Heavy steering after fitting rack spacers and alignment

Thread in 'Technical Questions' started by matthew_l, Jul 27, 2015.

  1. matthew_l

    matthew_l Member

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    Hi All,

    I have had some rack spacers fitted at the weekend and my toe adjusted to pull it back in, since then the car is extremely hard to steer both driving on the street as well as drifting. The car in question is an IS200, also, another IS200 had spacers fitted and alignment and is now having the same issues, both cars were fine prior to fitting.

    Alignment; The toe out has been pulled to a really low angle, 1.5 degrees toe out on mine, and 1 degree toe out on the other car. Could the shallow toe angles be the issue with steering? My car when on the machine had 3.5 degrees of toe before any changes.

    I'm just after a bit of guidance on the issue if possible

    Matt
     
  2. Clark3y

    Clark3y Member

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    1.5 degrees is a huge amount of toe out. Should be toed IN anyway, and by much less, 0.25 degree or less is typical.
     
  3. mint

    mint touch my fruit

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    Typical for you maybe, I run toe out on the front of my car. In fact, most people I hang with runs toe out on the front.
     
  4. Clark3y

    Clark3y Member

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    Maybe, but not 1.5 degrees though, that's full retard by any standard.
     
  5. matthew_l

    matthew_l Member

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    Keep the info coming guys. I dont really know much about alignment, it was sat at 3.5 degrees, i guess 1.5 sounded a lot more reasonable..
    Could this be my issue with rock solid steering?

    what is a more reasonable amount of toe?
     
    #5 matthew_l, Jul 27, 2015
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2015
  6. diamondsink

    diamondsink Kyouto Drift

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    Just set it at 0
     
  7. mint

    mint touch my fruit

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    At the end of it, its personal preference. In the past I usually set my drift car up for as close to 0 on all four corners as possible, however with lock modifications, different knuckles and rods etc, I have found my toe to be out for ages and im used to it now. Id never, consider putting on toe in on the front though.. that, is whats retard spec lmao.

    I know people dial in Toe In on the rear for more grip though..

    matthew; Here are the Whiteline settings for the s15.
    [​IMG]

    I set my old s15 up to those specs. 3.5 though, is alot haha. 1.5 doesnt sound that savage to me, but then im used to weird settings now.
     
  8. matthew_l

    matthew_l Member

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    I have no idea what could be up with the car. Surely this much toe wouldn't make me need to lift myself out of the seat and put my whole body weight (16 stone) into trying to get the car to steer, would it?

    Cheers for the picture mint.

    The pump seems fine, fluid is circulating the system, the standard oil cooler is warm, etc.

    I've managed to source an old working ps pump off a friend to see what happens. At the same time ill change the fluid and fit a proper ps cooler.

    Annoying thing is, there's 2 identical cars which both had the same modification at the weekend, and both have these issues, both were fine prior to fitting and adjusting.
     
  9. Srs_721

    Srs_721 Member

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    There must be something seriously wrong if you are struggling to turn it that much id have though
     
  10. matthew_l

    matthew_l Member

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    Odd because it was fine before the spacers and alignment were done.
    Plan for Friday, pull toe to zero, if that doesnt fix it, new ps pump.

    Everyone please feel free to comment. ill update at the weekend.
     
  11. Srs_721

    Srs_721 Member

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    Its a strange one, especially as its happening to both cars. I cant see the pump just dieing, Something must be binding or put back incorrect causing some kind of issue
     
  12. Jites

    Jites Active Member

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    what this guy said and work from there, 0 toe all round is a good place to start

    tiny changes can make a large difference to how the car feels

    toe in is generally more stable, toe out is faster turn in
     
  13. Stavros

    Stavros Active Member

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    Toe has FUCK ALL to do with this guys problem.

    Read what he's saying! He's having to put all his weight to turn the steering, ie the PAS is not working at all for some reason.

    I can't tell you what's wrong, but I can tell you its fuck all to do with toe.
     
  14. NikH

    NikH Member

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    pull the castor forward and it makes it easier to turn the wheels
     
  15. mint

    mint touch my fruit

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    I was away to say, this isnt an alingment problem.. this is mechanical.

    Either the pumps failed, belts slipping, or the rack needs inspected. strip the rack and have a scan, maybe the lock spacers are fowling on the rack somewhere.
     
  16. initial_j

    initial_j Made guy

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    This. Something has broken, probably caused by adding extra lock. Nothing to do with alignment
     
  17. matthew_l

    matthew_l Member

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    Forgotten to mention, the car had this issue as soon as it was put on the floor. Even before putting it on lock.
     
  18. JDM-SAM

    JDM-SAM Member

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    Pipes on the wrong way?
     
  19. matthew_l

    matthew_l Member

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    Hi guys.

    Busy weekend,
    Cleaned ps reservoir (full of thick black tar like shit)
    Fluid flush
    Ps cooler
    New ps pump off a working car
    New belt
    New fluid
    Alignment

    Issues still there, albeit, a lot better when moving now.. I think the rack might either be dead or blocked with some of that black muck.

    I'm at teesside on the 31st so hope I can get the issue fixed by then.
     
  20. mint

    mint touch my fruit

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    Try another rack before hand id say mate. Chances are if you removed a heap of tar like stuff from the reservoir then it'll be in the rack.
     

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