From: IAN MOORCRAFT(UK)[email protected]
Date: 10 Jan 2002
Time: 05:01:26
Remote Name: 62.7.121.186
Thanks Barry, Like you I wish that I had not turned the wheel to another position as it seemed to give little advantage to the free play problem, When I rebuilt my chummy a few years after the Fabric I spent a lot of time on the steering box trying to eliminate free play, spending loads of time on shimming the button to get all sideways movement out of the steering arm ( a major source of play at the wheel), I had the play down to 1/2" at the steering wheel with the box on the bench, however when I bolted the box to the chassis it stiffened up, slackening off the three bolts on the cover about 3/4 of a turn freed it off again, so after all of my hard work on the shims I ended up stoning a few thou off of the end of the arm where it bears on the button, the result was 2" play at the wheel!!!!!! I think I will take the box off the Fabric and turn the wheel back to the original position and find the best position that doesn't tighten up on full lock. I think that this is a "summertime" job, taking the column out is not the easiest thing to do on a complete car, I still find it strange that when the car is on jacks you can turn the steering with ease both from the steering wheel and from the tyres, put back on the ground the whole thing tightens up ( yes I have the thrust washers in the right position on the axle), Its all these problems that makes it fun!!!!!!! Regards Ian