I told myself I would never own a diesel ever again...

[Dozier]

Thanks. whats the trick? put a hose clamp to keep it from falling out? When I craw under the dash I dont see the shaft moving under there. It just moves the top part of the shaft?

[rod_knock]

may have pushed the column downward. yank on wheel towards you and tighten nut?

[Dozier]

yea...the play does get much better once I pull the wheel towards me. But that nut is really really tight right now and I dont think I want to go any tighter. Any other idea's?

[Dozier]

got it fixed....just made a bushing and stuck it in there. Hope it holds up.

[Dozier]

attempted to shorten my axle today...but I ran out of wire after a big fiasco of trying to get it done before dark. will have pictures asap.

[_WCHLVR_]

... shorten my axle today....

Patience Bear Waits for pics...

[Dozier]

Will have "after pictures" as soon I get it done. prolly tomorrow morning.

[_WCHLVR_]

Looks like you got it sorted just fine.

How much did you end up taking out of the axles?

[Dozier]

Not much at all maybe 5mm. I figured thats all It needed And Im only doing the pass side. It seems to be the only one binding when I turn I forget which way but I feel it over there.

[Dozier]

all done.

[Dozier]

Do you guys think I should flip my tie rod? Do you think its binding at this angle?

[_WCHLVR_]

Looks fairly OE to me! LOL

Nice work on the axle!

[keeton]

Nah...it'll be fine.


I flipped mine but I think I may have brought them down too far. When I hit bumps I feel it trying to pull the steering wheel out of my hands.

[Dozier]

Looks fairly OE to me! LOL

Nice work on the axle!

Thanks buddy!

keeton
Nah...it'll be fine.


I flipped mine but I think I may have brought them down too far. When I hit bumps I feel it trying to pull the steering wheel out of my hands

But seriously. flipping your tie rod made it worse?

[keeton]

But seriously. flipping your tie rod made it worse?

Yeah...seriously. I dunno why. I've done it before and been fine. I'm going to bring them up a little (get them level with the ground) and realign it and see if it's better. Right now they're at a slight angle upwards towards the rack.


Sent using Tapatalk.

[rod_knock]

Yeah...seriously. I dunno why. I've done it before and been fine. I'm going to bring them up a little (get them level with the ground) and realign it and see if it's better. Right now they're at a slight angle upwards towards the rack.


Sent using Tapatalk.

It will do that if you didn't lower your balljoint. You can't just do one or the other. They are meant to be done together. When will people learn

[Dozier]

Oh right on. thanks for the information.

I was thinking of buying this from BFI but I think $32 is kinda high for a drill bit and sleeve's/bushings
http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-1918367..._2166_29632002


Does anyone know where I could get the sleeve's/bushing's? and does anyone know if they are tapered like they should be?

[keeton]

Oh right on. thanks for the information.

I was thinking of buying this from BFI but I think $32 is kinda high for a drill bit and sleeve's/bushings
http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-1918367..._2166_29632002


Does anyone know where I could get the sleeve's/bushing's? and does anyone know if they are tapered like they should be?

I used heim joints and longer bolts with spacers because just flipping them didn't bring them down far enough. I don't know if you'll have that problem or not, but there ya go anyway.

It will do that if you didn't lower your balljoint. You can't just do one or the other. They are meant to be done together. When will people learn

Well that makes sense...but don't be like that. I've never done it to a Mk1 until I did it on my Jetta, and when I did it to my Mustang, I didn't have to lower the ball joint to make it work because of the way the front end is made.

for the info anyways.


Sent using Tapatalk.

[_WCHLVR_]

Oh right on. thanks for the information.

I was thinking of buying this from BFI but I think $32 is kinda high for a drill bit and sleeve's/bushings
http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-1918367..._2166_29632002


Does anyone know where I could get the sleeve's/bushing's? and does anyone know if they are tapered like they should be?

