Steering axle nut cap | FerrariChat

Steering axle nut cap

Discussion in '308/328' started by Zenobie, Oct 8, 2024.

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  1. Zenobie

    Zenobie Formula Junior

    Feb 22, 2021
    251
    Belgium
    Full Name:
    CO
    I want to make/adapt a normal cap myself, but it is not clear to me whether I should start with size 30 or 32 mm?
    Thanks in advance
     
  2. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,090
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    Some context would be a big help.
     
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  3. Zenobie

    Zenobie Formula Junior

    Feb 22, 2021
    251
    Belgium
    Full Name:
    CO
    Although the 328 drives perfectly straight and the tires wear evenly, the steering wheel has been off-center since I purchased it last year.
     
  4. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    26,785
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
    Full Name:
    Steve Magnusson
    That is corrected by adjusting the tie rod lengths (not anything in the steering column system). Making one tie rod longer and the other tie rod shorter by the same amount will rotate the steering wheel's "straight" position without changing the toe-in setting.
     
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  5. Zenobie

    Zenobie Formula Junior

    Feb 22, 2021
    251
    Belgium
    Full Name:
    CO
    Since I am in favor of the league's "limited effort", that may indeed be less work :)
     
  6. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,090
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    Assuming the toe is correct, I put a chalk mark on both tie rods. Shorten 1 half a turn and lengthen the other same. After a time or two you will get used to how much change moves wheel how much.
     
  7. Zenobie

    Zenobie Formula Junior

    Feb 22, 2021
    251
    Belgium
    Full Name:
    CO
    The car is left-hand drive. If I move the steering wheel exactly to the middle position, the car turns slightly to the right. Am I adjusting it correctly if I turn the left steering rod out and turn in the right one?
     
  8. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,090
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    Make both wheels turn more left.
     
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  9. Portofino

    Portofino Formula Junior

    Sep 17, 2011
    845
    Yorkshire UK / Switzerland/ Antibes France
    Full Name:
    Portofino
    I took mine for the sake of £40 to a U.K. Quick fit outfit ,

    Stop laughing folks !
    QF has a place in car guy world .

    They put it on the “ Hunter “ alignment ramp ……yup on the screen it did have a 77 208 GT 4 …..not bad only 840 produced but it’s in the system. The 208s run on 195/70/14 , not 3.0 L 205 s fwiw ? The narrower tyres mean a slightly different toe in than wider btw and there machine knew that .Impressed !

    Anyhow calipers on the wheels and steering wheel locked horizontally …..10 mins later the guy phaffing with the track rod ends ….you can see on the screen the wheels moving on the plates and the screen turn from red to green as the correct toe in is adjusted in . The screen even has the correct toe in .

    Fortunately the rears were fine .Oh yeh they put calipers on those as well .But the guy said unless I have a bucket of shims he couldn’t adjust the rear anyhow .

    I had the same issue before you have .Now it tracks straight with the steering wheel horizontal .
    As I said best £40. I have put into the car .
     
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  10. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
    Consultant

    Nov 29, 2001
    13,551
    San Carlos, CA
    Full Name:
    Mitchell Le
    I am astounded at the cost of manual labor in the UK. Forty sterling pounds to do an alignment? Where I live in the US, it's $125 for a simple alignment. If they have to do the shimming thing for a Ferrari, it's $175. And the infinitely adjustable 20 different ways alignment for a Porsche is $200 or not at all.
     
  11. Zenobie

    Zenobie Formula Junior

    Feb 22, 2021
    251
    Belgium
    Full Name:
    CO
    Hi Guys,
    Just started to get the steering wheel back exactly in the middle.
    On the passenger side, the counter nut came loose easily, on the driver's side.........I can't get it loose at all, isn't this also a normal right-hand thread direction?
     
  12. Zenobie

    Zenobie Formula Junior

    Feb 22, 2021
    251
    Belgium
    Full Name:
    CO
    Ye its right hand tread and finaly the nut turn, one side of the nut caput
     
  13. Zenobie

    Zenobie Formula Junior

    Feb 22, 2021
    251
    Belgium
    Full Name:
    CO
    2nd problem, there are no flats on the steering rod to turn in and out! I've never seen this missing on a steering rod before.
     
  14. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    26,785
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
    Full Name:
    Steve Magnusson
    You'll just have to use some type of pliers on the OD (I can't remember if there was any drive feature on my ex-308 or not).
     
  15. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,090
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    Never seen a Ferrari tie rod on a steering rack car not have flats ground into it.
     
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  16. Ethan Miller

    Ethan Miller Rookie

    Nov 6, 2024
    1
    Full Name:
    Ethan Miller
    For a custom cap, start with 32mm if you're working with standard sizes or if you anticipate needing a bit more room for adjustment. If the fit needs to be tighter or the material is flexible, then 30mm might be a better starting point. Consider the material and intended use to determine the final fit.
     
  17. miked

    miked Formula Junior

    Feb 7, 2001
    897
    Cincinnati, Ohio
    Each tie rod has a right hand thread on one end and a left hand thread on the other end, essentially it's a turnbuckle.
     
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  18. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    26,785
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
    Full Name:
    Steve Magnusson
    That's true on some vehicles, but 308/328 have the other design where the inner end is a ball-and-socket joint so it just always rotates freely and the outer end can either be screwed in to, or out of, the end piece to change the length.
     
  19. Zenobie

    Zenobie Formula Junior

    Feb 22, 2021
    251
    Belgium
    Full Name:
    CO
    #19 Zenobie, Nov 9, 2024
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2024
    As you can see no flats .
    @ Steve, indeed it always rotates, but you first have to loosen the counter nut and this did not go smoothly, so I had to secure the steering rod with the vise grip, otherwise there would be no movement in the nut and the steering rod would simply turn whit it.
    But all's well that ends well and tomorrow will be a test ride to see if I turned the bars the right way. I turned both only 1 cycle mayby its to much or not enough.
    @ Brian, as you can see, no flat sides on the steering rack
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  20. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,090
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    Not on a rack and pinion. The inner end is ball and socket.
     
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  21. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,090
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    No I cannot see. That part is covered up.
     
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  22. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,090
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    Really...........on a steering rack. New one on me.
     
  23. Zenobie

    Zenobie Formula Junior

    Feb 22, 2021
    251
    Belgium
    Full Name:
    CO
    #23 Zenobie, Nov 10, 2024
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2024
  24. Zenobie

    Zenobie Formula Junior

    Feb 22, 2021
    251
    Belgium
    Full Name:
    CO
    Although it was raining, I did a test drive and yes, the steering wheel was right in the middle on the first attempt. I'm happy thanks to Brian, Steve and Mike.
    For thous who are intressed 1 complete turn makes this difference Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  25. miked

    miked Formula Junior

    Feb 7, 2001
    897
    Cincinnati, Ohio
    Oops, I have been working on a 1978 Fiat 124, my feeble and old mind has become very clouded.
     
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