Limit Steering Travel?

[1e-pwr]

Howdy
I have an EP70 Starlet running 195/50/15s and get inner guard rub on both sides, although one side worse than the other. I am just wondering whether there is any way to limit the throw of the steering so this is no longer an issue. The car already has problems with traction so dont want to go to a thinner tyre, and Id probably go to a 205 if I could come up with some clever way of limiting the steering travel. Could some kind of stoppers be added to the ends of the rack so that the pinion is limited at the ends? Any ideas of the legality of such an approach? The car needs to go for a cert hence need to fix wheel rub, dont want to fix with a solution that is also uncert worthy though...

[molex]

Hammer. Seriously though, how bad is the rub? that last little tiny bit of the steering lock? or a decent angle of the wheel?

What offset are your wheels? I run 205/50/15's on 15x7s in the front of my Glanza, they're +35's. Any higher offset and I would have the same issue.

[1e-pwr]

Have already massaged the wells with Mr Ball Peen. The rub isnt super terrible, but enough to fail WOF... Wheels are factory BZR wheels, not sure of offset, wouldnt wanna go any more backspace though cause I get rub under compression on the outside edge as well...

[rollaholic]

flares & wheelspacers!

[molex]

Factory wheels are something like +45 or more if I recall correctly. I'll ask mr Google

Roll guards + spacers/lower offset wheels would be the way to go, a few mm could make all the difference...

[Mr Revhead]

you could maybe make up lock stops
a lot of cars have them.
mount on the hub, usually a bolt with a plastic cover that contacts a plate on the lower arm

have a look at a surf to get the idea

[1e-pwr]

Alas its tricky with the Ep70 arches, they are designed for teency 155s! The new wheels I have for my nana mobile are facto corolla 15s (4x100), so dunno if theyll improve things/make it worse. What I might try is messing some more with the arm adjustments, still a little toed in and with adjustment might be JUST enough give in the barely rub side to make up the difference. I was thinking of somehow 'inactivating' the outermost teeth of the rack (with machined inserts of steel or nylon), thatd limit throw, but have no idea if this is feasible (and more importantly legal) having never dissected the innermost workings of a steering box...

[QikStarlie]

chop some off the end of the rack. done.

[Malcolm]

should easily be able to make up some cylindrical spacers that go over the ends of the rack, which are retained by the rack ends, and which contact the steering rack housing at what you desire to be full lock.

[1e-pwr]

Thanks guys, exactly the kinda solutions I was after. Will pull it to bits and have a look what can be done, if can remove some length from the rack and still retain enough internal thread then will go that way, otherwise will look at the bush route. Also need to talk to certifier about the legality of either method... Cheers guys, no power steering 205s here I come

[Malcolm]

shortening the rack will affect your bump steer, just so you know (can't say whether it'll be in a good way or bad way though). If it's only a few mm it probably wont be noticable though

[DexGT]

I made and fitted some 7mm spacer rings from acetal that are on the rack inside the inner rod ends . They have been fitted now for over a year no problems and more importantly for me no blown C.V's since fitting .
As they are inside the inner CV boots I can't see how a WOF guy will even know they are there

[1e-pwr]

Sweet, did you measure the amount of travel that needed to be removed lock to lock to derive the 7mm measurement, or guestimate? Any pics? What width tyres are you running? EP82 right?

[DexGT]

From memory I made a few diferent length sets up and told my wheel allinement guy to use the ones that made the tyres miss the rubbing point by 5mm or so . It's been a while but I'm pretty sure he used the 7mm ones , that was with 205 15" semi slicks , trial and error basically .
Yes it is a EP82 GT.

[drift-monkey]

just do the opposite to making more lock, i machined a few mil of the rack ends sotd slide insede the steering rack so if u just machined the rack ends opposite
like this...