Howis your turning radius?

Clois Harlan · #1 (**permalink**) 08-27-2002, 12:18 PM

I recently replaced my stamped upper and lower A-Arms with new tubular upper and lower A-arms. I had hoped I would increase my turning radius a little but I think I may have lost some instead. Also, after an alignment from one of the better shops in town I find my steering is a lot more difficult than before. What is up with all this. My wife and I went to one of our sidewalk cafe's for breakfast Saturday morning and I felt like a truck driver trying to parallel park. I know there is an adjustment in my steerng rack but before I made these changes steering was a breeze.

Clois

Bob Putnam · #2 (**permalink**) 08-27-2002, 04:20 PM

There are only a couple of things (that I can think of) that could effect steering:

Are the ball joints greased and working freely? Could they be binding?

Have you set the alignment to the previous specs, or are they different?

Jack21 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-27-2002, 04:26 PM

If the only thing you changed were the control arms, there shouldn't be much difference in steering effort. Dumb, I know, but you did grease the new balljoints?

Front end alignment has a lot to do with this, however. Even more pronounced with manual steering, and a big block.

The caster settings for the MII suspension, depending on year and model, can vary. If you didn't tell the shop what settings to use, anything is possible. The less caster (the amount the wheels tilt backwards to self center) the more the car will tend to wander, but steering effort will be easier. The factory setting could be as little as 3/4 of a degreee. The more caster, the more the car will track straight, and return to center from a turn, but the harder it will be to steer. The factory setting could be as much as 3 1/2 degrees, and some cars like more. Check an old Motors Manual for Pinto & Mustang II, '74 - '78, all models and you'll see the variation.

Somewhere in there is you're happy medium for your car and driving style.

Take it back to the alignment shop, find out what you have now and adjust it to the minimum caster spec.

Another problem with MII suspensions, and you might never have known this. The inner, upper control arm bolts hold the control arm to the frame with bolt tension, and metal to metal contact between arm and frame. This adjustment will slip, allowing the control arm to bottom out against the inner frame slot end. Caster and camber go out, and the car may actually be easier to steer. When realigned, the car steers as it's supposed to.

Bethania garage has control arm brackets that allow the alignment to be set with shims, and it stays put afterward.

dewulfmd · #4 (**permalink**) 08-27-2002, 05:14 PM

Clois,

The obivous question to ask is: Are the front tires at the proper air pressure? This has a very big effect on steering effort.

Mike D.

Clois Harlan · #5 (**permalink**) 08-28-2002, 05:52 AM

The obvious as usual. The ball joints had not been greesed when I wrote this but they have now. The tires were fine. Haven't had it out yet because I am installing a new larger Griffin radiator and I still need to mfg the upper brackets. I bet this solves my problem.

Thanks everyone.

Clois

agro1 · #6 (**permalink**) 08-28-2002, 10:52 AM

Turn wheel opposite lock - rev to 4 grand - dump clutch. Best turning radius possible.

Tony Ripepi · #7 (**permalink**) 08-28-2002, 11:05 AM

Good Question,

If there is a complaint about the SPF it is the turning radius, seems like a 90" wheel base car should be able to turn in a tight circle for a U-turn (legal in CA) but you really need to plan where you decide to do the Ueey. Sitting at a traffic light into two lanes of road on the other side means you need to be as far right in the lane you are in or you will not have the room to make the U-turn without backing up (Total Embarrassmnet).

Conversely the Unique has a much tighter turning radius and a more responsive feel to the wheel in slow traffic....at speed on the road or track they feel the same.

I agree with Argo if you want to bring the rear end around really fast the whiskey runner turn is the fastest....never did it in a Cobra but, my Dad ran moonshine from W VA to Pa and he taught me how to do it when he was giving me my drving lessons at 15, first time in an icey parking lot then later on dry road in his 62 Pontiac Chieftian with a 389....I had a great DAD !!!!!!!!!!!!

Tony R.