URGENT! Help with Tie Rods after installing AKOM steering block!

[Jibz]

So, had the steering block installed that supposedly raises the tierods hence making the angle of the tie rods horizontal after the car has been lowered to maintain stock handling characteristics.

Now, this piece was tested on RSX's (DC5's) in the states with success so I went ahead and ordered it for my EP3R here in Australia.

As it turns out, with the block installed and the tie rods at a horizontal angle, I have 6mm toe in on BOTH front wheels when the tie rod ends are bottomed out on their thread.

I'm not running any camber from my suspension (Mugen SS) which leads me to believe that the stock tie rod angle on the EP3 was never flat since the tie rods are too long.

Anyone with any suggestions on what I can do? I know ChargeR might have some experience/advice after reading some of his posts.

Thanks.

[Nepolian]

I think the blocks were originally designed to be used with inverted tie rod ends (I believe or read some where).

Anyway...inverted tie rods ends are a little shorter otherwise yo may need J's tie rods?

[chargeR]

Weird that the change in the centre bracket made so much of a change to the available toe adjustment. How close were you to bottoming out the tie rods with just the SS in there? Did you look at the OEM bracket compared to the Akom piece side by side? Got pics? I guess your best course of action is to take it back out again. The lowering from Mugen SS is so little that adjusting the angle of the tie rods probably isn't essential.

[Jibz]

while I don't know what the stock angle would look like, the angle on mine were similar to alot of the pictures of DC5's posted on the thread on that forum. Mugen SS supposedly drops the ride height by 1.4 inches.

I too, am surprised that there is 6mm of toe in on each side. It looked like there was a decent amount of thread left on the tie rods before the block went on. I dropped my car off at my mechanics last night to get the block and the clutch master+slave cylinders changed and was informed a couple hours ago (5:20) about the toe issue. I haven't personally seen the car myself, its left in the alignment shop overnight, so I can't check it out till tomorrow.

It seems that the americans just put the block into their RSX's and it fits perfectly, leading me to believe that the EP3 tie rod is marginally longer than the DC5 one. Perhaps I could get those put in instead?

The AKOM bracket raises the tie rod mounting point by about an inch, Picture 1 (http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w312/akomracing/Picture042.jpg)

Picture 2 (http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w312/akomracing/Picture043.jpg)

[Jibz]

Steering block removed, reverted to stock. A pity that it didn't fit but it was developed using an RSX afterall.

[bradb16a]

thanks for this post u just saved me $240 :)