On Sun, Apr 12, 2009 at 8:14 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote:
> First, I doubt your tie rod replacment caused your 'drifts to the right'
> problem. I am betting on the radius arm causing the drifting.
> �Second, finding a good alignment shop...that can sometimes be a real crap
> shoot. �I've seen some really poor work done by 'so-called' good shops.
> �I do my own work now after getting one alignment back where the dorks
> forgot to snug up the locknut on the tie rod end and I corded an expensive
> Goodyear racing slick in just 20mins on the track.
>
> �Don Hanson

I think I can "see" how a maladjusted radius arm may be at fault. I
mean I was really careful in transferring measurements (position of
outer ball joint) to the "new" tie rod. I also did my best to transfer
radius arm inner nut position. First I put each arm on top of each
other to compare nut positions. (Heck now that I recall, I even lined
up the bolt holes.) Nut on damaged arm was visually in a different
position than "new" arm. Then I counted # of turns removing nut from
damaged arm. But now that i think about it.....

The fact that the radius arm hole and arm were SO damaged:

http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/RadiusArmHole2.jpg/RadiusArmHole2-full;init:.jpg

and repaired by me

http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/RadiusArmHoleFront.jpg/RadiusArmHoleFront-full;init:.jpg

maybe the new "corrected" position is part of the problem (front end
adjusted to arm in damaged hole)

Like duh.  <grin>

Neil.

http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/TieRodMeasureOld.jpg/TieRodMeasureOld-full;init:.jpg

http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/TieRodMeasureNew.jpg/TieRodMeasureNew-full;init:.jpg

A curious question in my mind regarding the radius arm, is this.

When torquing outer nut to spec, does this ensure the final position
of arm? i.e. if one were to torque too much, (compress bushings, draw
arm further through hole) would this change the castor?

Neil.
-- 
Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"

http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/

http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines