Re: Squirrley steering

["cruznmd" <racuti1@xxxx>]

I'm glad I'm not going crazy.

Bad tie rod ends is exactly what it feels like. Like driving in ruts.

No metal is moving. I checked. The rubber bushings are slipping out of
the mounts.

No one wants the responsibility of welding my assembly. They all think
I'm going to sue them.

--- 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 we 
> can work around that issue successfully. I will be creating a mylar 
> template of the area this weekend, so I will look carefully at the 
> bushings and brackets to try to determine where the movement might be 
> coming from. I need to do that anyway, to support my fellow PNDC 
> member, as we have a club tech session coming up in a week and a half.
> 
> The brackets are not welded to the frame, but they do engage some 
> protrusions in the frame to prevent movement. Perhaps in your case 
> the nuts have loosened a little bit, and the brackets have disengaged 
> the frame protrusions?
> 
> Toby Peterson VIN 2248
> Winged1
> 
>