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TR4 and 4A track rods


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Just put the Bastuck adjustable camber kits on my 4 and found the tracking, which was before just about okay with the rods screwed fully in, now can't even get wheels parallel. Looks like it needs shorter rods but would be nice to get to the bottom of things and I'm sure someone on here will know.

My car is an early TR4 with the 'front mounted' rack (not the later one that sits on top of the frame). It was converted to RHD in the 1980s so I assume had a replacement rack at that time. But whatever, the thread of the ends of the rods stands proud of the shafts - so it's not possible just to shop down the existing rods and add some extra threads which would have been a solution.

image.thumb.png.d0167c2237f9bda1ea36aff1ca9ff904.png

I've just ordered a pair of TR4A rods from Rimmer as I gather they are about 10mm shorter than the TR4 ones and I think should do the job, but am curious as to what the story is here - is it likely that my rack is a TR4A rack with TR4 rods, or what?

(Also pondering re-fitting the rack in a slightly higher position but obviously that would require some bashing and welding so will prob hold off on that until end of the season).

Nigel

 

Edited by Bleednipple
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Thanks Nick, I had tried a search and just tried again but couldn't find anything so if you happen to come across that again could you give me a shout?

Nigel

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Nigel,

I’ve read the post and had the same problem on my Lotus.

I replaced the track rod end, counting the turns as I removed the old one.

fitted the new one again counting the turns, job done, no the tracking was way out.

took a while to work it out, but the body of the new track end is longer than the removed track rod end.

Peter

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15 hours ago, Bleednipple said:

Just put the Bastuck adjustable camber kits on my 4 and found the tracking, which was before just about okay with the rods screwed fully in, now can't even get wheels parallel. Looks like it needs shorter rods but would be nice to get to the bottom of things and I'm sure someone on here will know.

My car is an early TR4 with the 'front mounted' rack (not the later one that sits on top of the frame). It was converted to RHD in the 1980s so I assume had a replacement rack at that time. But whatever, the thread of the ends of the rods stands proud of the shafts - so it's not possible just to shop down the existing rods and add some extra threads which would have been a solution.

image.thumb.png.d0167c2237f9bda1ea36aff1ca9ff904.png

I've just ordered a pair of TR4A rods from Rimmer as I gather they are about 10mm shorter than the TR4 ones and I think should do the job, but am curious as to what the story is here - is it likely that my rack is a TR4A rack with TR4 rods, or what?

(Also pondering re-fitting the rack in a slightly higher position but obviously that would require some bashing and welding so will prob hold off on that until end of the season).

Nigel

 

The early TR4 upright mounted racks have a different shape centre casing so its definitely not a 4a rack, FWIW I have got a very early TR4 rack that is in need of new rod ends but original in every way if you would prefer to start from the correct one.

Stuart.

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Thanks Stuart, will see if the new 4A rods from Rimmer fix things (when they get here... my heart sank when I saw they ship via Evri :rolleyes:). But I can feel a rack revision project coming on later this year. 

I'd like to have the rack a little higher somehow to reduce bump steer but want to retain the ride height (it's a rally hack). 

All good fun.

Nigel

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2 hours ago, Bleednipple said:

Thanks Stuart, will see if the new 4A rods from Rimmer fix things (when they get here... my heart sank when I saw they ship via Evri :rolleyes:). But I can feel a rack revision project coming on later this year. 

I'd like to have the rack a little higher somehow to reduce bump steer but want to retain the ride height (it's a rally hack). 

All good fun.

Nigel

Didn’t HarryTR5 have problems with Track Rod Ends a couple of weeks ago think he got sorted through Moss.

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26 minutes ago, TR NIALL said:

Didn’t HarryTR5 have problems with Track Rod Ends a couple of weeks ago think he got sorted through Moss.

They were replacement ones on a 5 that wouldnt screw in far enough AFIK.

Stuart.

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Just to close this out... I got the TR4A track rods and they turned out to be longer than the originals I had, not shorter. But much longer threaded sections, so once I'd chopped a bit off the ends, all good.

Also gave me an excuse to buy one of them Trackace alignment checking kits. As I'd hoped from online reviews, very simple but effective and at £76 will pay for itself after just a couple of uses, versus what the tyre shops charge.

Nigel

Edited by Bleednipple
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