Front Alignment - Doesn't Look Right

[Padawan]

All,
I've attached several pictures...
Left and Right Hub
Left and Right Spindle
Left and Right Tie Rod

I've centered the rack, but as you can see on the left tie rod one side has virtually no thread left and on the right side the hub looks toed out. I don't think there is anyway I can get the rack length out to 53 1/6 inches per the manual.

After reviewing the pictures below what are you thoughts?

MK4
Spindles, Upper and Lower Control Arms -- all ordered from Factory Five

Power Steering Rack - 1992

Solid Bushing and Rack Extenders from Mark at Breeze (only cut rack extended amount off each end, approx. 1 inch per side)

138626138627138628138629138630138631


Does the setup look correct, please advise...

Thanks

[Big Blocker]

Did you "center the rack" housing or center the rack shaft? Centering the housing isn't [near as] important as centering the shaft.

Also, and don't hold me to this, but I think the spindle arms are supposed to point outward, but I don't have a MK-IV, so you might want to verify this.

Here's a diagram of the "initial" settings. Don't pay any attention to the component orientation, this drawing has one side "copied" from the other and some of the parts are represented incorrectly. Just use the measurements.

https://i.postimg.cc/nc3bV8DQ/Upper-A-Arms.jpg (https://postimg.cc/56QkpRpx)

Doc

[boat737]

Yes, I think the spindle steering control arms should point outward. That's what allows the inside wheel to turn a tighter radius in tight turns.

Pay attention to the taper for the tie rod end as well. I think you can get them backwards.

(You'll notice that I also shortened the rear upper control arm-UCA, to allow for the caster adjustments for power steering.)

[Jeff Kleiner]

As has been mentioned your steering arms are on the wrong sides. Bolt them to the spindles so that they angle outward with the large end of the taper down. They may be marked DS and PS (or L & R) but that’s for the rear steer Hot Rod; the Roadster and Coupe are the opposite.

Jeff

[toadster]

yup! Kleiner fixed me when I did this :)
swap sides and large taper on the bottom... I have gotten really good at building/rebuilding the front suspension from this forum :cool:

https://cobradreams.com/2020/06/08/installing-the-power-steering-rack-finally-done/

[Padawan]

yup! Kleiner fixed me when I did this :)
swap sides and large taper on the bottom... I have gotten really good at building/rebuilding the front suspension from this forum :cool:

https://cobradreams.com/2020/06/08/installing-the-power-steering-rack-finally-done/

Flipped the steering arms -- solved the issue...the rack is centered, tie rods on and the rack measuring out to 53 inches.

Thanks everyone for the help...
Matt