Fix Your Ackerman Angle for Better Steering (no weld)

[Sinbad001]

As you can see my spindle came with two tie rod mounting holes. Niether one had nearly the right amount of angle. So I did some measureing, cut a triangle out of 1/4 inch steel, and bolted it on with grade 8 hardware. Steers great now.

 

[OzFab]

Nice work

This method can be used on any rearfacing arm by simply drilling an extra hole if there's only one.

This is vital, sticky worthy info!

 

[DS13]

Ill second that!

 

[Doc Sprocket]

And I will implement it. Nice work, sir!

 

[Sinbad001]

Nice work

This method can be used on any rearfacing arm by simply drilling an extra hole if there's only one.

This is vital, sticky worthy info!

Feel free to sticky it. Anyone with a drill and a hacksaw can fix their steering. Highly stress the use of grade 8 hardware and lock washers though. And some red locktight for good measure. Cheaping out can lead to disconnected tie rods at speed.

 

[cOw]

More pictures would be awesome! Sweet job tho.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Feel free to sticky it.

Lol- I stickied it like 10 minutes ago!

 

[souperman000]

I cannot tell, are those rear facing arms? how would it be implemented on forward facing arms?

 

[Sinbad001]

I cannot tell, are those rear facing arms? how would it be implemented on forward facing arms?

Yes they are rear facing arms. On forward arms you would have to go outboard, if you have the clearance to your tire/rim.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

On forward-facing arms, there IS another option. You would install a pitman arm with the rod holes spaced apart, and cross the tie rods. I haven't worked out the math on getting that right, but it is feasible.

 

[Sinbad001]

2 spaced holes on the steering column bracket works as well.

OOps, that's what you said isn't it!

 

[yerf_dogger]

can we please get more pics and details

 

[Sinbad001]

My picture at the top of this post shows my spindle with rear facing tie rods. Most yard karts come with 90* spindles to save money. Otherwise you would need a different spindle for every length wheelbase kart. Proper ackerman isn't really a big deal on karts driven on grass and dirt, but on pavement you will tear up tires as well as other steering problems.
Some say to correct the ackerman on a spindle you need to cut the tie rod part of the spindle off and re-weld it on at the proper angle. My method introduces a bracket to put the tie rod at the proper angle.
To determine the angle you need for your kart you simply take a line from the center of your king pin to the center of the rear axle. The angle between that line and a line from the king pin straight back to the axle is your ackerman angle.
Here are some rudimentary parts to explain.

#1 is a simple 90* spindle.

#2 is a plan view of the same.

#3 shows a 12.5 degree ackerman angle, which is what my kart needed. That line goes from the center of the king pin to the center of my rear axle. Yours will probably be different.

#4 shows a second hole drilled to bolt on the bracket.

#5 shows a dimensioned sketch of the bracket which places the tie rod on the ackerman line.

#6 shows the finished bracket bolted on with the relocated tie rod bolted on.

All of this only works with rear facing tie rods. I hope this answers your questions.

 

[yerf_dogger]

I suppose it does, and thank you for the info.

Problem is I do not have rear facing tie rods!

 

[OzFab]

Then you would connect the bracket to the other side of the steering arm

 

[Sinbad001]

Then you would connect the bracket to the other side of the steering arm

The line from the rear axle would continue through the king pin to the outboard side, so the bracket would also flip over to point outboard. Provided there is clearance to the tire and rim it would work fine.