Help! Tie bar won't line up.

[IslipMinor]

Another 'bendy' bar! Taken coming out of the chicane at Goodwood last year.
[frame][/frame]
It is the Owen Burton front antiroll bar, and also an Ital rear bar as well.

Also has negative camber eye bolts fitted and set to give ~1° negative. As a result probably around 5° caster that gives excellent turn-in and straight running stability, at the expense of slow speed heavier steering.

Both the eye bolt mounts and the front tie rod mounts have been strengthened, after showing early signs of stress.

[philthehill]

Roger
There should be very little pressure required to fit the tie rod on a standard tie rod set up with the car sitting on its suspension and located on level ground.
Fit it all together loosely and when all loosely assembled progressively tighten the nut on the front of the tie rod and the nut on the rear of the tie rod fork (making sure that the spacer is fitted between the tie rod fork and the thin arm).
Not forgetting to tighten the tie rod to tie rod fork nut/bolt and fit the split pin to the tie rod front nut.
The top and bottom surface of the tie rod fork should be parallel with the top & bottom of the thin suspension arm.

[bmcecosse]

Another great picture there Richard! I do believe the best mod to a Minor front suspension would be to move the damper mounting down and in slightly - so the top arm lies horizontal, or even slightly sloping down to the car centre - so on bump it encourages slight negative camber - rather than the standard setup which does quite the opposite! Not easy unfortunately without quite a bit of welding.

[bmcecosse]

As above -it should all go together easily enough - although more difficult if using poly bushes on the tie-bar, which is why I suggest a rubber bush on the inside and a poly mount on the outside. This allows good articulation - and the poly mount assures good support when braking. I do however believe that with all you have told us - there are some alignment issues with your car....

[rogerowen]

Thanks for all the advise guys. Now the suspension is all done - I can't see the negative camber on the O/S anymore - yipee! I'm not on particularly level ground at the moment as I have the rad out, grille (!) off, water pump off (to be replaced) tappet covers off - re-gasketing, and heater tap off for a bit of a refurb as it's leaking a bit. I've been very lucky with this car really - didn't know what to expect picking up a half done restoration project that had no history (previous owner sadly deceased before completion). What he had done, he had done very well!

[bmcecosse]

All good news then! Keep up the good work.