steering rack spacers on mk 1 2002.

[THREEFISHORANGE]

I am in the process of fitting 6mm spacers under the steering rack as a common remedy for geometry issues.
Has anyone had issues with the power steering flexi pipes hitting the cross brace above them on the offside When it is lifted the said 6mm?

Thanks

[m4tti]

Surprised you haven't got them there already. Thought they were part of the handling improvements made by the factory some point in 2001.

[THREEFISHORANGE]

No Mat nothing there.....Also the bolts are only just long enough without spacers, so I need to get longer bolts. So they must never have been fitted. Perhaps mine was a chassis they found in a long forgotten corner of the factory .......

[m4tti]

Just read through some old threads and it appears that cars were still having the rack raised on varied model years. I can tell you though mine has rack spacers about that or thicker and there is no issue. Think it was a December 2001 car.

[THREEFISHORANGE]

I'm trying to make it less twitchy. I presume this will sort it after a geo set up?

[Basil Brush]

m4tti said:

Just read through some old threads and it appears that cars were still having the rack raised on varied model years. I can tell you though mine has rack spacers about that or thicker and there is no issue. Think it was a December 2001 car.

The factory spacers were 10mm and I think came in 2002/3

[m4tti]

I'll have to check how thick my spacers are. My eye-crometer tells me they may be close to 10mm.

There are a few factors which contribute to twitchyness, but raising the rack and sorting the geo certainly won't hurt. Have you done the front wheel spacers.

[THREEFISHORANGE]

Yes ive fitted the spacers. 10 mm thats interesting? Thought it was factory 6mm?

[S6PNJ]

m4tti said:

Have you done the front wheel spacers?

What front wheel spacers are these please? I have a Jan 02 registered (so built late 2001) Tuscan and am not even sure if I have the steering rack spacers! Yes, my Tuscan is quite twitchy!

[m4tti]

I have a late 01 and was sceptical about the spacers... But that small increase in track does in fact make a difference. The car is now very stable, to the point where you can drive with one hand in the wheel.

Have a look at this thread http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=867...

[S6PNJ]

Ahhhh, THOSE spacers! Yes, I have the 3mm 'discs' fitted which helped but has not fully cured. I have Gaz Gold shocks but it can still be quite twitchy on the bumpy roads. It was originally set-up by APM and then subsequently set up by Str8Six when the shocks went back for a rebuild so I can only assume the tracking/geo is fine. I want to try the steering rack mod but haven't got round to it yet!

[davidsc]

I find that low tyre pressures help.

I used to run about 24 all round but have got 20 in at the moment and it feels a lot more planted.

[Raffaele]

instead of putting spacers on the steering rack it is not the same if I put offset steering heads

[Raffaele]

instead of putting spacers on the steering rack it is not the same if I put offset steering heads

[Andy_mr2sc]

Raffaele said:

instead of putting spacers on the steering rack it is not the same if I put offset steering heads

Most put 10mm rack spacers and Sagaris steering arms on a mk1 Tuscan, as this combination seems to work best to fix the geometry problems.
TVR Parts sell the spacers, and I sell the steering arms.
Andy

[Raffaele]

the 1 cm spacers cannot be placed the arms touch the tubes the sagaris arms are easy to fit and they work even without the shims? i don't understand the tuscan should be a fabulous car because it is light and with optimal weight distribution, it is not possible that no one has built a front suspension kit that rides great

[glow worm]

IIRC the whole point is to get the track rods lying more horizontally , rather than up pointing ... so either raise the rack with shims or use the Sag arms to lower the other end.... both options help to remove the "bump" steer ... the "fast" rack on MK1 doesn't help either , hence the change to the worm gear in the rack.
But with my Convertible the change to Nitrons with stiffer front Eibachs and Michelin Pilot Sport 4's (225/255) transformed my car.

Edited by glow worm on Sunday 12th March 15:21

[Raffaele]

but those who put their arms below aren't they turned too far down?