DIY Adjustable Toe Links

[Lennym1984]

After my original toe links (or more accurately the eccentrics and their clips) fell prey to a ham fisted wheel alignment "specialist" I figured that I may as well take the opportunity to upgrade to adjustable toe links. There are various aftermarket options out there but they tend to be quite pricey (£300+) for what is actually a fairly simple part. So in true Blue Peter style I made my own (well actually researched, bought, and then assembled the parts to make my own).

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/HUHtJajtaU7yKyUh8

 

The rod ends now have boots fitted but they don't look as pretty (they look a bit like they are wearing gimp masks)

 

I had the car setup yesterday and I'm pleased to say that it all works well and gives around 14mm of safe on car adjustment (you could probably go further but I wanted to ensure at least 1.5x thread engagement) and probably an additional 10mm if you screw/unscrew the tie rod end side a bit more when you are fitting them.

 

I had to cut down the adjuster slightly and was too lazy to do it on both sides (hence the adjuster isn't in the middle) but when I next have them off, I'll remedy that. Both sides have maximum thread engagement but from an aesthetic perspective it would be nice to have them in the middle.

 

With all bolts and fittings (including the eccentric "lock out"/removal pieces) it costs me significantly less than buying them so I'm pretty happy. If anybody is interested I'd be happy to put a few more kits together (I had to buy a few parts in bulk).

 

 

Edited August 2, 2020 by Lennym1984

[Lennym1984]

Hi,

 

It would probably end up being around 175 quid for the toe links or ~£190 with the eccentric lockouts (basically just a couple of m12 bolts, nuts and cut down washers - easy to do yourself).

 

If I could make a 100 of them the cost would be much lower but the rod ends and tie rod attachment bits are quite pricey when you buy them in small quantities.

 

I only really did this to save money (and because I wanted a proper balljoint on the hub end like the Porsche GT3 cup jobbies).

[Lennym1984]

Yeah I saw your posts over on pistonheads. Good luck with the search - a Harteched gen1 would be a lot of fun but it really needs the right car at the right price in order to make the economics stack up. 

 

I didn't respond to your post about the coolant pipes but - in case it isn't covered - it actually isn't as bad a job as people make out. I did it without dropping the subframe but it would have been less fiddly if I had just dropped it