Last try at fixing my steering problem before I give up.
#21
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Hmm. Did the guy at Boss Frog let the jig slip a bit when he was welding on the rack mounts?
Edit: Yep, that's it! The mounts are centered up on your subframe but they are offset to the passenger side one to two inches on the stocker. Your subframe was welded wrong at BF!
Edit: Yep, that's it! The mounts are centered up on your subframe but they are offset to the passenger side one to two inches on the stocker. Your subframe was welded wrong at BF!
Actually, I think I found one possible solution to the problem. I am waiting on a phone call right now from a guy who is going to sell me another Miata.
Car out of alignment? Buy another one!
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yep if you are 2.5 turns lock to lock, go all the way to one side and then turn back 1.25 turns so your rack will be in the middle.
from there lock your steering wheel in place with something and adjust your tie rods until your toe is proper.
if your steering wheel is off, remove it and clock it to get it straight again.
from there lock your steering wheel in place with something and adjust your tie rods until your toe is proper.
if your steering wheel is off, remove it and clock it to get it straight again.
I replaced my rack, and this is what I did. Adjusted toe by eye, and the alignment guy was amazed it was so close. Use the string method described in the M.net garage section.
Also, the power rack has less turns L-L than the manual, I believe.
#23
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Not possible to use the tie rod ends to adjust it straight with a half way in the middle of lock to lock. I have about 1/4" of adjustment left and I need something like 1.5". Doesn't matter anyway, I just bought this ($3400 - don't mind what the bid says):
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mazda...f479e21f#v4-44
$3400 Red 1997 automatic with 65K miles (for when the link no longer works). The car is supposed to be cherry. Wonder how many months it will take me to swap everything over? Like I said - Car out of alignment? Buy another one!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mazda...f479e21f#v4-44
$3400 Red 1997 automatic with 65K miles (for when the link no longer works). The car is supposed to be cherry. Wonder how many months it will take me to swap everything over? Like I said - Car out of alignment? Buy another one!
#24
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I will continue to contend that my Miata subframe rack mounts look far more offset than those on your BF one. I went outside and looked earlier when we were talking about it.
I would take a pic but it's dark outside and I'm already in my South Park pajamas. Ha!
I would take a pic but it's dark outside and I'm already in my South Park pajamas. Ha!
#25
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I'll have to remove both racks when I do the V8 swap. It will be 10 years from now (I am dreading working on the car for hours every day) but when I have them both off I'll snap a picture and post it.
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The plan is to drive the ugly one for a couple of weeks (I don't have much seat time with it) so the bad stuff sticks out (i.e. car is too low, engine leaks oil, etc). I want to figure out what the PO did wrong with the car so I can take care of it before everything is back together. I think I am going to try to lift the engine up instead of dropping it in. I'll have to investigate it a bit first though. If you want some V8 swap experience I'll give you all you can handle.
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The plan is to drive the ugly one for a couple of weeks (I don't have much seat time with it) so the bad stuff sticks out (i.e. car is too low, engine leaks oil, etc). I want to figure out what the PO did wrong with the car so I can take care of it before everything is back together. I think I am going to try to lift the engine up instead of dropping it in. I'll have to investigate it a bit first though. If you want some V8 swap experience I'll give you all you can handle.
#31
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I had a similar problem when I first depowered and installed a rack. The steering column itself seems to have travel limiters. If you remove the rack from the car, the steering wheel will only go so far in each direction before it hits its stops. The solution is to center the wheel relative to its stops before attaching the steering column to the rack. At least, that worked for me.
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