another Miata to look at (can't see it on my MSM due to all the junk under the hood and the belly pan) to see if it is like that on other Miatas. The tie rods (at least from the start of the threads to where it flares out) are the same length @ ~6.5". I have no looked under the boots but might go in there in the morning. Might grab some video as well so you guys can see what I am seeing. As far as something being bent, I would think that if one side were bent it would mean that it could not turn that side much. So, what accounts for being able to turn the other side so far the wheel hits the A-arm? You could say that it was drastically aligned after the "wreck" but there is not much difference in the position/length of the tie rod ends. On Tue, Jan 18, 2011 at 1:05 PM, Bill Cardell <[email protected]> wrote: I don't see how the rack itself could change length (at least and still turn). Back to the beginning of this whole thing, what is the total number of turns from stop to stop? Bill Cardell -- Robert McElwee and Sleepy (V8 Miata) www.lightweightmiata.com/v8 The Beer Cooler (Miata Trailer): www.lightweightmiata.com/trailer
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