hkn_fd

Just recently had a wheel alignment done, but noticed now that my tie rod ends are rubbing into the brake shields.. Did the shop that aligned the car do a mistake here or what could cause this?

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

I think you need to have them take another look.

That tie rod end pivots at the top. It looks like they adjusted the toe and the wheel stayed put so as they threaded out the tie rod it pushed outwards and "leaned in" that tie rod end.

You should just be able to grab the wheel and pull outwards and it will be straight up and down and not touching the heat shield again but I think if you do that the toe may be off, they may have seen the toe wrong on their machine.

Worth checking into since if the wheels are big time toed in or out you will eat up tires VERY quickly.

Dale

DaveW

I see something different from what Dale said.

The tie rod end pivots in the socket attached to the end of the toe link. The bolt is a tapered fit in the steering arm, so it can't tilt. So there is some other issue - too much suspension angle or similar, maybe due to lowering the car's ride height.

Actually, the whole toe link end looks weird, like the ball is not all the way into its socket due to some sort of damage or other issue. Or the wrong ball joints were used which have the tapered bolt too long for this application. That would be especially true if the car had been lowered and the suspension arms were angled upward at the outer end or a lot more negative camber was adjusted in tilting the top of the upright inward.

tomsn16

iTrader: (283)

Here's pics for a 93-95 FD front hub assembly....may help.
Is your car an FD ?
The shield fits well behind the tie rod end.

hkn_fd

Yeah my car is a FD 1995 RHD model from Japan. Looks like I have different brake shields than you.

The car has been lowered and running more camber. I replaced the passenger side tie rod end last winter with a Moog branded one listed for FD rx7's. The other one I have not touched.

tomsn16

iTrader: (283)

Yes, different shields but I think they changed in 95.
Pics I sent are 93-94.

billyboy

Looks like you have the louvered shields.

Does look a little odd as DaveW says, the LH end in particular, almost looks as if not drawn into the taper far enough because of the balloon in the dust boot, but the thread exposed above it seems right.