TVR Wedge 390SE Bottom Steering UJ

[trs998]

My bottom steering UJ is now loose on the steering rack side. It's a lot smaller on the column side, which is tight.

I've a feeling it's a SD1 column (it's a SD1 for the dashboard side, at least) and a ford cortina rack?

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone could point me to a good place to buy such an item? the one originally fitted to my TVR had been quite distored (presumably by TVR) as it wasn't exactly the right size for the rack...

[Wedg1e]

Sounds like someone's bodged an MG U/J on; it's he same size one way but too big t'other so presumably they've clamped the hell out of it to make it 'fit'...

[trs998]

Sounds about right, it's quite distorted on the bottom side, looks like it was 1-2mm too big to start with (!) - last year it was a little loose so I chopped a little metal out of the nip, and re-fitted it which put it pretty tight. It looks like it was indeed the wrong size.

Any clues on where I can get one the right size?
Maybe the same MG part again but with some sort of splined shim in it? Seems not the best plan...

[SEvans]

Do you have a manual or power steering rack?

[trs998]

Power steering rack.

[SEvans]

If it's the Cortina Power steering rack then the UJ should probably be 17.4mm at the rack end and possibly 14.29mm (9/16") at the steering end. The 9/16 is very common but I believe the 17.4mm was only used on the Cortina P/S rack. As this car used a flexible coupling and not a UJ finding someone to supply a UJ is very difficult. Most dealers will tell you they can supply the right one, but when it arrives you will find it's around 18-19mm......probably why you have the wrong one fitted now. I eventually had one made. Cheers Steve.

[trs998]

The one I eventually fitted was a bit short, and a few years later (and 500 miles...) it's failed - it's now shifting on the input shaft to the rack as the wheel is turned.

So, back to square one.

Might rework the old one to narrow the incorrect-but-squashable lower connector to a smaller diameter. Better than one too short - there's three lengths and the only one I could source was the smaller (too small) one.

Anyone seem a seller or source for these? Tell me one's laying on your shelf just begging to be sent along to a fellow in need?

I think the power steering rack is not the 350? Not sure about that...

[SEvans]

trs998 said:

The one I eventually fitted was a bit short, and a few years later (and 500 miles...) it's failed - it's now shifting on the input shaft to the rack as the wheel is turned.

So, back to square one.

Might rework the old one to narrow the incorrect-but-squashable lower connector to a smaller diameter. Better than one too short - there's three lengths and the only one I could source was the smaller (too small) one.

Anyone seem a seller or source for these? Tell me one's laying on your shelf just begging to be sent along to a fellow in need?

I think the power steering rack is not the 350? Not sure about that...

Lucky it didn't let go in a bend at 100MPH....
I personally would fit anything that wasn't 100% correct especially on steering or brakes. Squashing the clamp means it's only making contact in 2 small areas.
What size is the shaft on the P/S rack? or some pictures of the rack so we can work out which one it is.
Cheers Steve

[hallsie]

Hi Tristan

Where in Norfolk are you?

As it so happens, I have a PS rack and top and bottom UJ from a 390SE sat in my garage (check the classifieds) and further coincidence, Im working in Norfolk/Suffolk next week!!

Message me and perhaps I can sort something for you.

Stu

[Hamish400]

Recently I got a steering UJ for a friend's 280i (with power steering) from David Gerald.
They have a selection of different sizes, and can get UJs made to order; so it may be worth speaking to them.

Rgds
Hamish

[trs998]

Hallsie - that sounds perfect. I'm in Trowse (also where the car lives, in it's garage). My mobile is 07837205829 - and I'd very much like that lower UJ. Hopefully that's all I need, but it'd be interesting to see if your shaft is any different.
We can compare it against the original TVR one which was (SEvans) cramped up and a bit wobbly (TVR couldn't be bothered to find a metric/imperial one either, but their one was longer than mine and gripped a longer section of the PS rack input shaft)

The only other options I have are:
Rework the existing damaged one (well, it did work for 20 years being cramped up but I'd like one which fits properly)
Have one made (which might be prohibitively expensive, but is the safer option)

[trs998]

I don't seem to be able to contact Hallsie... Can anyone suggest an alternative source?

Where could I have one made, for example?