steering column universal joint

[ferlin]

Can anybody confirm where I might be able to obtain a u/j for the steering column on my 1985 mk1 350i with powered steering please?
which car was this off? mk5 cortina? It has a 14mm, 9/16 shaft on the bottom side

[Wedg1e]

The most common UJ seems to have been a bit of a TVR special... something like two upper halves of a TR7 UJ joined together. Steve Evans I know tore his hair out a few years back trying to pin it down. It's almost an MGB item, except that the MGB used a larger diameter column.
I've had success in the past with just replacing the cruciform joint itself, but it's not a job for the faint-hearted... don't do it if your staking is below par, for a start.

[ferlin]

many thanks for your input wedg1e. My best bet might be to try and locate a second hand one then as theres absolutely no chance of finding a new one and I dont really want to take the car off the road to get it repaired as i use it everyday.
Anybody have a decent secondhand u/j in their garage?

[blueone]

The later cars use a ford part but I am not sure where the cut of is. It can be identified by the triangular column. if this is what you need I may have a part number some where as replaced mine a few years ago and local ford garage spent some time finding it for me.

[rev-erend]

I've not had to source one but it looks like the Escort group 4 steering joint

Dont know if this ebay link will work:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ESCORT-MK1-MK2-GROUP-4-STEER...

[Pilo-Wedgebits]

I have one sitting on my desk but it is off a non power steering car

Are these the same?

[Wedg1e]

Pilo-Wedgebits said:

I have one sitting on my desk but it is off a non power steering car

Are these the same?

I'm pretty sure that the one on my PAS-equipped car is the same as that used on my old Tasmin with no PAS.

[Pilo-Wedgebits]

Mine does'nt look like the ebay one Rev - more meat on it

[gsx600]

THought I got mine from RT racing, sent him the old one and he matched up with stock on the shelve

[JR]

gsx600 said:

Thought I got mine from RT racing, sent him the old one and he matched up with stock on the shelve

Richard is probably the best bet.

[JR]

Wedg1e said:

The most common UJ seems to have been a bit of a TVR special... something like two upper halves of a TR7 UJ joined together. Steve Evans I know tore his hair out a few years back trying to pin it down. It's almost an MGB item, except that the MGB used a larger diameter column.
I've had success in the past with just replacing the cruciform joint itself, but it's not a job for the faint-hearted... don't do it if your staking is below par, for a start.

When Triumph went, TVR bought a lot of their parts stock. IIRC three different Triumph (all TR7??) steering column UJs were fitted to Wedges at various times.

[Barkychoc]

That UJ above comes in two versions - pressed steel as above and forged.
Have a look at http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/index.php?cPath=900_1...

Forged below on a V8S.

[ferlin]

Its definately not a triangular later type blueone,
it doesnt look like that one on ebay either rev-erend

Pilo it would be good to see what you one you have looks like as the one I have looks like the picture that Barkychoc has posted. The link doesnt take me to one thats the same though.
Mine is around 120mm long with different sized splines each end. Its impossible to get to the top to measure it as its so tight to the bulkhead but it looks around 18mm diameter and the bottom is 14mm.

RT has said that there were 7 different types and I will probably need to take it off to ensure that I get the correct one.

[Bodmin]

ferlin said:

RT has said that there were 7 different types and I will probably need to take it off to ensure that I get the correct one.

Yep, thats what I did when I had a 1983 350i. I took the part to a local rack reconditioning company & they recognised it as a UJ from a Mk1 Granada from memory. £15inc Vat.....TVR wanted £54 plus Vat.....

Bodders

[SEvans]

If it's the bottom UJ that joins the steering rack to shaft and your power steering rack is from a Cortina then it's going to be a struggle getting a new one. The shaft is standard at 9/16 but the Cortina rack is around 18.??mm and this is quite rare. The Cortina didn't use a UJ it had a flexible coupling with a triangular shaft. I have a cupboard full of UJ's that so called experts sent saying it was the correct one!! Most seem to be 19.??mm. I know of people closing these up to fit but if you are going to do this let me know when your going out in the car and I'll make sure none of my friends and family are anywhere near. If it's just the joint/bearing then it may be easier to get your old one refurbished. If you are struggling drop me an email and I'll give you the info I have. Cheers Steve.