Toe adjustment after upgrade to S4 front end
05-05-2005, 01:55 AM
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Toe adjustment after upgrade to S4 front end
Ok, I'm getting a little nervous here.... I'm essentially done (except for the alignment) with swapping out my old S suspension with an S4 suspension from a donor car. I notice that the front wheels are noticeably toed-in after the swap. The rack is centered and both wheel are approx. toed-in the same amount. So I eyeball the toe and adjust it to get it in the ballpark. I'm almost at the max adjustment range (tie rod ends almost completely inside the outer sleeve of the rack) and the front wheels are still slightly toed in. Do I need to cut the outer sleeve (attached to the steering rack) back a little (maybe a 1/4 inch or so) so I will be able to get the toe correct? Has anyone done this before?
05-05-2005, 04:19 AM
#2
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The inner tie rod ends arer properly screwed into the rack shaft? My 83 rack boots have their outer ends sit on collars maybe 1.25-1.5" diameter several inches inboard of the outer tie rod end - there is no way one could get near the other?
jp 83 Euro S AT 49k
jp 83 Euro S AT 49k
05-05-2005, 08:33 AM
#4
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Paul,
NO the inner ends are not adjustable, just that they do screw into the rack shaft ends....I just went and checked mine (by feel), and it has ~ 7" + between tie rod end lock nut and the rack boot small end! Something very wierd here. Did you disturb the rack boots doing the suspension swap? Are the large ends of the boots wired or cable tied around the rack casing ends - with wheels straight, the boots should be neither compressed much or stretched - when hard on lock, one should be compressed up like an accordion, and the other stretched out. Maybe you have a generic boot that is much longer than needed? My boots are generics, and came with stepped small ends so they could fit a range of different tie rod sizes - I had to cut some smaller sized ends back until it fitted the collars on my rods. Suggest you check pics in WSM, Vol 4 section 48....
jp 83 Euro S AT 49k
NO the inner ends are not adjustable, just that they do screw into the rack shaft ends....I just went and checked mine (by feel), and it has ~ 7" + between tie rod end lock nut and the rack boot small end! Something very wierd here. Did you disturb the rack boots doing the suspension swap? Are the large ends of the boots wired or cable tied around the rack casing ends - with wheels straight, the boots should be neither compressed much or stretched - when hard on lock, one should be compressed up like an accordion, and the other stretched out. Maybe you have a generic boot that is much longer than needed? My boots are generics, and came with stepped small ends so they could fit a range of different tie rod sizes - I had to cut some smaller sized ends back until it fitted the collars on my rods. Suggest you check pics in WSM, Vol 4 section 48....
jp 83 Euro S AT 49k
05-05-2005, 08:46 AM
#5
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IIRC, you need the S4 tie rod assemblies: 928 347 031 01 is good up to '86.5 - version '07' superceeds '01' for the S4 suspension. The outer end is different and "may" be interchangeable with those on your current tie rods, but you need to check. If not, two new assemblies are req'd.
The inner end is not adjustable! The collar JE referred to is the stop bushing ( to limit rack travel) - and floats on the rack extensions, being secured by the inner tie rod end.
The inner end is not adjustable! The collar JE referred to is the stop bushing ( to limit rack travel) - and floats on the rack extensions, being secured by the inner tie rod end.
05-05-2005, 08:47 AM
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JP - I did not disturb the tie rod ends or boots (other than to remove the tie rod ends from the old spindles. I'm not having any issues with the boots, it's just that I'm nearing the end of the adjustment range (tie rod end is almost completely screwed into the steering rack end and I still have a toe in condition. Thanks for the responses
05-05-2005, 08:58 AM
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Garth - What you said seems to make sense. It appears that my '82 rack ends are too long and I will need shorter ones to mate correctly with the new S4 suspension. Thanks for the response.
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05-05-2005, 02:56 PM
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Originally Posted by heinrich
Dang ... so along with my S4 shocks and coils and calipers and rotors I will need the tie rods too for my '85 
$ $ .... , or it will be double dang!
Last edited by Garth S; 05-05-2005 at 07:54 PM.
05-05-2005, 09:24 PM
#10
Nordschleife Master
I finished this on my 81 completely over to the 86.5 and now noticed that I have WAY too much toe, although i havent tried to adjust it yet. I hope I dont need new ends.
05-05-2005, 10:12 PM
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Lizard - It looks like the S4 (shorter) tie rod ends are going to be necessary. I'm going to take a chop saw to my S tie rod ends and remove just enough material to get it aligned. If the threads in the tie rod ends don't go deep enough then I'll have to buy a set of the S4 ends. Does anyone know if the S4 ends will screw into the Pre-S4 rack? Thanks for everyones input!
05-06-2005, 01:44 AM
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I had the front end on my '85 updated to S4, and as I recall, the S4 tie rod ends were required. I maintained the Koni/eibach shock/springs from the '85 and the Devek sway bar I was already using.
Glenn
Glenn
