Steering problem question

[mdoupe]

Hi guys, I'm having an issue trying to build steering with "Technic, Steering Gear with 4 Ball Joints" (http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=x873c01&in=S)

The base is 5L across and uses 6.5L steering arms. The steering mechanism uses 2x 6L thin liftarms with 6L links.

The problem I'm having is that any "legal" method I use ends up with the wheels at a slight angle. if I move the rack up or down by even 1/2, it throws the steering off even more.

Can anyone suggest any fixes for this?

Here's a link to what I have: http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/mdoupe/Misc/crooked.jpg

Edited August 14, 2010 by DLuders
Added his own image so folks can more easily see what he's talking about

[JunkstyleGio]

Did you check all the buildinginstructions of the sets in which the part is used?

[Silcantar]

Raise or lower the steering rack, I think.

[freakwave]

Hi

Here's the actual problem, you have stated it by yourself:

The base is 5L across and uses 6.5L steering arms. The steering mechanism uses 2x 6L thin liftarms with 6L links.

This needs to be the same! If you look at your picture the middle red lines which go through the pivot points of the "6.5 L steering arms" also need to go through the center of the "half-pins with towball", which is clearly not the case.

Changing this will align your tires. I know this will pose a challenge to fix the 4L gear rack, but that's the point of Lego, be creative, you can achieve that!

The problem I'm having is that any "legal" method I use ends up with the wheels at a slight angle. if I move the rack up or down by even 1/2, it throws the steering off even more.

Raise or lower the steering rack, I think.

Do not move it up or down, you will get a different geometry for the pivot points (if you make it with suspension) of the "6.5 L steering arms" and the "6L links" this will move the wheels exactly the same unwanted way you have it no. The "half-pin with towball" needs to be vertically in the same position as the towball of the "steering gear"!

This is the case in all the instructions that use it (and that I possess 8466, 8157)

keep on

freakWave

Edited August 14, 2010 by freakwave

[mdoupe]

I did look at a couple of the instructions (the trucks) but it didn't help much, I already had the basic concept down. Maybe I will take a look at the ferarri's or something though.

Raise or lower the steering rack, I think.

as I mentioned, raising it or lowering it by even half a stud throws it even further off. it's very very close as is. (it's drivable, just not perfect)

This needs to be the same! If you look at your picture the middle red lines which go through the pivot points of the "6.5 L steering arms" also need to go through the center of the "half-pins with towball", which is clearly not the case.

Changing this will align your tires. I know this will pose a challenge to fix the 4L gear rack, but that's the point of Lego, be creative, you can achieve that!

They are the same. since they overlap:

The arms are 6.5L, attached to a 5L liftarm

6.5 + 3 (5 overlapped on both sides) + 6.5 = 16

The links are 6L, attached to a 6L liftarm

6 + 4 (6 overlapped on both sides) + 6 = 16

also, the red line goes directly through the pivot point. it's hard to tell as the pic is crappy.

The "half-pin with towball" needs to be vertically in the same position as the towball of the "steering gear"!

I'm not 100% sure I understood that, but I take that to mean that the link has to "line up" with the steering arms, which I made sure of. Here's another (higher resolution) pic of the design mounted in my truck: http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/mdoupe/Misc/img_1770.jpg It looks a little odd because I'm out of battery, and had to pull the tire aside, but it does line up.

Thank you for the replies! I'm quite new here, having just come out of my dark age a little while ago, and I wasn't very much into technic when I was a kid (they didn't even have liftarms or bevel gears back then! :P)

[Fyredog]

I have this same issue with my 8466

[Meatman]

I guess that is why TLC switched to the new steering arms and gear racks that are at odd lengths instead of even ones. Everything is based on odd numbers now, including the new differential boxes.

[eMHa]

I saw the same with my 8880. As stated above, no solution is to put the rack more up or down. But you could put the rack more forth or back!?

I checked my brand new 8297 and this one doesn't have this issue! All is quite parallel.

[TechnicJuan]

I saw the same with my 8880. As stated above, no solution is to put the rack more up or down. But you could put the rack more forth or back!?

I checked my brand new 8297 and this one doesn't have this issue! All is quite parallel.

That is because the new steering arms are 6L (I know they list as 5.5L, but they are not) where as the older ones from the 8880, 8466, 8448 were all 6.5L. In order for everything to be "Square" all of the arms, links, and gear racks have to be correct.