Intermittent power steering...

[Pupp]

... and fluid pretty discoloured. Pump?

[Pupp]

Ok, cheers - shouldn't be pipe breakdown as they've been replaced with the usual upgrade jobs. Maybe the pump valving just needs flushing through.

Pump is not unduly noisy and loads up ok at full lock each side so I think is pressurising as it should

[Pupp]

Ok, will try that too... it's an aftermarket reservoir so not sure it has a strainer in it. Weird thing is the fluid looks cloudy in situ but extracting a pipette full and it's pretty clean

Tempted to change the pump anyway as it's the original as far as I know - anyone know a source for OEM ones or a decent pattern?

[Pupp]

Woth a look, thanks

[Pupp]

Front up and, yep, looks like a stiff joint. Just when you thought you had seen the full range of gotchas... And it's started raining right on cue!!

[Pupp]

Good soaking of Plusgas has got it feeling something like again but will change the joints; anyone know the gen for a facelift Serp car (97)?

[Pupp]

That's why I asked; I know there are some variations

[Pupp]

I was waiting for that! What fun...

[Pupp]

Okay... bottom joint from Power a good match, top one only 100 long as against the 115 that was on the car (obviously, only verified this after stripping the thing out). Splines are the same thankfully.

Seems like that length (the 115) is no longer obtainable so stuck with the 100mm joint to renew but the intermediate shaft is now too short. Is it as simple as whistling up a shaft (H0042 is listed) and assume that will be the right length for the currently available shorter joints or will that be the same length as the one I have (I know what my money is on)? Or do I need to get one made?

Before anyone suggests it, I have spent the afternoon pressing the spider and bearings/cups out of the new UJ and installing into the original joint forks and re-staking. It's okay and got me going again but it's still not feeling 'right' so want to renew properly...

[Pupp]

Thanks - thought I'd cracked it earlier as the Sagaris and late T car uses a 120mm top joint but after a bit more research, seems their column is hexagon and not 3/4 spline, so think I need a longer shaft (oo'er)

[Pupp]

I will if there's nothing amongst the TVR variables; there's a few different length ones listed - hopefully mine when I measure it will be 15mm or so shorter than a stock item. There's a couple of hotrod suppliers that do stainless 9/16 shafts too

[Pupp]

Just to follow this up, TVR part H0349 is an intermediate shaft from the Cerbera - 335mm overall length, which is 15mm longer than the 320mm one my car has. The joints now available are approx. 15mm shorter than the originals so...

Will confirm when it turns up

[Pupp]

Right, now have the shaft and it is indeed the 'right' length, bob on 335mm. Splines are correct both ends so the job should be a good un when I obtain another 100mm joint (cannibalised the first one to get me running again). The quality of the machining on the new shaft is miles better than the original and, an added and unanticipated bonus, is that that the working angle of the joints should be just a tad less acute with the shorter joint and longer shaft installed. maybe get chance to do it at the weekend