Tracking

[Zetomagneto]

As others have said, Easier to just take the steering arms off the stub axles, if you do that, no need to take the TRE cotters out

[dickie65]

Hi,
If your front axle is a replica bowed sports one it is likely that it has been shortened in the bending process.
Track can be reduced by 1 1/2" over the factory sports front axle.
The result is that the track rod has to be shortened by cutting the threaded ends down which is how it appears in your pictures.

Plus gas / patience / and heat will be needed. ( go carefully on the heat Plus Gas burns very well )

You can always pull the kingpins and put the whole lot on the workbench.

[Ian Williams]

1 1/2" shrinkage sounds rather a lot, they normally loose 1/4" to 1/2" depending on how they are bent

[dickie65]

Hi Ian,
1 1/2" is about the difference between my original type 65 axle and a Box saloon one I had bent by one of our specialists about 15 years ago.
I could not get the radius arms to fit properly and the wheels fouled the inner wheel arches so I had to build up the lock stops.
I also had to cut the threads on the track rod to fit the shortened axle and it ended up looking like the one pictured.
That axle has now been cut in two and a section from a scrap axle welded in the bring the track back to match the original axle.
My original axle had been sleeved at the eyes and had vertical splits due to being weakened.

Cheers Dickie

[Ian Williams]

Gosh Dickie that is a surprise, I have never come across one that shrinks by that amount, I have noticed some axles are bowed far deeper than a genuine sports axle ever was so perhaps that is what you have?

[Bob Culver]

Anyone attempting to correct or alter the track rod bends must be very careful to avoid kinks or nicks. The component is frail enough without fatigue stress raisers being added.

[Ian Williams]

I don't know about that Bob the track rod is thick walled about an 1/8" from memory, I can go and measure one if you really want, with that wall thickness I would suggest tweaking the bends slightly will not cause collapse. I would however suggest setting a much greater bow in the rod is unwise, simply because it will then be more susceptible to flex when under load.

[Bob Culver]

This topic was raised some months ago. It seemed common for many tracks rods to be stretched. Because the toe in adjustment is too coarse I suspect many have been deliberately sprung, often more than once, and others have been stretched by heaving on the wheel. Restoring the correct curves one fix. Vice jaw nicks and the like to be avoided. Many mechanics do not know what vice clamps are.  Next time anyone is in a "professional" workshop, amuse yourself with a Where is Wally game!

[Alan]

No doubt but there’s s huge difference between “bend” and “break”. Bob. I really thought a man of your intellect would understand that.

[Charles P]

Having done this very adjustment a couple of months ago I now have the correct die to elongate the threads. Shout if you want to borrow it Duncan.

Charles