Hi all.
Recently i\'ve noticed quite a bit of play in the FD\'s Steering so today i have had a good look at it and started at the wheels and made my way back expecting something like a bad Track rod etc. thing is i got to the steering column and the splined shaft at the base (next to the turbo) felt like it was moving? I’ve checked the clamp round it was tight but it’s made little to no difference.
I really need to take it apart and have a better look but it’s a bit of an epic task on this FD as it has aftermarket heat shields which where fitted with the engine out.
Has anyone come across this before? I’m thinking the Splines must be worn or maybe it was removed and not refitted correctly? But it needs fixing one way or another, but i don\'t want to grind some of the clamp and tighten it up if the splines are goosed?
I had a similar, albeit an extreme experience of this problem. Mine was so bad it locked the steering momentarily out on track at Oulton Park !
I had a little movement in the UJ on the lower steering joint (movement experienced by holding the UJ and exerting physical load in the direction of the joints ie; north/south and east/west.
My upper UJ however had the biggest movement in the joints.
I purchased second hand UJ\'s from guys on this forum (lots of FD\'s being broken).
Fitting was simply (I have a single Turbo conversion so access was limited but managable), lots of penetrating fluid on the splines and locking bolts.
Fully remove the locking bolts, modest pressure to prise the clamp apart with a long flat blade screw driver to allow the UJ\'s to move up and down the splined shafts.
Lightly tapped the upper UJ up on to the upper steering shaft, once clear of the intermediate sterring shaft, I could position the shaft so I could remove the upper JU, then lightly tapped the lower UJ off the stubby splined shaft on the steering assembly.
Refitting, I added the lower UJ to the intermediate splined shaft, loosley fitted the bolt on the bench, fitted the upper UJ to the steering column protruding from the bulk head, pushed the intermediate splined shaft and lower UJ on to the stubby splined steering shaft, lined the intermediate splined shaft with the upper JU and pushed in on the splines.
Fitted locking bolts and tightened.
Without specialist tools, ie; small hammer and spanner\'s, fitting took about 20 minutes. (Removal was longer bacause I was unsure which part to remove first.)
Hope this helps.
Chris
Thats great cheers :) i\'ll give that a go.
Don\'t fancy the Steering locking up, lots of power and no steering would make for one hell of a brown pants moment :eek: