steering shaft

[BenBrooks]

I know this has been covered probably numerous times but as everyone's set up is slightly different I thought I'd ask for some expert opinions!

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t362/benbrooks1/Woking-20120818-00109.jpg

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t362/benbrooks1/Woking-20120818-00110.jpg

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t362/benbrooks1/Woking-20120818-00111.jpg

For image two I know i will need a rubber ring thingy of some sort so it fits in the centre of that plate.

is the steering column placed too far up, too far down or just right? and am i right in thinking that after the UJ I will need an additional shaft with splines on each end and then a group 4 coupling that fits on to the steering rack?

cheers
Ben

[voucht]

Hi,
I"m exactly at the same stage.
1 - to me, the right position for the upper shaft of the column is being high enough for the spring to touch the bottom of the "casing", on the upper part of the assembly (where the ignition switch is).
2 - When it comes to the spline shaft, that is the solution I'm looking for too, as I would like to avoid cutting and extending the lower part of the steering column (as already covered in a previous thread: http://www.haynes.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=8089&page=4). But I'm struggling to find somebody who can make/supply a splined shaft which is long enough. It has to be 570mm (according to my calculations). Rally design has 380mm max, same for Car Builder Solution and engineering companies in my neighbourhood don't want to make only one part, it is too expensive. I'm waiting for an answer from someone I know, and if the price is correct and you are interested, I can keep you updated about this option, and may be we can order one each. I expect getting the reply about the price next week.
3 - If you adopt the long splined shaft option, you will need a "Group 4 UJ" (rack side), but also a UJ between the triangular shaft (Sierra) and the splined shaft (Escort). Rally Design sell them for £19.50 (part number RD850).
Hope this will help.

[BenBrooks]

I don't have any of the column switches atm, only got the column. but it is placed so that the bracket that connects it to the steering support frame is furthest back on the adjustable slider if that makes sense? anyway, it looks as though it will give plenty of room for the switches and ignition etc.

the main concern, like you, was what to do between the uj at the rack and the uj on the column. a quick measurement now shows 290mm from the two splines. though i do have a an adjustable slider section on the first uj which you can see in picture 3. but i didn't want to buy an extra shaft and cut it down and reweld it

Ben

[K4KEV]

Hi Ben...your column is a little odd .... I have not taken mine apart in any way ....on mine, that bit with the concentric rings faces down.... take a look here
http://www.haynes.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=4493&page=16
that page also gives you an idea how I got around steering extension many have done it in a similar fashion (apart from the bearing)

[voucht]

the main concern, like you, was what to do between the uj at the rack and the uj on the column. a quick measurement now shows 290mm from the two splines. though i do have a an adjustable slider section on the first uj which you can see in picture 3. but i didn't want to buy an extra shaft and cut it down and reweld it

If I understand you correctly, if you keep your column as it is on the pictures, and add a 290mm splined shaft to join the rack with a "Group4" UJ, you will have 3 UJ's in the system, and, as explained in the thread I mentioned, it is not good, unless you put an intermediate bearing on one of the 2 lower shafts. That was also my first idea, but I discovered it not a good option, see the discussion we have had on this page of the thread i already refereed too:
http://www.haynes.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=8089&page=2
The big round stiff rubber joint at the bottom of your column is considered as a UJ. So, if, as me, you want to avoid cutting the original shaft and welding an extension tube, you need to completely remove the part between your upper UJ and the lower big round stiff rubber UJ. And in that case, you'll need a custom made long splined shaft, as the one I'm looking for, the Sierra to Escort UJ + the group4 UJ.
I hope I understood you, and I'm clear enough in my explanations, but I'm not sure :o