Bent steering shaft
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,140
Likes: 96
From: Naples
Bent steering shaft
Started installing my Borgeson unit, all going well till it came time
To remove old rag joint which was pretty well rusted on, had to cut the
Bolt with a dremel and pop it off. Wood blocked the front of the shaft and rapt away with a heavy mallet, column moved a half inch and froze.
Put the key in to free the column lock and spun the steering wheel. The shaft wobbles and doesn't spin true, it's bent. Look at the pic of the splines I've never seen a twist like this. Car was never in an accident, original fiberglass and straight unmolested frame. I sourced a straight and true shaft and am going to replace this one, just curious if any body else has come across this?
To remove old rag joint which was pretty well rusted on, had to cut the
Bolt with a dremel and pop it off. Wood blocked the front of the shaft and rapt away with a heavy mallet, column moved a half inch and froze.
Put the key in to free the column lock and spun the steering wheel. The shaft wobbles and doesn't spin true, it's bent. Look at the pic of the splines I've never seen a twist like this. Car was never in an accident, original fiberglass and straight unmolested frame. I sourced a straight and true shaft and am going to replace this one, just curious if any body else has come across this?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
As the steering shaft is made from mild steel it only takes a solid curb strike at an angle to bend the shaft. Check your tie rod ends for bending and if you find one it was that side that clobbered the curb.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 18,126
Likes: 174
From: WI
Started installing my Borgeson unit, all going well till it came time
To remove old rag joint which was pretty well rusted on, had to cut the
Bolt with a dremel and pop it off. Wood blocked the front of the shaft and rapt away with a heavy mallet, column moved a half inch and froze.
Put the key in to free the column lock and spun the steering wheel. The shaft wobbles and doesn't spin true, it's bent. Look at the pic of the splines I've never seen a twist like this. Car was never in an accident, original fiberglass and straight unmolested frame. I sourced a straight and true shaft and am going to replace this one, just curious if any body else has come across this?
To remove old rag joint which was pretty well rusted on, had to cut the
Bolt with a dremel and pop it off. Wood blocked the front of the shaft and rapt away with a heavy mallet, column moved a half inch and froze.
Put the key in to free the column lock and spun the steering wheel. The shaft wobbles and doesn't spin true, it's bent. Look at the pic of the splines I've never seen a twist like this. Car was never in an accident, original fiberglass and straight unmolested frame. I sourced a straight and true shaft and am going to replace this one, just curious if any body else has come across this?
what year car was this? and is it a t/t column?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,140
Likes: 96
From: Naples
71,standard column,manual steering, which was the reason I was
Adding the Borgeson. The funny thing is the car tracked straight and true
No damage to any parts of the front suspension or other steering components and the wheels were aligned in spec. I never would have noticed the shaft was bent or twisted like the photo shows.
Adding the Borgeson. The funny thing is the car tracked straight and true
No damage to any parts of the front suspension or other steering components and the wheels were aligned in spec. I never would have noticed the shaft was bent or twisted like the photo shows.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,877
Likes: 3,556
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
This was off my buddy's C2- he just had a little squeak in his steering- and decided to check it out...
So they are not that strong of a material...
So they are not that strong of a material...
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 18,126
Likes: 174
From: WI
71,standard column,manual steering, which was the reason I was
Adding the Borgeson. The funny thing is the car tracked straight and true
No damage to any parts of the front suspension or other steering components and the wheels were aligned in spec. I never would have noticed the shaft was bent or twisted like the photo shows.
Adding the Borgeson. The funny thing is the car tracked straight and true
No damage to any parts of the front suspension or other steering components and the wheels were aligned in spec. I never would have noticed the shaft was bent or twisted like the photo shows.
I have most of a standard column out of a 71 if your interested (no hub), $100+ shipping
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,140
Likes: 96
From: Naples