Damn - steering collumn knuckle joints

[Julesprivate]

Damn, after a great day working on the car today I have hit a snag.

The yop knuckle joint in the steering collum has worn and needs replacing. I have bought a pair of joints and was going to fit them today.

Umfortunately the top one seems to be impossible to change. By that I mean the "prong" for to joint is actually and integral part of the sterring rod, rather than something that bolts on and off.

Mine is a S1, i wonder if that's "unique" to them as i did source and buy a top knuckle joint but cannot see how to make that work, short of cutting the old one off and welding the new one on (?)

Has anyone come across this before? Am i missing anything obvious?

[Julesprivate]

This is the issue:



the column has the "tang" welded on, so the new bolt on UJ won't go on. I "could" cut the welded section off and see then if the new UJ will clamp on (or weld it on) but once I cut that off there is no going back.

Does anyone have a "spare" steering column they'd be willing to sell?

[Julesprivate]

Has anyone tried one of these in the past:

http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/product_info.php?cPat...

It "looks" about right...

[Julesprivate]

This is the full length:




It's predominantly surface rust, but I'd be more than happy to change the shaft if I could find one the right length and diameter at each end...

[Julesprivate]

Cheers..

I think I'll give this one a go:

http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/product_info.php?prod...

Who knows, it might be the perfect length without cutting LOL..

Thanks for the input

[Julesprivate]

Gerald-TVR said:

That fits the S2 so ther's a good chance, but contact phillpot he had a shaft and u/j's from me and i know he has replaced his shaft with a very shiny one so he might well have a spare for you to try etc

Cool thanks, as you say, if it fits an S2 it has a good chance of fitting my S1. I'll drop Phillpot a PM too :-)

[Julesprivate]

Loach1 said:

I have a similar setup on my S1. If the shaft length is measured from joint centreline to joint centreline, 400mm looks right on. I have a length of thick walled tube in the middle of mine, which appears to be pinned and welded to the shorter shafts. Not sure if this is original or not. Quirky as usual.

excellent - many thanks

[Julesprivate]

SHOUT

Mike, the PM facility seems to be broken, I'm very interested though can you mail me at julesprivate at hotmail.co.uk please?

Thanks!!

Jules

[Julesprivate]

Top Gear TVR said:

i think i would have cut it..........

I was Soooooo tempted.. But as I am really only doing the car in prep to sell it I'd feel much more comfortable replacing the whole thing.

If I were keeping it I'd probably have done that..

[Julesprivate]

Top Gear TVR said:

i used to work for an ex merchant seaman who was used to doing everything with 'just what yer had'.

he used to use an awful phrase which was something like 'the faint hearted never fxxxd a pig' when anyone showed a sign of weakness.

Bravery is great - until it goes wrong! Or involves pigs from what i can see!

at least you have it covered.

Yep "faint heart never f***ed Pig" is a great old naval saying :-)

Being ex RAF myself ours was "Close enough for government work" and I do use that at work sometimes!
Not on the car though, I take more care with that..

Good job i don't work in the Nuclear Power sector..... oh no wait, I do...

[Julesprivate]

phillpot said:

Got it ?

Yes thanks - have replied too

You're a star!

[Julesprivate]

Steering stem arrived today (both the one from Phillpot and the one I posted a link to earlier). Good job Phillpot came to my rescue as that other stem is way too short.

Fitted the new stem and the car is all set for the MOT now!

Fingers crossed for that as it's booked in for 10:00 tomorrow.