7 replies to this topic

[zerobelow]

Hi all,

 

I'm just posting this because I had a look around when I was looking at putting in a steering u-joint, and didn't find any easy options discussed. When putting my Mini Marcos together, the thickness of the body shell combined with some other factors, I ended up with the hole for the steering rack spline aiming a bit too high for the steering column to fit past the lower edge of the dash. I could have done some more digging out of the fiberglass, but decided I wanted a u-joint anyways, so started looking at options. I hope this post helps someone else, it would have saved me a bit of time in the process. A u-joint in the steering column can be nice to allow a lowering bracket without loosening the steering rack.

 

The bottom of the steering column is cast, and not round, and is hollow, making it not very easy or safe to cut off the bottom inch and weld on a u-joint. All of the u-joints I've found, at least here in the states, had female splines, meaning they could mate with the steering rack, but not the bottom of the steering column. I looked at getting some 9/16-36 splined shaft, to turn a double-female u-joint into a female/male one, however nobody here has any that I could find.

 

I ended up finding that the cast portion at the bottom of the steering column is actually a female female splined coupler, welded onto the column. A bit of quick grinding, and that came off, and I now have room to fit on a u-joint like this:

http://www.summitrac...arts/brg-111212

 

I will still need to drill a slot so that the set screw can lock the joint onto the shaft, but that's a lot easier than most of the other options I considered.

Here's the picture of the column, with the bottom coupler cut off. If I were to do it again, I would leave about 1/2" of the coupler still attached to the column, and have done a circular cut to split it.

[Spider]

I've never taken one apart and now I see it, it does make sense from a production point of view as well as engineering too.

 

Thanks for sharing your 'look what I found out', I'm sure it will help others (maybe even me one day!).

 

I see you're in the US, so that makes sense you've gone to Summit, however CBS in the UK also have a matching Unijoint;-

 

http://www.carbuilde...al-joint-forged

[minidaves]

Some innocenti models had a uj at the bottom of the column just for information

[benjy_18]

It may not help you now, but I have used a standard uni joint section from an existing car, with the original splined stub welded onto the bottom. This way I incorporate an extending/collapsible column as well as having 2 universals joints which allows me to fit the steering wheel where ever I desire.

[Carlos W]

I've got a fiesta steering UJ in the garage, I wonder how the splines compare?

[benjy_18]

My research showed up that a Land Rover UJ is the same spline profile as the mini column, can't remember which year however

[morley]

Gtm coupes use a triumph dolomite steering column which has a UJ. Whilst using a mini steering rack.

[tiger99]

It is a very good idea to have at least one UJ at the bottom of the column, so as already said, the use of an adjustable drop bracket will not end in disaster. But if you have two UJs, and a decent angle at each, i.e. shaft not near straight, you get collapsibility in the event of an accident, which is even better. You will however need a better mount for the top of the column, and suitable bearing arrangements, otherwise the MOT tester will not be impressed.

 

Many of the necessary parts are likely to be found in other Rover models like the 200 series. Many models used the same spline size, which is a good starting point. Various modern cars have an adjustable, for both length and angle, upper column, which may be adaptable.

 

You will find that at least a few of the projects on this forum have had interesting things done to the steering column. Worth a close look.