Tie rod hitting top of front sway bar link? | Page 6 | FerrariChat

Tie rod hitting top of front sway bar link?

Discussion in '308/328' started by LOBO1, Feb 7, 2019.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. Martin308GTB

    Martin308GTB F1 Rookie

    Jan 22, 2003
    4,212
    Black Forest Germany
    Full Name:
    Martin N.
    So glad to read you here today :)

    Best
    Martin
     
  2. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 11, 2004
    10,625
    CT
    Full Name:
    John Kreskovsky
  3. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 28, 2008
    9,178
    this problem is driving me insane
     
    johnk... and thorn like this.
  4. Saabguy

    Saabguy Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 28, 2012
    1,753
    Shreveport, LA
    Driving me crazy enough that I went and took pics of my front. Guess that my '88.5 328 had all the changes. Looks nothing like what you have.
     
    absostone likes this.
  5. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 11, 2004
    10,625
    CT
    Full Name:
    John Kreskovsky
    Assuming the parts are all correct the only thing I can imagine is that the caster is way off. I was thinking that the steering arms could be off but, the think is, the disk guards bolt to the caliper mounts at the rear of the spindle and to the steering arm at the front. So if the steering arms were tilted down, as in incorrect part, the disk guard would not fit correctly. This tells me that the angle the steering arm makes with the caster axis (line through center of top and bottom ball joints) must be correct and the only way the steering arm could tilt up more, to clear the sway bar dog bone, is more positive caster.
     
  6. Crowndog

    Crowndog F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jul 16, 2011
    7,042
    Fairfield,Pa
    Full Name:
    Robert
    Is it possible the A arm mounts to the chassis are upside down if that’s even possible.
     
    miketuason likes this.
  7. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 28, 2008
    9,178
    the forks point upward from what I can see and that is correct
     
    thorn likes this.
  8. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 28, 2008
    9,178
    I thought of that too, that's why I posted a pic with the green straight lines earlier in the thread. I also asked how the A arms were mounted. there is a possibility the lower was mounted in the full down position and the bushings are not offering any torsional resistance when the weight of the car is set on it, but im just guessing. I may not be wording this correctly
     
  9. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2006
    15,517
    Cerritos, CA.
    Full Name:
    Mike
    Yes it’s possible because I’ve seen it happen before, good one Robert.
     
  10. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,143
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    To recap, previous repairs have given rise to the interference conflict in fit, and the rebuild simply carried the issue forward.

    Not noticed because the car was not operational.

    Tend to agree about the new bushings being very stiff and suspension droop.
    Not sure but reassembly with arm in closer to stressed position before setting the thru bolts??

    Thread of the month, the world wide campfire of Ferrari enthusiasts.

    And Martins car will rub when he's airborne over European train crossings!
    I am going underneath mine tomorrow, for a look see.....
     
  11. Martin308GTB

    Martin308GTB F1 Rookie

    Jan 22, 2003
    4,212
    Black Forest Germany
    Full Name:
    Martin N.
    :)

    But only with steering on full lock too.

    Best Regards
    Martin
     
  12. Hinecker

    Hinecker Formula Junior

    Mar 14, 2011
    379
  13. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 11, 2004
    10,625
    CT
    Full Name:
    John Kreskovsky
    An additional thought relating to alignment. I would think camber could also effect this. Maybe start with getting things into alignment.
     
  14. Hinecker

    Hinecker Formula Junior

    Mar 14, 2011
    379
    Not so sure about alignment, on my 328 tie rod and sway bar link have a plenty of clearance, alignment may change distances slightly but not that much.
    On my car, when sitting on the ground, the tie rod arm is parallel to the ground, no sharp angles up or down.
    I suppose the 308 must be pretty much the same, the tie rod should not interfere with any other moving part of the suspension/steering under no circumstances, drive could be catastrophic.
     
  15. Saabguy

    Saabguy Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 28, 2012
    1,753
    Shreveport, LA
    Lets get the information in an orderly fashion:

    1. Problem existed BEFORE the disassembly
    2. There is no service history with the car
    3. The interference appears whether the tire is suspended or loaded
    4. We are told that the tie rod end mounts are not easily swapped
    5. All parts are new and from reputable shops
    6. No one else has this problem

    Looking at one of the assembly photos (Post #6) it appears that the upper A arm and Lower A arm are out of alignment. The upper appears to be too far forward. This may be a 3 dimensional problem that we are viewing in 2 dimensions ie. the problem is NOT that the tie rod has too little clearance up and down BUT that it has been repositioned back to front.

    This leads me to believe that :

    a. The front end alignment is so far out of whack that the Castor is the cause of this problem or
    b. The uprights have been swapped or
    c. The tie rod end mounts have been swapped
     
  16. Crowndog

    Crowndog F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jul 16, 2011
    7,042
    Fairfield,Pa
    Full Name:
    Robert
  17. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 11, 2004
    10,625
    CT
    Full Name:
    John Kreskovsky
    :)

    Without being close to my car to look at it, I'm threw speculation. I have one other thought but I'm not going to post it because it's just guessing.
     
  18. thorn

    thorn F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 7, 2012
    3,322
    Tallahassee, FL
    Someone said a bit earlier that perhaps the best idea is to reassemble as-is, then have the actual alignment checked. That's what I would be doing... start by comparing this car's SAI and IA to spec.
     
    Crowndog likes this.
  19. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 28, 2008
    9,178
  20. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,143
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    If I am airborne, it's "straight ahead, to land it!"....so you are golden!
     
  21. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,143
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    A non stock sway bar??

    I am going out to jack up my car!

    brb.....
     
  22. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 28, 2008
    9,178
    sound right to me, unless you're in a Rally race
     
  23. LOBO1

    LOBO1 Rookie

    Dec 26, 2017
    41
    Full Name:
    BOB LOEB
    Double checked all the spacers, A Arms, Ball Joints.....today and other than definitely needing an alignment (we still have lots of work to do before that and will have professionals do the alignment), we're at the same point as last week.
    Tried adding more shims to the lower A Arm and that just created negative camber on the tire but no clearance on the sway bar link.

    We have been using the previously posted parts diagram (we're new to Ferrari's) as well as lots of photos (Ferrarichat has been useful) to help with the assembly.


    Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  24. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 28, 2008
    9,178
    Bob have you double checked all the part numbers you ordered? and I asked before, but how did you tighten the A arms to the car, on the ground or by measurement?
     
  25. LOBO1

    LOBO1 Rookie

    Dec 26, 2017
    41
    Full Name:
    BOB LOEB
    Forgot to photograph with a straight line but like the other photo comparisons, it's a optical illusion. We put a level against the two A arms (upper and lower) and they are completely straight (on the flat side)
     

Share This Page