TMS Steering Rack Alignment Tool Dimensions

[t.er]

By any chance, does anyone here have a TMS Steering Rack Alignment Tool (https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-1785-steering-rack-alignment-tool-e46/)?

If so, I'd be super appreciative of some measurements, taken with a caliper:

- overall length
- outer diameter
- width between the two inside flats, on the smaller section

I'm basically looking to machine my own, given these measurements. Thanks in advance!

[t.er]

Bump, took some measurements on my car today. OD and ID I'm not worried about, but it was difficult to get a good measurement of length so it'd be great if someone could confirm it for me:

Length (critical measurement): ~51.6 mm

OD: 60 mm (or larger, just had to butt up to the rack housing)

ID: 27 mm (has to have a clearance fit with the rack shaft and butt up to the backside of the inner tie rod balljoint)

[ZHPizza]

5



I don't even know what this tool is. I just wanted to post so you'd get a notification that someone responded and get excited.

Sorry

[t.er]

5



I don't even know what this tool is. I just wanted to post so you'd get a notification that someone responded and get excited.

Sorry

nono maaaaaan got me all excited with that notification

With my recent coilover purchase I foresee the need to try different setups and don't want to keep throwing money for shops to do it. With the crappy experience I've had with the DIY alignments in the past, I'm going to machine this tool which will centre the steering past the guibo and basically iron out issues that could cause my car to pull to one side. And I'll have access to corner scales so I can DIY corner balance as well

[holyc0w]

Oh man :rofl

[Will]

:rofl That was way too funny! 5...??!?! Lol.

Here's what I measured:
- Length: 51.15 mm
- Outer Diameter: 54.75 mm (there's a slight lip to the barrel of the rack that this tool slips into, you'll see what I mean when the boot is off)
- Inner width, smaller part: 28.11 mm

Good luck.

[t.er]

:rofl That was way too funny! 5...??!?! Lol.

Here's what I measured:
- Length: 51.15 mm
- Outer Diameter: 54.75 mm (there's a slight lip to the barrel of the rack that this tool slips into, you'll see what I mean when the boot is off)
- Inner width, smaller part: 28.11 mm

Good luck.


lol, I hope these numbers are legit this time :rofl

Thanks though, this is a big help. I'll have to go back and have a look at that inner lip you were talking about, I didn't notice it was there. Kind of odd that TMS would design it that way, but perhaps the end face of the rack does not have as high a tolerance as that inner lip.

And the 51.15 mm measurement makes sense, since it was hard to measure from behind the tie rod nut to the rack housing, my caliper was likely on an angle.

[Will]

It should be much closer to the truth than simply 5, that's for sure. Especially since I included the units of measure. Lol.

Just keep in mind a few potential sources of error:


Harbor Freight micrometer; and,
User error (me, but hey, at least I was sober).


51.15 was the mode after a handful of measurements. Will you be 3D printing it, or turning a block of wood / metal on a lathe? Doesn't seem like it'd be substantial savings over the Turner price (~$50), but then again I don't know much about 3D printing or machining costs.

[t.er]

Just keep in mind a few potential sources of error:

User error (me, but hey, at least I was sober).



:rofl



51.15 was the mode after a handful of measurements. Will you be 3D printing it, or turning a block of wood / metal on a lathe? Doesn't seem like it'd be substantial savings over the Turner price (~$50), but then again I don't know much about 3D printing or machining costs.

It'd be tough to achieve the tolerances you need with 3D printing, but I guess you could print it slightly longer at 100% infill, then sand it back. Since I'm headed back to campus tomorrow I have full (free) access to the student machine shop, so I have a handful of projects planned over the winter, this being one of them. I'll dig around for some scrap aluminium, turn it to the correct OD and length on the lathe, then toss it on the mill for the slot. So really it'll just cost me a few hours of my time, nothing more

[Will]

That's awesome you have access and use of a shop like that.

[t.er]

... and, done. Total cost of $4.66 CAD, I count my labour as free.

Thanks for the help Will!

https://i.imgur.com/Et1GJ5Fl.jpg

[Will]

Glad you got it made. Let us know how it works out for you.