I pulled the trigger on a steeroids rack and pinion conversion and while trying to sort out the u-joint binding, I noticed that my steering shaft is kind of falling out of the column towards the front of the car which is causing some headache.

Part of the problem is likely related to my own mistake. While pulling the original steering coupler off the shaft, I used a pry bar and noticed that the shaft moved forward a bit. I'm almost certain I broke something in the column.

Before I tackled this job, the steering wheel had a lot of play. I've had it on my to-do list to pull the column out and tighten it up based on what I read from Jim Shea's papers.

While pulling it apart, one of the bearings fell out and the ***** went all over the garage floor. It seems destroyed. I also noticed a bunch of metal shavings in the column.

I'm not sure what to do from here. I have it apart and I'm stuck. I'll set aside some time to read Jim Shea's papers again. I think this is the bearing that I need, and I might get a stable wheel again if I put in the new bearing and slap it together, but I'm really scratching my head on this one.

Here is the complete assembly out of the car. The turn signal arm broke off so I need to source one of those as well.


Metal shavings in the case:


Here's the front of the shaft hanging out of the end. You can see how that could affect my steeroids u-joint geometry:


Here's the destroyed bearing:


Here's where that bearing goes. Very loose.


Here is how loose it is now w/o the bearing. I do think this is the source of all the looseness of the wheel, and likely where the metal shavings came from.


Also, I am having a hell of a time getting the steeroids coupler all the way on the shaft. I started sanding it down a bit but that didn't help much. I'll probably just need to put some more elbow grease into it.


Any input will be much appreciated. I'd love to get this thing back on the road again, it has only been about a week and a half but I'm worried that this project is starting to get a little crazy!

This is a sad sight

 

bump

 

I'd replace the bearings and anything else that looks worn for that matter.

For the steeroids, make sure the joints are aligned correctly. The instruction are detailed, well at least mine were six years ago.

Make sure you have enough header clearance.

Sand the steering shaft lightly to get the crap off of it and soak it with brake clean or something else to get the left over crud off. My "link" slid on without much tapping from a rubber mallet.

I installed mine, made sue it all worked, then removed it all and reassembled with thread locker where applicable. No header clearance issue with my hookers. Link on thier website will show what headers typically fit or don't fit.

Dodosmike

 

Thanks for the reply. I'm still trying to wrap my head around how I'm going to get this column completely apart and then back together.

I sanded the shaft a little bit and it didn't help much. I'll put some more elbow grease into getting the leftover junk off of there, soaking it in brake clean is a great idea!

I'm having some header clearance headaches on the driver side. The heim join that mounts onto the frame bracket seems to interfere. I'll report back with my progress and experiences.

 

Just realized I don't have pics of the R&P installed with the headers. They were installed afterwards.

Here is how mine went together, hope it gives you some direction.




Second pic you can see how far my steering shaft went into the "sleeve".

dodosmike

 

Very helpful, thanks! I never realized how much room my headers take compared to that original manifold. A previous owner installed them. I don't know what they are and they're completed wrapped so its hard to ID them.

In my case, I have to have that big heim joint so close to the tab on the frame mount that I had to leave out the inner bolt to try to line it all up. I'm hoping once I get it sorted out I can pull it back apart and put that bolt back in or find a thinner bolt.

Everything I've read about header clearance was with the frame mounts, not the heim joint, so I may be dealing with a new issue here.

I'll post pictures and update this thread either way.

How do you like your R&P setup? It is as great as I've read? I'm expecting a dramatic difference, my old steering was very sloppy and my column very loose.

 

Always replace the lower bearing in the steering column when doing a Steeroids. After all these years everyone I have ever done the lower bearing is either toast or real close to it. The U joints put some more stress on that area so it is cheap I surance to replace the lower bearing. For me that is just part of the install if the column has never been rebuilt.

 

Pardon my ignorance, but is this what is supposed to be my lower bearing, but completely destroyed now?

Attachment 48369131

 

Love it. Drives like a new 30+ year old car. No slop at all. I don't think the turning radius is as tight but the NBD for me.

If the coupler is on the shaft further that should give you some more room at the hiem joint if I recall correctly. It's been 5 or 6 years I did mine, my memory is a bit foggy on some of the finer items.

The car is in storage right now, I'll see if I can snap a few decent pics of it this weekend, to show the header/hiem clearance.



Dodosmike

 

Yes that is the lower bearing. It is exposed to the elements and it rusts out. After years of this the bearings just crumbles. The lower part of the shaft needs to be stable. If not the ujoints will bind up constantly. You will never have smooth steering

 

Thanks for the advice, that makes a lot of sense.

I'm not overly concerned with a wider turn radius, if I need to make a turn sharper I'll just hog the gas