[Zmagnette] Road-Wandering Magnette

[Fletcher Millmore]

Allen-
Replies so far about right, but...
I doubt that tire pressures in any reasonable range will change anything.
Anything loose in the back should cause the torque steer you know well - 
hard on & off the gas - if it stays straight that is not the problem.
Bad coupler or real wear in the rack (virtually unknown) will be 
apparent when standing still, as steering wheel free motion.
Loose rack mountings or inner ball joints found by grabbing it and 
trying to move it.

I imagine you have already done all this, so...
"...had it properly aligned"
is my bet. What you describe is exactly what happens when a car has too 
much toe-out.

Spec is wheels parallel - neither in nor out. This is ideal for radial 
tires as well, but a tiny bit of toe-in - 1/16" - is even more stable, 
(Toe-out is less stable but more responsive - you have to drive it all 
the time)
As alignment shops around here are few and far and incompetent, I use a 
piece of nylon string with a hook on one end. Stretch it from front 
wheels to rear, as high up as you can, preferably on center; see if the 
wheels are all parallel. I haven't paid for an alignment since 1972, on 
my or customer cars, but I sure have adjusted a lot of "professional" 
jobs that didn't work.
You may have to compensate for some difference in front to rear track - 
can't remember on a Magnette.
It is easiest to set the wheels on one side parallel, and take your 
total toe measurement off the other side.

I'd put money you have 1/8-1/4" toe out. At the high side of this you 
can feel the tread feathering as you run your hand across the tread 
crosswise - sharp edges on the outside of the tread blocks for toe-out, 
inside for toe-in, but you may not have enough miles on the current 
configuration to see this. I run my hands across the tread on all cars 
as a periodic routine check of things.
If your steering wheel is currently centered when going straight ahead, 
you have to adjust each tie rod evenly; otherwise, you can use this 
adjustment to get the steering straight.

The tie rods give about 1/16" (change of rod length)  per one turn, and 
the toe changes by about 4x this, so the adjustment will be about 1/2 to 
one full turn, total on the two tie rods. Mark the tie rods and ends so 
you know how much you've turned them - it is very easy to get confused 
under the car upside down - just remember which way you are trying to 
move the wheel.

FRM

On 5/11/2014 11:36 PM, Allen Bachelder wrote:
> Well, Gang, we had a nice outing in "Geraldine" on Saturday - about 
> 150 miles without any problems.  Except... an ongoing problem - 
> exacerbated by some stiff crosswinds: it tends to wander. I feel a bit 
> of slop while trying to correct - resulting in over-correction.  I 
> totally rebuilt the front end a year ago this past winter and had it 
> properly aligned.  It does not pull at all in either direction. The 
> steering feels completely neutral.  I neglected to check my tyre 
> inflation before setting out, but what would be the recommended tyre 
> pressures on a Magnette. Tyres are 165/80R15 Nexen SB-80s.  I had them 
> set to 32# all way 'round. ' Wonder if they would do better at around 
> 28# in front.  I have yet to replace the rear bushes and shox, and I'm 
> thinking there could be enough slop in the rear bushes to affect 
> steering - but if so, would I not also experience torque-steering? 
>  There is none. I mean NONE.
>
> All this leaves only the steering rack.  I already replaced the tie 
> rod ends, and there is no slop in the king pins.  Any ideas?  My plan 
> is to go from easiest to hardest: (1) - set front tyres at 28#. (2) 
> rebush rear-end and replace rear shox, while making sure U-bolts are 
> t-i-g-h-t. (3) Rebuild/replace steering rack. I believe I can get a 
> rebuilt rack from Lou for £250 + core, which means I ship a steering 
> rack round trip across the pond. At current exchange rate the £250 
> turns into about $422.00 US plus lots 'n' lots of shipping.  What are 
> my domestic alternatives?  What's involved in rebuilding a steering 
> rack anyway?
>
> Thanks in advance, guys!
> Allen
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