Vts Rack Problem

[Clapton_Is_God 21 1 Cars]

Hello All,

 

I'm hoping you guys can help me with a problem that I'm struggling to get my head round.

 

I have fitted a phase 1 VTS Rack to my 205 and before doing so I replaced the track/tie rods. I replaced them with VTS items not realising that I should really have fitted 205 items. However, I cut them down by 15mm as suggested by others on here.

 

My problem is that even with the track rod ends at the end of their adjustment I can't get the wheels to point straight, they both point inwards towards the middle of the car. I've taken some measurements from my old manual Rack from a fixed point and it seems my new Rack is about 3cm longer on either side, 6cm overall. The only thing I can think of is that I have been supplied with the wrong track/tie rods......does that make sense or is there something more obvious that I have missed here?

 

Any help would be much appreciated as I am totally stumped.

[allanallen 528 2 Cars]

Simply chop some more off the inner tie rods. The 15mm measurement you read on here could have been with 309 arms fitted rather than 205 arms.

[welshpug 1,656]

205 track rods are all the same length, xsara/205 rod ends are the same, the problem with cutting the xsara rods down is that the spanner flats on most prevent the rod ends from threading in far enough.

[Clapton_Is_God 21 1 Cars]

Thank you for the quick replies!

 

The spanner flats are thankfully on the inner end of the tie rod so hopefully that won't be a problem. If I cut them down by a further 3cm I'm concerned about the amount of thread left inside. Is there a minimum safe amount or would just a small amount of thread be OK?

[Clapton_Is_God 21 1 Cars]

I've just measured it and I have 40mm of thread left in the tie rod. If I cut off a further 30mm that would only leave me with 10mm........does that seem a bit dodgy to you?

[welshpug 1,656]

yes, not only a bit less than you need, but also you wont get the rods wound in any further!

 

should be ok tapped out though, but would be easier to just fir 205 rods.

[Clapton_Is_God 21 1 Cars]

Yes, you are absolutely right, it would be a right balls-up and not worth it.

 

Many thanks for your help guys!