Lotus TURBO ESPRIT Service Manual page 292

1. In order to maintain the required bump steer characteristic, it is important
to ensure that the steering rack is centralised in the straight ahead
position, i.e. both track rods are the same length. Measure the amount of
visible thread at each track rod, and if necessary equalise by adjusting an
equal and opposite amount at each side.
2. Slide the steering wheel onto the column splines in an approximate straight
ahead position. Rotate the wheel to full left hand lock and then to right
hand lock, and check that the two extreme steering wheel positions are the
mirror image of each other. If necessary, reposition the wheel on the column
until this is achieved. Fit and tighten the steering wheel nut as above.
Typical 'full lock' steering wheel positions
3. Road test the car to check steering wheel alignment. It should not be
necessary to reposition the wheel by more than one spline to achieve
alignment to within 5". Complete alignment is achieved by adjustment at the
track rod ends, an equal and opposite amount at each side to maintain the
toe-in setting.
4. Check front wheel toe-in.
HB.3
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UPPER STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY
On non-S.I.R. (Supplementary Inflatable Restraint) cars, the upper steering
column assembly comprises inner and outer columns, both of which are telescop-
ically collapsible if an axial load above a specified figure is applied to the
column in the course of an accident. The lower end of the outer column is
secured to the pedal box via a clamp bracket, and the top end of the column is
secured to the scuttle beam via two fixing bolts and 'break out' inserts, which
are retained in slots in the column brackets by nylon pins. These pins are
designed to shear in an accident, and allow the upper half of the column to break
free of the scuttle beam and telescope downwards, this movement being accornrn-
odated by the deformation of an open mesh crumple section (covered by a rubber
sleeve) at the bottom of the column.
The telescopic inner column assembly is supported in ball bearings and
provided with splines at the top end for the steering wheel, and splines at the
bottom end for connection with the intermediate column. The upper part of the
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