350 I steering shaft

[chris59]

Hello guys,
First, please accept my apologies, I haven't found where to introduce myself as a 350I new owner (from France).
If somebody could point me in the right direction, I would be glad to do so !

Ok, so I own a RHD 85' 350I Wedge, bought in England last week, and the problem is that it have some play in the steering shaft : both uj's are worn, so I need an upper coupling and a lower shaft.

I have been told that the shaft and/or coupling could be the same on a Triumph TR7, checked on mine, but they aren't the same : the coupling is longer and the shaft is shorter on my 7.

Can you please help me, meaning that I don't think that TVR made special parts for this application, they should be available from others sources than TVR suppliers ?

If necessary, I can replace the uj's myself (I'm a mechanic), but would like to have them in hands before to dismantle the column shaft, to not waste time and not leave the car dismantled.

Thanks in advance,
Chris (from Northern France)

[mrzigazaga]

Hi and welcome to the mad world of wedge's..There are several different types of uj and its easy to buy the wrong ones..I bought mine for the 280 from David gerald and i was advised to measure the OD of the steering column end into the top knuckle and the joining shaft from the top knuckle and then the length of the actual uj..This may be a better way of making sure you get the right part but also measure the lower uj in the same way and the OD of the shaft exiting towards the steering rack..Also make a note of what position the notch in the knuckle is..If you can see although when mine was done the joining column had to be turned 180 degrees as the notch in the knuckle was in a different position...It might also be wise to upgrade the bulkhead bush while you are changing the UJs..Im not too sure where you get the 350i ones from though but someone should be able to help..Ziga

David gerald tvr
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=d...

Edited by mrzigazaga on Wednesday 3rd October 16:15

[Danny Hoffman]

When I needed to replace mine I ended sending part of the column off to Richard Thorpe who reconditioned it for me.

www.rtracing.co.uk

Danny

[chris59]

Danny, that's I don't want to do, because it will leave this Wedge immobilised in my garage, and it's not the right period of the year to do so, as I haven't many free space for this !

If I don't find new, ready to fit parts, I'll made them myself, but, again I can't leave this car in my garage without a steering column to move it...

MrZ, the shaft lengh is circa 460 mm, the knuckle is about 80mm (shorter than the TR7 one).
This TVR has the adjustable column, think it's from an SD1.

I know DG TVR, I bought some parts from them for my other TVR (a Taimar),but I still think I can find the right parts elsewhere, for less money.

Chris.

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Chris..These parts apparently were TVR specific so im not sure if you will be able to buy them off the shelf so to speak..Remember that the column is from one vehicle..The joining shaft is engineered and the rack fitment from the lower knuckle is either from the same vehicle that the rack was from or its a TVR special rack which probably means so is the shaft..I think originally two halves of a knuckle were welded together..Also i meant measure the outer diameter or circumfrence of the shaft's that enter and exit each UJ..Top and bottom..Someone with the same year car may be able to help more..But also look into changing the column bush..Ziga

[barrington]

if you look at a company called car biulder solutions www.cbsonline.co.uk look on page 33 for universal joint forged there are two on there one is 36 spline and one is 48 spline i cant remember which one you will need but they are only £33.60 including vat hope this helps

Edited by barrington on Wednesday 3rd October 19:00

[chris59]

Ziga,
It's not a good new..... I didn't expect to learn that TVR made it's own steering shaft !
No doubt I'll check the dowel in the fire-wall, fortunatly due to the car relatively low mileage, the play is very reasonnable.

Barrington,
Thanks for the link, I'll have a look on their catalogue.

If I don't find a simple solution by the end of the week, I'll dismantle the worn parts next week and repair them myself.

[mrzigazaga]

chris59 said:

Ziga,
It's not a good new..... I didn't expect to learn that TVR made it's own steering shaft !

Well perhaps it would of been a lot simpler if they had used an SD1 steering column with a SD1 steering rack but im sure there was a good reason why the never??...What sort of play in the column do you have..When my steering UJs were failing there was what felt like a slip on full lock..You would turn to full lock and it would jerk an extra inch..When the bulkhead bush/bearing was worn i had all round play..Im not sure if the shaft would wear before the knuckle although i could be wrong..Cheers..Ziga

[The Hatter]

Chris welcome to the madhouse...

Look closely at the bush where the steering column comes through the bulkhead. I thought my UJ's were knackered (play on the steering wheel rim) but it was actually the bulkhead bush not the UJs. Look at the bearingboys website to get a replacement bearing, spherical carrier and shaft bush to match. Though I'm sure you have a garcon de roulement en france!

[chris59]

That's why I should have introduce myself previously : I'm a mechanic, but not only.
I run a small family business, here in Northern France, and my job is to repair, rebuilt, restore, prepare, whatever you name it, English classics cars.
I am a Triumph specialist (I own about 30 Triumph), but work (and own also) on MGs, Caterhams, TVRs, etc....
So, yes, there is a light play in the bush, but both uj's are worn, with an excessive play in rotation.
I am the kind of guy who can make a new shaft if necessary, I've got everything I could need (tools, machines and technical knowledge), but time and space are limited !

So, my 2 options were : find a "ready to fit" shaft + uj's, or make/repair it myself.

Unfortunatly, it seems that I'll have to follow the second option....

[barrington]

i have bought a couple of these joints from these people and it was exactly the same i just cant remember which one it is i think its the 36 spline but best take of the old one and check first

[wooly350i]

Before I plucked up the balls to work on my 350i myself I had a an independent tvr mechanic replace my uj,now I may be talking small balls here but I swear he said he made one fit from a Griffith. Alternatively there's still a complete steering column on ebay I think.

[Danny Hoffman]

I was suggesting you give Richard a call, he'll probably know which bits it could be and be able to supply them

Danny

[Wedg1e]

It is possible to dismantle the UJs and fit new cruciform joints if you can identify the cap diameter and distance across outside of the caps, I've done it myself. The joints are staked together, simple enough to dismantle and rebuild.

[chris59]

I'll certainly follow this route early next week, Wedg1e, hopefully the joints will be availbles from one of my local suppliers.

Chris.

[ferlin]

I used part number - TVR H0359 from tvrparts.com,for my top UJ, the same part as a chim or griff.
their web site has shut now but this place has them and there are details on there that might help you decide on whether its the correct one....

http://www.thetvrshop.com/TVR/Parts_details/TVR%20...

Edited by ferlin on Friday 5th October 21:26

[Adrian@]

Can I have he shaft length...I already make several intermediate/lower shafts for other TVR's and keep a selection of most known TVR shafts here as samples already...I have the broaching tool for this job.
Adrian@

[chris59]

Ferlin,
Thanks for the link : my TVR hasn't a power steering ,so it's the shorter (80mm) joint, the differences in shaft diameters is very funny !

About the exact lengh of the shaft, I'll tell this once remove from the car.

[350zwelgje]

Thread resurrection as have just a very little bit of play in my steering rack. Not too bad at the moment.
Replaced the rack, trackrod ends, top u-joint and bulkhead bearing over the last two years.
So looking for a bottom u-joint for my 350i S2 built in 1986.
Has a standard cortina/taunus manual rack.

Think I read somewhere it could be a standard triumph part.
Can somebody confirm this or point me in the right direction?

Thanks, Rob

[Wedg1e]

I'm waiting for an email to confirm some dimensions and if correct I think I've identified where the UJs and shaft came from