Adjustable Steering Arms

April 27, 2020 40

This article describes the installation of adjsutable steering arms.

My Alfa 33 had factory fitted power assisted steering but strangely enough the steering arms were those fitted to the manual steering rack; this proves for one more time that Alfa follows the doctrine of fitting whatever is available on the parts bin during production.

Manual steering rack arms have the major drawback of hard-to-do wheel alignment as ball joint extraction is required to alter the SEMI TOE IN/OUT by 1 mm. The adjustable steering arms do not require ball joint extraction as an intermediate union can either extend or rectract the steering arm. This means that the wheel alignment can be done with perfect precision less than 1 mm as opposed to the manual steering arms.

For the history, a quick search on the workshop manuals revealed that cars from chassis number 05756203 onwards have the new steering arms solution fitted. Since the VIN number of my Alfa 33 is prior the focal VIN number, it explains why the old style non adjustable steering arms were fitted.

Parts needed:

Steering arms (part number 60572858)
Connection (part number 60572854)
Lock nuts (part number 60572857)
Rubber bush (part number 60525675)
Steering arm wheelarch left side rubber protection (part number 60501074)
Steering arm wheelarch right side rubber protection (part number 60502764)

Adjustable Steering Arms

Steering bars are out.
Note the moisture on the steering rack bellows. This is a bad sign of the steering rack leaking (steering rack was repaired in 2001)
Year 2020 Update: New steering rack installed.

Undo the ball joint locking nut.

Remove ball joint. Make sure that the locking nut stays in place so that the distance remains the same.

Align the tow arms as shown on the photo. This way the total length will remain almost the same in relation to the old steering arm.
Don't worry being accurate as wheel wheel alignment will restore the correct steering geometry.

New steering arms rubber protection liners.

Worn out rubber liners.

Cracked from the inner side (engine bay side).

Restore the steering arms along with the relative metal plate. The torque applied to the bolts should be Torque 39 - 48 Nm.

Restore lock rings.

Install the securing pin and time to visit the wheel alignment shop.

The vehicle is placed on the alignment ramp, tyres are carefully inflated at 28 psi and alignment bars are attached to the rim lips on the left side.

Apostolos hard at work attaching the laser beam devices on the left side.

The same procedure is repeated on the right side.

Not clearly seen on the photo is the PC monitor where the center of the steering radius is designated by a black mark on the upper yellow bar.

Measurements displayed on the monitor while adjustments are done to the geometry by Apostolos. The only adjustable part of the steering arm is the union which can extend or retract altering the alignment.

A very important task parameter of the wheel alignment procedure is to have the steering wheel locked to the center. Having the steering wheel on the center, the wheels will be adjusted to be straight while this is ensured by the readings on the PC monitor (remember the black mark on the yellow line).
When the black mark on the PC monitor is on the center, then fine tuning of the steering geometry can be achieved.
Also note the bar acting on the brake pedal ensuring that any possible movement of the car is avoided.