Steering Column Uj Advise

[Guest Lee reed]

Hi All. The steering column on my 2B+ has play in it and I was told today it is the UJ. I know the top of the column is Sierra but the UJ and the rod going down to the rack looks to be a piece bolted on. Is this also Sierra or a specialist ordered part. I am hoping it is from the donor as the car has only done 2k miles.

Thanks for your answers in advance all.

[gaz0571]

first of i would check

the bush in the bulkhead,if its the original plastic one sitting in the rubber grommet yuoll probably find thats where the play is, i would change it for the bearing of the north west site,

[Guest Lee reed]

Many thanks but we inspected the steering today and the movement is at the UJ in the column you can see the top of the UJ moveing alot without the bottom half of the joint.

[Guest Alan_builder]

Many thanks but we inspected the steering today and the movement is at the UJ in the column you can see the top of the UJ moveing alot without the bottom half of the joint.

 

I had the same problem.

 

 

The original steering shaft was made by welding a UJ joint onto a piece of pipe, at each end) they normally bolt onto a spline. Any way the UJ had plastic needle rollers and they didn't like the heat!

 

I made a proper shaft, Thinner than the tube with the splines on the end and purchased from (senior moment) a sierra steering column top and bottom joint and fitted them to (Raley Design, recovered senoir moment) the splined shaft just as they were designed to do.

 

I did make 2 one for my car and one for my sons, his car has a problem with the UJ hitting the chassis so we will move the rack a tad. (The UJ hitting the chassis seemed the reason why the welded construction took place in the first place).

 

 

[Longboarder]

Check the play is definitely across the UJ and not between the splines of the lower UJ and the steering rack input shaft. This splined joint has a master spline and groove and can only fit together in one position rotationally. It has to fit in the correct orientation and push onto the rack spline far enough for the compression bolt to pass through the hollow in the rack input shaft. I have heard of these being fitted wrongly and coming adrift!

 

Nigel

[Guest ickle]

Mines has play at the rack gonna have to check out this input shaft now. I thought it needed a rack. Cheers guys.

[Guest Lee reed]

It is 100% the UJ you can see the movement in it. You are confusing me now my steering column only has the one UJ near the top. What set up is normal for a 2B+ ? and what parts do you use?

[Snapperpaul]

If the singe UJ goes on a triangular bar from the steering it is the original Sierra UJ.

It should be welded one end and just clamped with two bolts on the other.

If the welded part is wobbly, get it rewelded.

If the other end is loose you can tighten it.

There are two threaded holes in one half of the bracket, if the threads have worn the UJ won't clamp properly.

I would fit new bolts with locknut this will give enough clamping to solve your problem.

If the movement is in the pivot in the UJ it will require replacing, you can pickup the standard ford Sierra lower steering shaft but it will need cutting and an extention welding in.

Edited September 28, 2011 by Snapperpaul

[Guest snotfart]

go to a good bearing factors,the uj is a common part ,i have recently bought two cost about a fiver each.

[Guest Alan_builder]

I am sure I am one of the few people who read all the posts prior to making a reply!

 

Disclaimer. Not all 2B use the same part, there are at least 3 steering racks and lots of other variations across the range!

 

I sugested you to get the ends from Rally Design, also you could see what they were like.

 

The steering shaft is the wrong length, that is why Robin Hood Engineering fabricated them from pipe and welded the plastic UJ joint onto the tube; also the lower end had a tendency to hit the chassis as it was rotated.!

 

I decided the UJ in the welded construction not to be a replaceable item!

 

The sierra.jpg (first picture) fits one end of the shaft.jpg (4th Picture) and either of the GP4...jpg (2nd & 3rd picture)fit the other end.

Nigel showed a great picture of one end of the shaft. I made my own.

 

 

Steering column shafts made to order £20

[Longboarder]

I thought they all had two things that function as UJ's, one at each end! Top ones are the sierra bit with the clamp for the triangular steering rod and the bottom ends should have a UJ with a clamp for the rack but some use a flexible disc thingy which was old school ford, possibly cortina. What's between the two also varies.

 

Nigel

[Guest Alan_builder]

Hi Nigel.

I thought that was what I had said with a disclaimer as a let out for the rare variations?

 

I thought they all had two things that function as UJ's,

Just seen a 3 or 3A, it only had a UJ at the bottom end, the shaft went through the firewall and I was told it was a solid assembly there up.

 

one at each end! Top ones are the sierra bit with the clamp for the triangular steering rod and the bottom ends should have a UJ with a clamp for the rack

I thought that was what I said, Sierra one end (picture 1)and a GP4 the other either cast (picture 2)or pressed (Picture 3).

 

but some use a flexible disc thingy which was old school ford, possibly cortina. What's between the two also varies.

I have seen the flexible disc, ripped and broken, guy lost more than his steering. But I hadn't herd up to now one being used on a 2B.

 

To summarize, on the 2B I have seen; Metro racks, the ball end failed and the steering arm disconnected: Escort racks, narrow and need extended steering arms; Sierra rack, wide and often hit the chassis even where it is squashed for the GP4 UJ and where it crosses the diagonal member (2B/04 specifically. But I am sure there are others and exceptions. Unfortunately the posters never say they have an exception as mostly they don't know the rule.

[Longboarder]

I was thinking back to post seven where the OP said his car has a single UJ. I need not have added that after your post and come to think of it the flexi-disc type joint will probably all be on monocoques and early monocoques at that.

 

Nigel

[Guest mower man]

Hi I have an early mono car ,1 uj at he rack end [seirra rack ] seirra column which may have been shortened/lengthened no interferance probs does't catch on anything --happy me !mower man

[Guest Alan_builder]

Hi I have an early mono car ,1 uj at he rack end [seirra rack ] seirra column which may have been shortened/lengthened no interferance probs does't catch on anything --happy me !mower man

 

Glad you are happy, that is one advantage of the Mono, it has 39mm more clearance on the rack steering joint than the 2B/04 for the same external dimension.