11 replies to this topic

[holmesy]

ive fitted new adjustable tie rods as my old ones were bent from the accident when they dropped onto 2 vertical steel plates.

i was wondering what length they need to be?, i have currently set them as close as possible to the old 1's which is 35.3cm from the centre of the bolt connecting to the bottom arm up to the back of the bush plate.

it pulled a little bit to the left after the accident and now ive changed the tie rods it pulls quite bad, im having new tyres put on wednesday because they are nearly bald and will have the tracking done,im hoping that will sort that problem but i think the tie rods may have a part in it

[holmesy]

iirc?

[Spud_133]

Iirc means if I remember correctly.

You can't really have a 'standard' length of tie bars, as the caster needs to be set when they have been disturbed

[dow62]

Are yours standard bottom arms ? Would they need to be set slightly longer with 1.5 neg camber bottom arms ?

[holmesy]

standard bottom arm, im having the tracking done tomorrow so hopefully that will sort it, also what what would be causing the rear wheels to squeak when corning as they have started to do that now even when im not pushing it?

[Carlos W]

As in tyre squeal?

It is likely to be linked

[Spud_133]

Tyre pressures?

[holmesy]

tyre pressures are all good,

[jaydee]

Try to shorten the bars a couple of turns, but this really needs to get the tracking done professionally or it will be un-safe to drive and you'll go through the tyres in no time.
Beware most garages wont set the castor angle, which is what you adjust with the tie bar length, so keep an eye at what the operator is doing.
Castor angle has a relation to toe and camber and i think it can be affected by ride height too, so its hard to guess on a forum..
Suspension geometry expert on here is 'icklemini', he can give a better second opinion if you ask him.

[tomrobb87]

I have some pretty shoddy handling on my mini, and also changed my bent tie bars for the adjustable option, as they are pretty thick and heavy duty.

I think the track rods would have been adjusted in an attempt to accomodate for the bent tie bars, which means when putting on the new tie bars you are kind of doubling the poor geometry until the track rods are sorted.

I have fettled the ride height since putting my Tie rods on, and need my tracking doing BUT: What I need is to find someone locally that knows what they are doing when setting up mini suspension, and leave it to a pro.

 

Any mini specialists in leeds?

[Nu2mini]

The correct geometry settings as supplied by Cooperman, who has endless patience on this subject are as follows

 

http://www.theminifo...etry/?p=3384278

 

 

Any half decent motorsport shop should be able to do the job for you, but to get it all right you need adjustable lower arms. Its been said by many before, but Adjustable Tie-Rods and Lower Arms + the correct geometry setup for Front and Rear IS BY FAR THE BEST EVER INVESTMENT YOU CAN MAKE in a Mini. If it doesn't feel like its driving on rails then something is WRONG !!!

Edited by Nu2mini, 01 June 2016 - 01:19 PM.

[tomrobb87]

Very good, I'll try and find a local motorsports garage and get hold of the right parts.

 

Thanks.