Turbo tie rod update complete-tried to drive around the block!

[Shakenbake]

Haven't gotten to the garage to get the front end aligned yet but I am so excited to see the difference that I decided to drive around the block.....what a mistake. It drives like something is very wrong. Hit a bump and it feels like the wheels want to go in different directions. Steering is very easy like power steering, not tight, very loose. For a minute, I didn't think the wheels were turning. Going throuh a turn at an intersection, it took several turns of the steering wheel where before you could pretty much use one hand and the steering wheel turned maybe 3/4 turn...what gives? Does this sound normal for a car that needs the front end aligned after new tie rods?

[Decolliber]

Well don't expect _too_ much. I just had turbo tie rods installed, including a wheel alignment, by Fischer Motors in Chicago. They also installed front and rear Bilsteins. Yesterday drove 200 miles home. I was driving on fairly straight freeway (I80), so maybe not a fair test, but all I really noticed was that the steering seemed more precise than before. And irregularities in the road surface were much more noticeable (the Bilsteins). Today I went out again along some twisting country roads near where I live, and I did have a greater feeling of control, especially in "S" turns. I think that unless you do some spirited driving with lots of turns, you would not notice the turbo tie rods.

[Early_S_Man]

Chris,

I can't say I have had it happen to me, but it sounds like you may have WAY TOO MUCH toe-in. Lots of straight-line stability, though!

[AirCooledExcellence]

Chris,

I'd go along with what Warren says. Did you measure your new tie rods against your old ones before you installed them?

Get an alignment done asap, and I'm sure everything will be fine!

Cheers,

Tim.
____________
1983 SC Targa

[john walker's workshop]

for a poor man's pre-alignment, straighten the steering wheel, and go kneel in front of each front corner of the car and sight down the sidewalls of the front tires and see if they line up with the rear sidewalls. like if you laid a 8 foot long straight edge along the sides of the front and rear tires. adjust the tierods so they line up. that will get you started. proper alignment to follow. that works on the up to 77 narrow bodies that had equal fr/rear track width. on SCs, you have to make a chalk mark on the rear tread about 1 3/4" in from the edge, and eyeball to that, being the rear had a wider track.

[CARRERIC]

I just installed my turbo tierods and sway bar bushings last weekend. After installation drove straight to the tire center for alignment. I experienced the same thing you did, but mine was alot worse. The tires were actualy squealing from miss alignment. It sounded like I was dragging a cat under my car and everybody on the sidewalk watched in horror. Luckily I was only a few miles from the center, I could only drive 10 miles per hour.

I think it made a very big difference. My steering feels much tighter and more responsive.

I also used Warrens advice on using the Blue Loctite and it worked out great..

Eric

[Argo]

John C: were those Bilsteins HD's or Sports? I'll be replacing shocks soon so I'd appreciate the benefit of your experience. Thanks in advance ....

Argo
88 Targa

[Wayne 962]

The main advantage in the Turbo Tie Rod kits is the improved handling from slop caused by worn-out tie-rods. If your rods were pretty good to begin with, then chances are that you will not see any significant improvement.

What you are describing sounds normal for a poor guess at the toe-in...

-Wayne

Argo

I've had Bilstein sports on my Carrera 3.2 for almost a year now. I'm very satisfied with them and I don't think they make the car sensitive to irregularities in the road surface. The rest of my car is stock except for the wheels (17 inch cup1).

The sports are firm but not racing hard. I like them for street driving. Haven't been on a track with them.