Steering universal joint

[reb53]

For some reason the rubber washers have failed very quickly in my rebuilt UJ, not lasting for years like they did last time.
Does anyone know what car has a suitable needle bearing type?
I started on the archives but when I got to the suggestion that lots of Jap cars have 13mm ones, which are near enough to 1/2, and even though they have a different numbers of splines all you have to do is tighten them up really tight......
Apart from buggering the splines on both the column and the rack I knew I'd never trust it.
Anyone got any actual brand/model/year info on this ?

Otherwise I'll be back to grinding some new washers.
Thanks.
Ralph.

[StressCraxx]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRIUMPH-Spitfire-Herald-GT6-Vitese-Lotus-Elan-LOWER-STEERING-U-JOINT-Upgrade-/141403101735?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item20ec481a27&vxp=mtr

I have had one of these for more than 20 years. Works perfectly.

Regards,
Dan

[rgh0]

The usual Lotus suppliers normally sell these Uj's also

cheers
Rohan

[fatboyoz]

Ralph,
I use these in the original U/J.

http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_from ... k&_sacat=0

Cheers,
Colin.

For some reason the rubber washers have failed very quickly in my rebuilt UJ, not lasting for years like they did last time.
Does anyone know what car has a suitable needle bearing type?
I started on the archives but when I got to the suggestion that lots of Jap cars have 13mm ones, which are near enough to 1/2, and even though they have a different numbers of splines all you have to do is tighten them up really tight......
Apart from buggering the splines on both the column and the rack I knew I'd never trust it.
Anyone got any actual brand/model/year info on this ?

Otherwise I'll be back to grinding some new washers.
Thanks.
Ralph.

[TroonSprint]

I bought a "proper" UJ from Kelvedon - ?38.60 including VAT.

Mike

[reb53]

Thanks guys.
I shall start ringing around in the morning, might have found a place here so won't have to wait.

Cheers,
Ralph.

[Panda]

Hi Ralph,
I have used the Kelvedon joint and also a similar one to the joint that Stresscraxx recommends. The latter is definitely better quality and rotates as it should. The first one had the shafts slightly offset to each other.
Alan P.

[john.p.clegg]

Ralph
There's not a lot of room down there next to the bottom radiator hose and some u/js are larger than others,can't remember which u/j I used but do remember grinding off the radius surplus metal to clear the hose...

John

[mbell]

I recently bought one from British Victoria in the US for ~$50 its standard Triumph part. Was quite bulky more than expected, fitted fine on my +2 with it's radiator a more forward than standard. Not sure it would fit an Elan thou.

[billwill]

Remember to put a flexible copper wire from the nuts on the column to the chassis or other half of the U/J to ensure that the horn press will work.

[reb53]

Thanks for all the replies.

I wasn't aware that there was a readily available one ex Herald/GT6/Vitesse etc.
Thought I'd be scratching around wreckers yards as usual....
Place in NZ had one. Ordered yesterday, arrived, and fitted, this morning, and MOT'd this afternoon.
Summer is under way !

Was expecting a huge thing that would be a pain to fit but, as can be seen from a photo I took of old and new types, it was a reasonable size and only about 1 cm longer.

Cheers,
Ralph.

[au-yt]

If it helps I replaced the rubber washers with a flexane set. and replaced the bonding lead across the joint,.... bingo horn works

Graeme

[gus]

yeah the horn works.......for a week

I messed with the original type for years on and off, real u-joint is the way to go,