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Mar 24, 2019 11:05:30 GMT
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I need to replace the tie rod ends on my beetle. Would measuring the current length of them before I fit the new ones get me back to a good starting point?
How hard is it to do the tracking yourself after?
Cheers
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1967 Beetle
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dreadspeed
Part of things
1972 triumph 2.5 pi on carbs
Posts: 66
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Mar 24, 2019 17:37:01 GMT
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yes measuring is good, i once ordered new ones online they arrived fitted them took the motor for a quick drive drove all overthe place the new ones were around 10mm longer,
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Mar 24, 2019 18:49:23 GMT
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Yes, you need to try to measure to something fixed rather than relying on an assumption that the casting will be the same size between the end and the centre-point of the pin on new and old parts. Sometimes you can remove the nut and measure the edge of the thread to a fixed point on the suspension arm.
I bought a used "Gunsosn Trakrite" on a car boot sale years ago for a couple of pounds, and it's been great. I've swapped lower ball joints and track rod ends on my modern and used it to set the tracking, and done the same on the classic.
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Rob M
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,915
Club RR Member Number: 41
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Tie rod ends and trackingRob M
@zeb
Club Retro Rides Member 41
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Mar 24, 2019 20:38:06 GMT
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If you fit new then pay to get the tracking checked and adjusted. You can measure and hope for the best but, really, getting it tracked up properly will make all the difference. Realistically, your existing tracking could even be out enough for you not to notice but not give you the handling and steering you could have. Spot on tracking makes a world of difference!
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,188
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Tie rod ends and trackingChasR
@chasr
Club Retro Rides Member 170
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Mar 25, 2019 18:22:24 GMT
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As said, get it in the ballpark, and then pay a man to track it. You can do it yourself with some axle stands and £30 laser, or string for that matter. Even top F1 teams still use string these days as it is very consistant.
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Apr 10, 2019 22:47:20 GMT
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you can check tracking is parallel surprisingly accurately with two perfectly straight beams. i use aluminium channel. make sure they are touching evenly the outsides of the wheels properly them measure how far apart the beams are with a tape measure both infront of and behind the wheels. adjust so that they are same
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69 Plymouth Fury Convertible 75 Range Rover 2 door 82 Range Rover 4 door 84 Range Rover 4 door 78 Datsun 120Y 2 door 78 Datsun 120Y Coupe 78 Datsun 620 Pickup 81 Datsun Urvan E23 86 Datsun Vanette van 98 Electric Citroen Berlingo 00 Electric Peugeot Partner 02 Electric Citroen Berlingo 76 Honda C50 04 Berlingo Multispace petrol 07 Land Rover 130 15 Nissan E-NV200 15 Fiat Ducato
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Apr 15, 2019 19:10:54 GMT
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I bought something called a trackace after reading about it. It's a diy laser system accurate enough to set the correct angle, which isn't usually zero. It's a bit fiddly but seems accurate, worth a look if you might need it from time to time.
Can't post a link from my phone.
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Tepper
Part of things
Posts: 381
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I did it myself once using fishing line, axle stands and two bits of pipe but honestly, I don't think it's worth the bother. If you have a look at National tyre's website there's a voucher for half price tracking, which brings it down to £15 - for that money, it's not worth messing about with unless you have something like a trackace.
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1989 Peugeot 205 GTi - stolen! 1983 Mazda RX7 1968 Rover P6 - also stolen.
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,188
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Tie rod ends and trackingChasR
@chasr
Club Retro Rides Member 170
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May 15, 2019 19:44:55 GMT
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Not hard at all.
Finding someone who can track a car can be tricky. Local recommendations go a long way.
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May 15, 2019 23:41:40 GMT
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Hi, You could always use a Mk1 eyeball. Park the vehicle on flat level ground with the wheels straight ahead, go and stand about 2 or 3 car lengths behind the car and look down each side of the car, compare the front wheels with the rear wheels and you can see whether there's any toeing in or out. It's enough to get you in the ball park to go and get it tracked without doing any harm if you want. Once you've done it few times it's surprising how close you can get it, so much so that I don't generally bother.
Colin
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May 16, 2019 20:05:32 GMT
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Not hard at all. Finding someone who can track a car can be tricky. Local recommendations go a long way. This is why I think I'm gonna give it ago myself or find someone recommend I've never found anyone who can set it up properly in the past always had issues on older cars
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1967 Beetle
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,188
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Tie rod ends and trackingChasR
@chasr
Club Retro Rides Member 170
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May 16, 2019 22:12:42 GMT
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Hi, You could always use a Mk1 eyeball. Park the vehicle on flat level ground with the wheels straight ahead, go and stand about 2 or 3 car lengths behind the car and look down each side of the car, compare the front wheels with the rear wheels and you can see whether there's any toeing in or out. It's enough to get you in the ball park to go and get it tracked without doing any harm if you want. Once you've done it few times it's surprising how close you can get it, so much so that I don't generally bother. Colin People say they can do it by eyeball. However, when I have seen said cars, the tyre feathering tells another story. Indeed, it does get you in the ballpark, but it's no match for measuring twice and adjusting once .
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froggy
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,099
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May 17, 2019 12:38:23 GMT
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If you tell the garage it’s all freed up and ready to adjust you might get it done a bit cheaper , if it’s all nice and free it’s a five minute job with a super tracker . I charge £15 for stuff that’s ready to adjust .
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79cord
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,606
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May 18, 2019 10:58:51 GMT
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Did mine last week with a laser pointer spirit level across the wheels. Shut garage door & marked & measured width of laser points upon the door just in front of car. Opened door & marked & measured points shone on wall several meters further away. Adjusted until measurements matched.
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Last Edit: May 18, 2019 11:00:02 GMT by 79cord
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May 19, 2019 18:57:04 GMT
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In the past ive just used a tape measure to get it in the ballpark, and it works surprisingly well.
Measure from a set point on the tyres (ie a centre groove) between the front tyres across the car.
Do this on both sides of the wheels
Then adjust until the measurements are equal/slightly toe-in.
That will get your wheels relatively parallel when driving.
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,188
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Tie rod ends and trackingChasR
@chasr
Club Retro Rides Member 170
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In the past ive just used a tape measure to get it in the ballpark, and it works surprisingly well. Measure from a set point on the tyres (ie a centre groove) between the front tyres across the car. Do this on both sides of the wheels Then adjust until the measurements are equal/slightly toe-in. That will get your wheels relatively parallel when driving. Out of all of the cheaper methods, this one has worked well for me . You can make a tracking setup relatively cheaply. String is very accurate but it is time consuming. If you buy a couple of £15 lasers you can make it easier to live with. Hot Rod magazine covered this on an online article.
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