Just pick up a flip kit for a late model bug.... they are exactly the same. Bugpack makes some... should be less than $20 from your local VW shop. You"ll still need a drill bit.

EDIT- If you know anyone with a tapered reamer, you can tapper the other side of the spindle for a simple flip. For a daily driver this will work just fine.

[_WCHLVR_]

...but don't be like that....

Unfortunately it's the only way he knows how to act.

While his point has some validity there is one piece that tends not to be discussed-

While it is best to have the control arm and tie rods running parallel there is a huge VW design flaw that makes lowering any MK1 less than perfect-

No matter what you do or what height your at the tie rods are never parallel with the rack (looking down on it). The lack of length in the steering arm of spindle causes the tie rods to run at angle at any height. This angle causes the rods to pull on the steering arms inward as you get lower (aka toe out). Couple this with drastic control arm angle and you get massive toe out on compression.

As I understand it- MK2 spindles (after much modification) can help lessen this effect but it is not a cure.

[rod_knock]

While it is best to have the control arm and tie rods running parallel there is a huge MacPherson strut equipped car design flaw that makes lowering any MacPherson strut equipped car less than perfect-

.

[keeton]

Thanks for the explanation Terry. That helps me understand my issue.


Sent using Tapatalk.

[Dozier]

EDIT- If you know anyone with a tapered reamer, you can tapper the other side of the spindle for a simple flip. For a daily driver this will work just fine.

Yea my buddy has one of those. I think Ill give it a shot.. Thanks for everything Terry.

Oh and BTW Ive got to shorten the driver's axle to. Didnt notice it was binding because the other side was binding so badly.

[Dozier]

ok I got the other axle cut down and put back together and flipped the tie rod ends.

BUT now... my steering seems to be really darty. I know how to allign cars the tape measure way. I put the wheels at about 1/8 toed in and the car seems to pull heavy to the left. I put everything on dead even the car is all over the road.

Could this be because of the tie rod flip? Please help me out if you can.

thanks for everyones time

pics for clicks

[rod_knock]

did you put on balljoint spacers?

[Dozier]

no.. but I did correct the tie rods and everything is fine now.. I guess that is what I get for trying to fix something that isnt broken. I still cant figure out why the control arm and the tie rod need to be parallel. Care to explain?

[MK1RollingCoal]

no.. but I did correct the tie rods and everything is fine now.. I guess that is what I get for trying to fix something that isnt broken. I still cant figure out why the control arm and the tie rod need to be parallel. Care to explain?

Bumpsteer.

[Dozier]

But what causes the bumpsteer?

[MK1RollingCoal]

But what causes the bumpsteer?

The angle being different.
You mess up the geometry and it gets all thrown off if they aren't parallel.
Stuff I learn when reading magazines O.o
That's all I know.

[rod_knock]

The angle being different.
You mess up the geometry and it gets all thrown off if they aren't parallel.
Stuff I learn when reading magazines O.o

I like the new guy already.
.
Dozier.
It's been discussed to the point where if you can't find the reason for the bumpsteer, you're just lazy. Search.

[Dozier]

cool..you would think that all the tie rod does is simply steer the car.

[MK1RollingCoal]

I like the new guy already.
.
Dozier.
It's been discussed to the point where if you can't find the reason for the bumpsteer, you're just lazy. Search.

Thanks xD

And if you do search it you get plenty of explanations of why.

[MK1RollingCoal]

cool..you would think that all the tie rod does is simply steer the car.

And you throw the geometry when you hit a bump it doesn't move with the control arm and bam it kicks one way or another.
It doesn't have to be perfect, just as close as possible.

[rod_knock]

cool..you would think that all the tie rod does is simply steer the car.

Things work together to make the car go straight, turn, and not rip the steering wheel out of your hands. Suspension geometry is a crazy thing.

[Dozier]

Now I know. Thanks everyone

And Rod knock....Its easier to ask a question then to look for the answer for hours. I dont have time for that. I have a life . Its not lazy its a smarter way to find the answer.