Section : Suspension

Brake disc touching track rod rubber?

Posted By : Peter Morrison, 24-Jan-2005, 02:00pm

• Brake disc touching track rod rubber?

  Posted By : Colin Wake, 24-Jan-2005, 02:38pm

  I would hazard a guess that your old discs were so worn that the replacement track rod end fitted in the past (and it will have been changed) didn't touch it but now it does.
  
  Colin

  • Brake disc touching track rod rubber?

    Posted By : Van Hamlin, 24-Jan-2005, 02:57pm

    Mine used to touch too, also near side only. I put some thin washers between the steering arm and the upright, now it's OK.
    If you do this you'll need to adjust the tracking as this makes it toe out.
    Van
    

• Brake disc touching track rod rubber?

  Posted By : Lindsay Dearing, 24-Jan-2005, 03:28pm

  I had exactly the same problem when fitting GT6 links and calipers to my Spitfire 1500(see photo). As Van has pointed out the answer is to space the tie rod lever away from the link with washers. Then have the tracking adjusted. This means that the forward bolt may not engage the nylon part of the nyloc nut so use a thinner nut or source a slightly longer bolt.
  Lindsay

  
  
  Brake disc touching track rod rubber?

  • Brake disc touching track rod rubber?

    Posted By : David Thompson, 25-Jan-2005, 05:46pm

    Watched this thread with interest. I too have exactly the same issue with the track rod end touching the disc and again it's on the nearside. Thing is that I had fitted Capri vented discs and so thought that this was the cause of the issue, shimmed out the arm with washers and thought nothing of it until I saw this thread unfolding. Makes you wonder if there is a common cause as all respondents seem to have the issue on the same side? Could it be that there is an inherent manufacturing error in the off-side steering arm?

    • Brake disc touching track rod rubber?

      Posted By : John Davies, 25-Jan-2005, 07:09pm

      David, All,
      Me too!
      
      In fact on the old race Vitesse, but same difference as a GT6.
      I needed Capri vented discs because the original set-up was fading badly and smoking alarmingly. The cause of the smoke became clear as the rubber gaiter on the steering arm ball joint was charred. Not by contact, just being very near a very hot disc. BUT, this was the right hand side, just as in Lindsay's pic above. So it can happen on either side.
      
      John

    • Brake disc touching track rod rubber?

      Posted By : Van Hamlin, 25-Jan-2005, 07:19pm

      I think you're right David it must be something to do with how far the hole for the track rod end is from the plane of the surface where the steering arm bolts to the upright.
      
      Maybe someone out there has their suspension in bits and can measure this distance on the 2 sides?
      
      Or it could be the fault of the hole in the upright where the stub axle goes, making the hub/disc further out on the RHS (unlikely as this would probably show up in disc/caliper alignment).
      
      I wonder if the original rubbers stuck out less far (although this wouldn't explain the difference between the sides).
      
      Seeing LD's picture reminded me that jacking up the car and taking the wheel off makes it look even worse since the ball joint leans towards the disc, the gap for the rubber closes on the side nearest the disc and the rubber is pushed out more.
      
      And I thought I was the only one.
      
      Van
      

• Brake disc touching track rod rubber?

  Posted By : Peter Morrison, 24-Jan-2005, 03:58pm

  Done & dusted then! Thanks boys!

  • Brake disc touching track rod rubber?

    Posted By : Geoffrey Griffiths, 06-May-2005, 12:28pm

    Take a look at the drawing taken from the GT6 Workshop Manual. It gives all the relavent dimensions. If your steering arm matches the drawing and the fault is still present then it has to be a bent vertical link.

    • Brake disc touching track rod rubber?

      Posted By : Geoffrey Griffiths, 18-May-2005, 03:30pm