To grease or not to grease steering UJs ?

[Barreti]

Righto chaps, daft question time.

A bit of background first...

I replaced both the steering UJ's over the winter because one was worn and clunking.
A couple of weeks ago I found the top UJ was loose where the intermediate shaft goes into it, so pinched it all up again.
However, by the time I got to Le Mans I had play in the steering again, so the bolt came out and the threads were stretched - at least showing we had really tightened it!
Team Peach Melba changed the bolt and applied some loctite to the UJ/Shaft splines and refitted it all.
Its still going strong.

But I've bought a replacement upper UJ and intermediate shaft anyway because the splines on the shaft were definitely past their best.

So, to my question...

When I refit the UJ and shaft do I grease the splines first with grease, or with copperslip, or use loctite, or nothing at all.

I want to make sure its not my propensity to grease everything which has caused the spline wear in the UJ and shaft.

Obviously I'll smother everything in grease AFTER its all put together though to protect it from crud.

Ta
IanB

[spend]

Copper slip should be fine on the splines Ian, once the thing is clamped up the splines should mate nicely so grease will not make them 'jump' out. Stick some gaiters on and fill them with grease, they also offer a little protection should your wishbones get close to the steering (can happen with the early cars IIRC).

Dave

[Adrian@]

Ian, have you got or have you used washers each side of the bolt head and nut, as these spread the load across the casting flange and reduce the clamping force of the bolt onto the splines, ALSO check the UJ internals there should be a cut-out to the rear of the casting (opposite the open, to be bolted part) These allow the clamp to work, if this is missing, the clamp will not tighten, causing premature wear in the shaft (as you have, by the sounds of it).
Adrian@

Edited by Adrian@ on Sunday 24th June 08:27