E Type 3.8 series 1 steering ball joints

ochryfoel · Post by **ochryfoel** » Sat Jan 11, 2014 7:18 pm

Hi folks. I am assembling my front suspension and torsion bars and find there is not enough angular movement in the track rod ends at lowest suspension position with the shock absorbers fitted. If I bolt them all up all the dead weight of the suspension and wheel is supported by the trackrod end and steering rack trackrod ball. This cannot be correct.
Any suggestions.
The trackrod ends are new and I wonder if they do not have enough swivel movement. Some force was necessary to compress the torsion bar to fit the shock absorber.
Any advices?
Cheers,
Peter

Post by **Heuer** » Sat Jan 11, 2014 7:29 pm

You are not alone!: http://etypeuk.com/forum/viewtopic.php? ... =track+rod

andrewh · Post by **andrewh** » Sat Jan 11, 2014 7:43 pm

Hi Peter

I have had the exact problem. The first issue I had was that the track rod ends I had purchased were not correct for an E. I they may have been for xj series. The track rod ends I then purchased have a much greater angle so will line up with the steering arms. The second issue could be your shock absorbers. Which shocks have you bought? My Konis extend slightly too much which means they do not support the suspension but the latter is left hanging on either the track rod end or tie rods where it exits the steering rack. There is loads on this problem.

ochryfoel · Post by **ochryfoel** » Sun Jan 12, 2014 9:58 am

Hi Andrew, thanks for reply,
Ok so who is selling the correct ones? I have bought so called replacements that don't swivel enough.
Cheers,
Peter

andrewh · Post by **andrewh** » Sun Jan 12, 2014 10:02 am

I bought my track rod ends from SNG Barratt, but remember this may be only haf the issue, the other half being the shock absorbers being too long.

ochryfoel · Post by **ochryfoel** » Sun Jan 12, 2014 10:03 am

The shocks are Woodhead and looked like the originals and when fitted top to bottom mount centres is 410mm. I got them when I started this resto in 1998.
Cheers
Peter

christopher storey · Post by **christopher storey** » Sun Jan 12, 2014 10:31 am

Peter - it is not the fitted length of the dampers which is the problem ( although yours sound rather too long even when fitted ) : it is the extended length when not fitted which is the key measurement. If this exceeds 400mm by anything more than perhaps 3mm then you are liable to be encountering necking of the track road end balljoints inside the rack housing

ochryfoel · Post by **ochryfoel** » Sun Jan 12, 2014 11:03 am

Hi Chris,
The shocks won't extend longer than 410mm. Trying to fit them I jacked up the lower wishbone but had to get the wife to sit on the engine picture frame to push the torsion bar down far enough to try put the top shock bolt in. With no engine or bonnet I still had to add my weight and a sash clamp to get the bolt in as the whole shell just lifted . Then I found the trackrod ends won't swivel enough to fit into the tapered hole in the upright hub carrier.
Cheers Peter
Ps now getting some more trackrod ends that will swivel enough.

andrewh · Post by **andrewh** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 9:36 pm

Had an e mail back from Koni UK. They say they measured the original shocks at 405mm and the Konis are 407mm. They are completely happy with his specification and they have sold 10,000 like this with no comebacks or failures so I am going to leave them as they are made as the UK agent wants ?37 a side to limit the travel

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E Type 3.8 series 1 steering ball joints

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