Steering shaft lengths..

[tel595]

Just bought new top and bottom steering u/j's. The lower one is slightly shorter and therefore the steering shaft will be too short. Are there different length shafts out there? My original is approx 325mm and it looks like I'd need one around 360mm.. Any advice would be most welcome.

[phillpot]

tel595 said:

Any advice would be most welcome.

Get the right UJ

[Loach1]

phillpot said:

Get the right UJ

A good visual reference here:

http://www.mlperformanceparts.co.uk/products/tvr-s...

[tel595]

phillpot said:

Get the right UJ

I thought I had! I got them from ML Performance and didn't think there'd be a difference. Ah well, learning curve is being had... :-)

[phillpot]

Any good....... clicky ?


clicky ?

[tel595]

Probably too long Mike, I think it's going to be one from ML Performance parts, they've got one 360mm but loads more money. Might be cheaper for me to find the right u/j !! Thx for the update though..

[phillpot]

tel595 said:

Probably too long Mike, .

"Overall length 400mm (measured with Group 4 coupling - not supplied)"


Not too sure what they mean there????

Anyway, been out tinkering this evening and measured mine, tricky to get it accurate but I'd say 370-375mm !


Think I have a "spare" somewhere but couldn't find it (in the dark) this evening, if you're in no rush I'll have a look tomorrow while it's still light or Saturday.

Just how much was the one from ML?

[neilgreens3c]

Terry just measured the shaft on my S3c and the length is the same as Mikes at 370mm. I purchased my replacement coupling from Rally Designs, but I cannot see how that particular coupling would help. You are welcome to pop round and compare your coupling to the Rally Design one if that's any help. Cheers Neil

[tel595]

Hi Neal. I've been away in Newcastle most of the week so not been working on the car.. Home tomorrow and may try and pop round to check if that's ok...

[neilgreens3c]

Hi Terry, I will be around most of tomorrow, just have to pop out lunch time for an hour or so. Hopefully I will be in the garage in the afternoon trying to figure out why my drivers side window only works with the side lights on.

[tel595]

phillpot said:

tel595 said:

Probably too long Mike, .

"Overall length 400mm (measured with Group 4 coupling - not supplied)"


Not too sure what they mean there????

Anyway, been out tinkering this evening and measured mine, tricky to get it accurate but I'd say 370-375mm !


Think I have a "spare" somewhere but couldn't find it (in the dark) this evening, if you're in no rush I'll have a look tomorrow while it's still light or Saturday.

Just how much was the one from ML?

Hi Mike, did you have a chance to look if you had a spare shaft? Ooer missus.... ;-)

[phillpot]

tel595 said:

Hi Mike, did you have a chance to look if you had a spare shaft? Ooer missus.... ;-)

thought I had one but couldn't find it?

When I started to run out of space in the garage, and the shed, and the loft, and at work I made up two of these to try and get organised....


Will be dark before I get home this evening but must get around to sorting and cataloguing my spares so I know what I have, and more importantly, where it is!

If you can bear with me I'll see if I have any luck over the next couple of days.


.....did find one about 325mm long but that's from a Chimaera with power steering.

[phillpot]

tel595 said:

Hi Mike, did you have a chance to look if you had a spare shaft? Ooer missus.... ;-)

Knew I had one, unfortunately (for you) this is where it went

Edited by phillpot on Tuesday 8th April 22:15

[tel595]

Thanks for trying Mike, I'll order a new one tomorrow..

[lewdon]

Just a thought, but when I was replacing the top bearings on my steering column I put the triangular bottom end in a vice on the floor so that the column was vertical. When I went to put it back in the car it was about an inch too short. It had telescoped slightly with the triangular section sliding back inside.. It was easy to pull it back out by holding the top section in the vice, putting a steel peg in the hole in the side of the triangular section and whacking it with a hammer. The reason I mention this is that my first attempt made the column about an inch too long and I had to tap it back in. There seems to be quite a lot of overlap so before you buy a new shaft would it be worth trying to pull out some of the telescope overlap in the column to make it an inch or so longer to compensate for the shorter shaft . As is obvious from some of my previous posts I am a novice when it comes to car mechanics so I am sure that wiser heads will advise whether this is a sensible proposition.

[magpies]

I had been sorting through my garage yesterday and found that I have a spare shaft - I will measure it tonight - I am going to Burghley if you are interested

[magpies]

measured it and approx 380mm

[tel595]

Ah, another dilemma. Mine is 325mm, I need 360mm.. Not sure if I can lose the 20mm??
I'll check tomorrow. Many thanks though, really appreciate you looking, etc.

[Hedgehopper]

http://www.carbuildersolutions.com/uk/search?q=cds...

http://www.carbuildersolutions.com/uk/search?q=spl...

I have had the same trouble on my Griff trying to get the correct length shaft. Too long and it will jam the inside of the u/j, too short and the splines won't engage fully in the joint.

I bought a splined shaft from CBS and a 100mm length of CDS tube. My local machine shop cut the shaft into two pieces with the correct overall length, inserted the pieces into the CDS tube and welded it up. They also cross-drilled the tube with an 8mm drill to enable additional plug welds. Very satifactory job and exactly the correct length.

CBS also sell u/js.

Hope this helps

Edited by Hedgehopper on Friday 11th April 09:53

[tel595]

Thanks for all your help chaps..
I've finally sourced a 360mm steering shaft and the overall length is now exactly the same as original. Hopefully I can get the body in the right place on the chassis now...