Steering -advice please.

[stourbridges2tvr]

My steering has gone quite stiff, and almost notchy. It feels like something/friction is grabbing the steering, meaning more force is needed to make a turn, this is then not smooth or progressive.

There is no play as such on the wheel.

From reading the bible i have a feeling it may be the U-J`s. How do i test this? do they just need greasing? do i need new ones? how much should they cost and from where?

Also are the Ball-bearing steering bearings much better than nylon? how do i know if i have nylon?

Thanks in advance.

[tvrgit]

If you look at my web site diary for June and July, you'll see that I had the same problem. I tried taking it off and greasing it, but that was a very short-lived repair. After I changed the UJ, the car felt as though it had power steering! I hadn't noticed how much it was getting harder to turn, until it started to really stick.

AFAIK, the only supplier now is TVR Car Parts, at about £50. It's not a standard Ford part - half of it is Sierra but the other half is off something else, don't know what.

The bulkhead bearing is definitely better as a ball race than a nylon bush. I changed mine last October (I think it was) - again there are details on the diary (you'll find it in the diary index).

Again, TVR Car Parts sell the bearing, holder and a wee bush for about £16 IIRC. I bought my bearing and bush on ebay for about £3, but found that I still needed a new holder anyway.

Changing the UJ is easy - 20 minutes or so. Changing the bearing takes a couple of hours.

Edited by tvrgit on Monday 18th August 18:13

[M&S]

Andrew, without looking i take it that is the upper U/J not the lower one which needs changing to lighten the steering, TVR parts list upper and lower, think mines on the way out too, steering feels heavy and sometimes like you are trapped in a furrow in the road.

[GreenV8S]

M+S said:

Andrew, without looking i take it that is the upper U/J not the lower one which needs changing to lighten the steering

The upper one suffers most from the exhaust heat and is most likely to be the one causing the problem, but take them both off and check their condition before buying replacement parts. When you replace them, a rubber gaitor to protect from heat and dirt extends their life dramatically. Generic steering rack end gaiters are ideal.

Edited by GreenV8S on Monday 18th August 21:14

[Barkychoc]

I haven't had the nerve to try it but this looks like the top UJ to me - the item at the top sierra to escort spline / UJ.
It it doesn't fit it's not my fault!

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

Edited by Barkychoc on Monday 18th August 20:42

[tvrgit]

Barkychoc said:

I haven't had the nerve to try it but this looks like the top UJ to me - the item at the top sierra to escort spline / UJ.
It it doesn't fit it's not my fault!

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

Edited by Barkychoc on Monday 18th August 20:42

Agree that looks the same - the top bit is definitely right, depends on diameter and no of splines on bottom bit.

If that does fit, then significant saving on price!

[tvrgit]

[quote=M&S]Andrew, without looking i take it that is the upper U/J not the lower one which needs changing to lighten the steering, TVR parts list upper and lower, think mines on the way out too, steering feels heavy and sometimes like you are trapped in a furrow in the road.
[/quote]
Yep that's exactly the feeling - I think either joint could have that effect.

[M&S]

Looks much the same part, will order one in the morning, if it doesn't fit then its only the return postage lost. TVR parts UJ comes in at near £70 inc. post+vat. which is over double the price. Will let you know how it goes. Unless someone knows it definately doesn't fit before i order......

[Jed-S]

I've just been in the garage to look at the stuff that I've accumulated. I have an Escort steering rack and a spare TVR S steering rack. The Escort based steering column I have (from a Westfield) fits either rack perfectly so I'm guessing that the Rally Design upper UJ will be what we need.

I was going to order one today but I'll hang on a bit until someone else has used one. In the meantime I'll look at an alternative radiator for the S.

Jed

[Barkychoc]

tvrgit said:

If that does fit, then significant saving on price!

You forgot the 'now you bloody tell me!' bit.........

[tvrgit]

Barkychoc said:

tvrgit said:

If that does fit, then significant saving on price!

You forgot the 'now you bloody tell me!' bit.........

No I didn't forget it, I was being polite...

But now that you mention it, yes... "now you bloody tell me". I came to SCH with that joint on borrowed time - I had taken it off and greased it on the Friday night before departure, to get me through the weekend, because it was almost totally seized, and I knew that I'd be replacing it the following week...

[M&S]

Have put order in for one, so will let you all know how it goes.

[stourbridges2tvr]

Thanks for the advice all. Have ordered both u/j`s and a new steel bearing - figured if one was U.S the other cant be far off so might as well do both at once.

The steel bearing sounds so much better than nylon - im looking forward to a vast improvement overwhat i have become used too.

[mep12345]

It looks like the Rally design link above also has the lower steering UJ if the splines are indeed escort splines.

[CTE]

Jed, you mentioned you are looking for an alternative radiator....I have fitted an aluminium cored radiator for a Ford Sierra....cost £55-00 new from Express radiators in Norwich. Works fine with my 24v engine. You`ll find it simple to fit.

Mark

[mep12345]

CTE said:

Jed, you mentioned you are looking for an alternative radiator....I have fitted an aluminium cored radiator for a Ford Sierra....cost £55-00 new from Express radiators in Norwich. Works fine with my 24v engine. You`ll find it simple to fit.

Mark

Did this fit the mounting points and have the same inlet and outlets etc? Because if it did this is better than having a recore cost wise. A few phots and part numbers and a link or phone number for express radiators would be appreciated by many I am sure (me included)

Mark

[M&S]

New steering upper U/J fitted today from rallydesign, £26.44 delivered , it came wednesday but with all this fantastic weather it had to wait until today to fit - first dry day in weeks. What a difference, lighter at slow speed and definately more throwable round corners, nice find Chris, saved a few quid there....
Cheers, , owe you one for that.

[Barkychoc]

Guys how do we get this added to the alternative parts list?
Fantastic to hear it fits.
Just shows how much margin there is on some of these parts when the word 'TVR' is added

• Edited to add I've put it on useful links

Edited by Barkychoc on Saturday 23 August 20:52

[Gerald-TVR]

Any news on the lower bearing?

[mep12345]

Gerald-TVR said:

Any news on the lower bearing?

Another possibility here is if the splines are escort splines on these couplings then could an escort steering rack be a suitable alternative to the current fit, or be made to fit like barkychocs power steering adventure? In asking this I also note that these couplings are designed to convert sierra steering column to escort rack and in doing so use the same spacer shaft as TVR (see here http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/product_info.php?cPat...

The escort ones at this link (http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/index.php?cPath=900_1332_1331) also look similar although mounting arrangements and dimensions would need to be reviewed. Has anybody attempted this? or does anyone have access to such a rack to see if a fit would be possible? Again if it is possible then at under £100 for even the higher ratio rack would be a massive saving on the current overhaul route. Indeed all models of escort (non PAS) racks are available here for £39 exchange.

http://www.carparts-direct.co.uk/steering_racks_de...


Just a thought

Mark