Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: TestOmega on 10 May 2014, 20:21:21

Title: Changeed outer tie rods and now steering out of centre, weird feeling
Post by: TestOmega on 10 May 2014, 20:21:21

Today I replaced the outer tie rod ends. I counted the turns when removing old tie rod end s and while replacing with new turned exactly the same number of turns. When I took for a drive the steering to go forward appears to be turned 30/45 degrees off centre. The feel is bad.

I was wondering if I overtightened the ball joints or any other errors. The tires look perfectly aligned from the looks.

I will take for alignment but wanted to know if it is normal. I tightened the ball joint bolt to about 74 ft lb per the guide on here.

Thank you.

Title: Re: Changeed outer tie rods and now steering out of centre, weird feeling
Post by: RobG on 10 May 2014, 20:24:02

Quote from: TestOmega on 10 May 2014, 20:21:21

Today I replaced the outer tie rod ends. I counted the turns when removing old tie rod end s and while replacing with new turned exactly the same number of turns. When I took for a drive the steering to go forward appears to be turned 30/45 degrees off centre. The feel is bad.

I was wondering if I overtightened the ball joints or any other errors. The tires look perfectly aligned from the looks.

I will take for alignment but wanted to know if it is normal. I tightened the ball joint bolt to about 74 ft lb per the guide on here.

Thank you.

Never works out that way

Title: Re: Changeed outer tie rods and now steering out of centre, weird feeling
Post by: The Red Baron on 10 May 2014, 20:27:37

changed my os one, measued it...spot on. no use counting imho.  :y

Title: Re: Changeed outer tie rods and now steering out of centre, weird feeling
Post by: DrAndyB on 10 May 2014, 20:52:45

I would say get yourself to the place I had my geometry set up at  :y. But the I noticed you were a bit of a drive from Bolton in Canada  :D

Title: Re: Changeed outer tie rods and now steering out of centre, weird feeling
Post by: 05omegav6 on 10 May 2014, 20:57:40

Once tracked, it should be fine, but go easy until you got it done, as the tyres will scrub :y

Title: Re: Changeed outer tie rods and now steering out of centre, weird feeling
Post by: martin42 on 10 May 2014, 21:24:48

I measured centre to centre,and was only a fraction out when i did webbys .

Title: Re: Changeed outer tie rods and now steering out of centre, weird feeling
Post by: chrisgixer on 10 May 2014, 23:39:15

Quote from: The Mad mechanic on 10 May 2014, 21:24:48

I measured centre to centre,and was only a fraction out when i did webbys .

Luck. ;) well measured luck to be fair, but luck non the less. :y

Measuring is all that's available with tre length. But 99 times out of 100, they need adjusting by visually lining up the wheel with the outside edge of the rear wheel.

There's a guide. Very basic, but saves tyres until setup complete.

Title: Re: Changeed outer tie rods and now steering out of centre, weird feeling
Post by: TestOmega on 10 May 2014, 23:54:30

Set up or alignment done, all is happy happy  ;)

For cost comparison it cost me about equivalent of Pound 27 or $50 Canadian here in Canada on my Catera 2001 (Opel Omega B 2000 facelift equivalent).

Thank you for your answers regardless.