Tie-bar tightening

[mickeytwonames]

The workshop manual is vague on this point.

How tight do you tighten the tie bar?
What effect does it have on tracking?
And how can you know when to adjust them?

Many thanks to the usual suspects and any other Morris geeks herewith assembled for any sage advice.

[philthehill]

To answer your questions:-
The nut on the front of the tie bar should be tight enough for the retaining washer (fits behind the castellated/self locking nut) to be butting up against the larger dia of the tie bar on which the tie bar bushes sit.
The tie bar does not effect tracking. If it does there is something seriously wrong!
The tie bars are not adjustable unless you have fitted adjustable tie bars.

[bmcecosse]

They WILL affect the castor angle and therefore the tracking if it was previously set with them not fully tight - and then you tighten them up. I agree - tighten as above - and then set the tracking 1/8" toe IN.

[philthehill]

There is very little free thread on the front of the tie bar after the retaining nut either castellated or self locking is fitted; so if the nut is loose enough to affect the caster/tracking there is as I stated above something seriously wrong and the tie bar(s) and nuts should be examined for serviceability before further use.
As regards the tie rod bushes if they are unserviceable that is a different matter in relation to caster because if the bushes have worn to the point of being unserviceable and they allow the fore and aft movement of the tie rod under braking, acceleration and general suspension movement that will effect the caster.

[mickeytwonames]

THANKS GUYS