Manual steering U Joints

[Gordon Rankin]

Has anyone actually replaced the u joints on the steering column on a manual steering rack?
Where did you get the u joints and on a 1-10 scale (1 being easiest) how difficult is this to do?

[earlr85944]

I did this, its about a 4. I got the replacement joint from a good p/s part.

[Gordon Rankin]

Hi, I only today realized someone had answered this post.

Earlr85944, when you did this repair, did you weld anything?

Or was this strictly a "hand tools" job? Please describe the whole procedure..

Thanks

[mattdavis11]

There are no U-joints on the column. The problem (play) you may have could be due to the intermediate shaft u-joints, but I doubt it.

If the car has play in the steering, I'd place my money on the inner end of either tie rods. If not, the rack can wear out the ring gear, or pinion, sometimes both. I have one collecting dust that displays one of those qualities. It's fine going straight, but misses a tad when turning left.

From the steering wheel to rack to wheels, I'd say it's about a 2.

[Gordon Rankin]

Matt,
Sorry, I'm not talking about under the dash board. I am talking about the u-jointed "drive shaft" from the firewall in the engine compartment to the rack itself, under the air box,

[earlr85944]

I did use tack welds, just to be sure.

I removed the shaft, got it on the bench and if I remember I had to grind a factory tack weld and set it up in a press and removed the u-joints. I did the same to the P/S shaft I had laying around. I pressed in the good joints onto the manual shaft and tack welded it and spray painted it. Good to go!

[mattdavis11]

yeah, the intermediate shaft. The joints are bad and you've confirmed this? I hear stories, but then again, I've had 2 racks on my car (one was no good used) since new. If you're sure....

It's still not a hard proposition to tackle, but dropping the rack might have to happen. The worst part occurs when the splines need to be correct to allow the bolt to secure the shaft on both ends.

I hate to second guess you, but my experience says there is nothing wrong with the joints. The joints have play?

If you are determined that the intermediate shaft, and joints are the problem, do it one side at at time, it makes it much easier. A 13mm wrench, a 1/4 drive with a 13mm socket, a swivel, and an extension gets the top done. It can't hurt to have extra help.

I rescind my first cast, it might be a 4.

[Gordon Rankin]

Yes, confirmed..
My front end alignment guy and Hugh ( So Cal ) both diagnosed this problem. The U-joints are shot!