Good morning gentlemen
Jonas : I have learnt more about how Trackace works and understand their angle is the included angle betwen the two wheels - what we have been calling the 'total' angle, the sum of the two angles A at the two wheels. I am pleased to hear that AEX31 is now 'better' at higher speeds. It has been a bumpy ride to get there but if you followed the Trackace 'pre-measurement' procedure and have measured around my 12' or Trackace's 13' (what's 1' between friends?) I feel sure you now have the 1/16'' toe-in which AC decided was best for the Ace. However, I am surprised and concerned that you now tell us you have 2" free play at the wheel. Not sure whether you mean at the steering or road wheel, but in either case this is excessive and you must eliminate it to get your car driving as it should. Your question about 'slighest drag' implies that you think the free play is in the steering box. I cannot define slightest play. The danger in steering box adjustment is overtightening the screw. Hence my advice above to ignore 'slightest drag'. It is difficult to distinguish 'too much drag' and 'slightest drag' but easy to distinguish 'slightest drag' and 'slight free play'. Hence my advice to aim for slight free play, say 1/8 " at the steering wheel, which you will never notice when driving. I sense you are not entirely convinced about toe-in. Howabout finding a garage workshop with a 'drive over' alignment gauge to confirm it shows 'Toe-in OK'?
Greg : Your 5 and 1/2 inches of free play sounds to me frightening, indeed dangerous. I think it would, rightly, earn you an MOT failure. You need to identify the cause of the free play and I suggest : 1. Drive it into your workshop 'straight ahead'. 2. Have an assistant turn the steering wheel slowly and gently (finger and thumb only) through the free play telling you when the direction is reversed. You will be feeling the drop arm under the steering box. 3. If the drop arm moves throughout the free play your problem is not in the box but elsewhere and will be obvious or can be identified. 4. If the drop arm does not move at all your problem is only in the steering box. 5. If it moves partly you have a bit of both. 6. If, as I suspect, you have a steering box problem you have to question your Revington steering box cover plate. Like Barrie, I don't know the detail of it but, like him, I am suspicious of it and recommend that you replace it with the proper Burman cover plate with its adjustment screw. 7. Note my observations above re other relevant matters.
Jonas and Greg : If you think a conversation would be more helpful than exchange of posts here do give me a call.
Michael