Upper Steering UJ Question

[GV]

Is it OK to tap the Upper Steering UJ onto the intermediate shaft? My new UJ arrived quite siff and it loosened up after I tapped onto the intermediate shaft using club hammer. I didn't pound it but used the weight of the hammer to get the UJ onto the splines....

[Steve_D]

If all parts were clean then the better method would have been to open the UJ using a suitable wedge (screwdriver) in the slot.
Using a hammer to drive it on could damage the bearings.
Secondly you may want the joint to move on the shaft to ease fitting if the column and rack are in place.

Steve