Re: Squirrley steering

["David Teitelbaum" <jtrealty@xxxx>]

Is this a challange? I have no problem with reenforcement in the
crumple tube area. It is a lot better than driving with a crumple tube
zone that deflects when you drive! We have a member's car here that
when it was on the lift we saw a piece of diamond plate welded to the
entire bottom of the crumple tube area! Of course if that car was ever
in a serious enough accident the car probably wouldn't perform quite
the way the origional engineers would have predicted! As long as you
appreciate the purpose intended and made an effort to preserve some of
the function, chances are you will be fine. After all didn't DMC have
to reenforce the area at the sway bar brackets! If you can make the
steering work correctly maybe you won't get into the accident that you
would need the crumple zone for? While you are at it make sure the
restraining brackets on the bonnet are lined up with the stop bumpers
so in case of that head-on collision the hood, (bonnet), won't go
through the windscreen and decapitate you. On the Jaguar XKE's the
front of the frame that supports the engine and steering is a tubular
section that bolts to the unibody frame. It rusts from the inside out
and it weakens so much it can collapse. The only remedy is to just
replace it. I guess the same thing is happening here except that our
crumple tubes are welded in. If the frame is that bad maybe it is a
better idea to just get another frame? Check the back around the motor
mounts for rust too. Usually when you see enough rust to cause concern
in the front you also have problems in the back.
David Teitelbaum
vin 10757


--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Toby Peterson" <tobyp@xxxx> wrote:
> Rich - Funny you should bring this up ... One of our members (PNDC) is 
> having a problem with loose steering, with a lot of wandering, etc. 
> He was told that he had bad tie rod ends, but he is convinced that the 
> rack is moving laterally. He also has some damage to the crumple 
> tubes, and is further convinced that the frame extension is deflecting 
> as he steers the car, creating some of the loose feel. Last night, I 
> brought over an expert welder and metal worker to take measurements 
> for a reinforcement plate for the crumple tube area, and (if all works 
> out okay) we plan to offer a reinforcement kit for sale for people who 
> have some damage that they are concerned about. I suspect that Dave 
> T. will say something about affecting crash-worthiness, but I think