Unexpected Steering Complication.

[ejsharp]

I just replaced both tie rod assemblies (inner and outer on right and left sides) on the 190E. Consequently, the steering wants to 'stick' (not return) when turned sharply to either the left or right. It is as though the tie rods are bolted on too tightly.

Can anyone tell me what might cause this condition?

Many thanks,

Earl

[david s poole]

did you fit the new ones exactly the way the old ones came off?have you jacked up the car and had some one turn the steering so you can see what's binding?i suspect you have fitted the tie rod end from the top or the bottom when they should be reversed.

[ejsharp]

I believe that I have them exactly as they were before replacement. If I had to guess I would say that the damper in the connector rod might be shot and therefore not 'pushing back' on the tie rods.

Earl

[t walgamuth]

Perhaps you have them twisted enough that it is binding.

Tom W

[ejsharp]

No... nothing is twisted. However I did also install new struts to the front end. But They seem to be OK... Could the alignment be seriously off enough as a consequence of the new struts, to cause the described condition?

[ejsharp]

I would think that it is not possible to put the posts, of the tie rod ends, in upside down.

Will the taper allow them to be bolted in upside down? Should the posts of the inside tie rod ends be pointing up or down? (On the 190).

[thacreator]

the problem might be in your steering box, the balancing valve might be sticking or one of the springs in it might be broken
Tom

[mbdoc]

If the steering was OK & now isn't..then the lengths of the tie-rod assemblies IS the most likely problem.

[ejsharp]

Yes Doc... things were OK before I changed the tie rods. I say that with a qualifier because I changed the struts at the same time that I installed the new tie rods. I took advantage of the car being up on jacks. I tried to make the new rods the same length as the old ones... laid old and new side by side and adjusted new to the old.

Maybe the new struts along with imprecise lengths of the new rods combine to cause the problem. A neighbor around the corner does alignments so I'll ask him to take the car in and check it out.

Thanks for your reply.

[ejsharp]

Yes Doc... things were OK before I changed the tie rods. I say that with a qualifier because I changed the struts at the same time that I installed the new tie rods. I took advantage of the car being up on jacks. I tried to make the new rods the same length as the old ones... laid old and new side by side and adjusted new to the old.

Maybe the new struts along with imprecise lengths of the new rods combine to cause the problem. A neighbor around the corner does alignments so I'll ask him to take the car in, check it out and do the alignment. He did a good job aligning my 300E both front and rear some years ago.

Thanks to everyone for your replies.

[mpolli]

FWIW I think the caster affects the wheels "desire" to go straight again. Once a long time ago I had the alignment done on a Celica, and afterwards it would seem to hold whatever degree of turn you made, kind of like what you are describing. I don't know why but I suspected the tires and/or the caster. I don't know if toe-in could affect this. You did the right thing by making the new ones the same as the old. Of course that is an inexact science and also since the old ones were worn it might be hard to compare the bew ones exactly. The suggestion to jack it up and look for binding is good but you might not find any. Maybe the caster is off a bit and the new tighter joints are making that more apparent? Well I am just guessing here of course......

[ejsharp]

Thanks mpolli... I like your guess. I have a gut feeling that you are right.

My hunch has been leaning in the same direction.