steering box woes

[weeds]

i seem to have a notchy spot in the steering. over the weekend the free play in the steering seems to increase and when i start to turn the steering wheel i now have a hard spot/notch/really stiff point

had a quick look at all the tir rod ends, all good

where to i start looking

[Scouse]

The universal joint between the steering box & column often binds up.

[weeds]

The universal joint between the steering box & column often binds up.

cheers, was planning to check the steering shaft this afternoon, i wonder if its greasable as i have never greased the steering shaft/column

[Scouse]

It's not greasable but you can often fix it for a while by soaking it in a light oil.
Mind you, getting it off is usually a pain so it might be better to replace it if it proves to be the culprit. I was just tight & made mine last a few more years this way :).

[weeds]

ok, have found the UJ steering box end is as loose as all buggery, i'm guessing this has been coming for a while

would i be right the shaft coming out of the power steering box has a spline on it?

any tips on replacing

will have to tackle tomorrow night

[justinc]

ok, have found the UJ steering box end is as loose as all buggery, i'm guessing this has been coming for a while

would i be right the shaft coming out of the power steering box has a spline on it?

any tips on replacing

will have to tackle tomorrow night

Evenin' Kelvin:)

Remove all the bolts from the UJ's, soak thoroughly in CRC or similar, and gently tap the UJ up the spline at the column end, then the UJ at the box end, then the shaft should be able to be removed. Tip, do this with the steering in the staright ahead position, and Ocky strap the steering wheel in place for refitting.

DO NOT hit the steerng column hard, gentle taps with a decent size hammer and plenty of lube should free them up to slide up and down the splines.

JC

[weeds]

thanks JC....

how hardy is the steering box shaft, is it likely to be flogged or is it normally the UJ

might go out and have a look with a tourch

[rovercare]

thanks JC....

how hardy is the steering box shaft, is it likely to be flogged or is it normally the UJ

might go out and have a look with a tourch

Most likely uni joint, shaft is very hardy

I concour on the light beating as opposed to smashing them, I ruined the steering column bottom bearing in my own personal RR, being a little vigarous with it:angel:

[weeds]

Most likely uni joint, shaft is very hardy

I concour on the light beating as opposed to smashing them, I ruined the steering column bottom bearing in my own personal RR, being a little vigarous with it:angel:

drained a 1/4 can of wd40 on the top uni joint bolts.....the bottom UJ is very soaked in oil

thanks for the tips guys, off to M R tomorrow me thinks

[jerryd]

I've had similar problems with my steering having tight spots. M R Automotive suggested that the steering uni's would be seized or worse, I liberally sprayed them with oil and overnight they freed themselves and now the steering is fine.
I will get them to replace them next time the county is booked in

[weeds]

1 x UJ done and dusted, not without some issues. i was so happy to discover the steering box spline was still in perfect condition, quite amazing considering how flogged the spline was on the UJ was.

as always M R come through with the goods. in the end it took the best part of two hours as i was by myself and limited light in the front yard.


undo all bolts
i first tapped the top UJ towards the steering wheel using a small punch until it would not go any further
i than tapped the shaft between the two UJ's towards the power steering box, wrong move as the is not enough travel for the shaft to pop out of the top UJ
i then hopped under the car and tapped the shaft back towards the steering wheel until the shaft fell out of the UJ, i did notice that the spline on the steering wheel end of the shaft was extra long
the steering box UJ could then be removed by hand, i cleaned it up and the spline was flogged
i loaded up the UJ with anti-sieze and popped it onto the steering box
i was having all sorts of trouble getting the shaft to mate up with the UJ, i ended up having to spread the UJ spline with a chisel and hammer all good now
was sooo glad i soak the top UJ splines the night before
starting tapping the shaft around until i thought the bolts holes lined up on the bottom UJ only too discover a bolt would not go into the the top half of the UJ
after some more tapping the UJ was out and i drilled the holes to the correct size
UJ back on and for one reason or anther i didn't realised the bottom of the shaft only had a flat for the bolt to line up on, after some more tapping and the UJ was off and back on again and in the right position
before bolting up the bottom UJ i thought i best check the position of the steering wheel, you guessed it.....the UJ had to come off again, by now i have anti-sieze everywhere and quite practiced at removing and fitting the UJ
all lined up, yes including the steering wheel, i tightened up the top bolt of the bottom UJ and left the bottom bolt hanging in the breeze, the angle dangles meant i couldn't get two spanners on
some more light tapping had the top UJ lined up, tightened up the bolts
started the motor, turned the steering wheel so that i had better access to the bottom bolt on the bottom UJ


went for a spin and cannot believe how good my steering is, i have been putting up with the car wondering all over the road for a while now, i was getting annoyed as i had changed all the tie rod ends and bushes

i did notice some slight wear on the bottom bolts which although they were tight must have been moving as the spline flogged out. i put the bolts from he top UJ in the bottom one and when i get a chance i will buy some new bolts for the top UJ......which probably means they will be there for good