Ok, I'm installing my Steeroids kit, and now I'm at the point where I need to mate the intermediate shaft between the U-Joints. Does anybody else have a problem with the shaft fitting inside the U-Joints? I have one side in, but now it's stuck... Any help is appreciated...

 

Here's what i did after fighting with trying to assemble like you are trying to do, i just couldn't get enough play with using major force:

1. I bolted both ujoints to the connecting rod.
2. I then bolted this entire assembly to the rack. I also found out that i had to use the shorter set screws on the ujoint at the rack as these were rubbing against the frame.
3. Bolted the rack in place with the assembled ujoints
4. Bolted up the tie rod sleeves and tie rods.
5. I then unbolted the driver side of the rack by removing u-clamp bolts
6. This allowed the rack to drop far enough so that i could then slide the ujoint on the steering column, this was real easy to do from under the car. It helps if you have cleaned the grooves on the steering column. Make sure that your steering wheeel is centered before sliding on, assuming that you already centered the rack.
7. Bolt rack back in place
8. I then drilled a hole about 1/4" deep into the steering column shaft (this was done with the ujoint on, i used a drill bit that was slightly smaller than the set screw hole so that the set screw could bite in, just like speed direct did on the ujoint shaft. Be careful not to damage threads. I did this because after first test drive i noticed that the ujoint had slid up the steering shaft and it was causing slight binding.

 

Hmm, sounds like a plan... So let me ask you another question... Did you have any problems with the passenger side rack & pinion mount? Mine seems like it's too small to fit over the rack and pinion rubber mount...

 

I had the same problem. The black powder coat is way to thick on the shaft. I filed it off both ends.

 

:iagree: Yup. Only had 2 minor problems. Did a little filing on the shaft to make it fit, and I had to ream out the return power steering hose with a drill.

 

dont get me wrong...i LOVE my Steeriods...
BUT...
that return hose is the WORST!
1st of all, it takes three men and a boy to slide that super heavy hose onto the fitting...it has no flex...it is as hard as steel!
so...like you, i resorted to drilling it out...
then...no matter what i did i coundnt get it to stop leaking...
it is WAY to rigid...a clamp does almost nothing...
what i ended up doing was removing it and stripping the rubber completly off of the fitting...
then i flaired the end and put the fitting back on the pump...
then i connected the two fittings with 3/8 auto transmission hose...
works great and NO leaks...
Steeriods is awesome but i have no idea why they use this stupid hose from Hell...

 

And here all I used was stock Grand Am hoses....right off the junkyard....

jeez, so complicated, ......

GENE

 

What year Grand Am?

 

What i found was that the line that runs along the top of the rack would not allow the u-clamp to slide far enough down to line up with the bracket, i slightly bent the line up allowing the u clamp to slide toward the end. I used a rubber mallet to tap the u clamp over the rubber mount. You want this to be very tight since i noticed that when turning the wheel the rack wants to move a little bit.
I had the same problem with the low side line not sliding over the pump fitting. I used a hair drier for about 5 minutes and lithium grease. It still took some effort to slide on but it is on at least an 1", won't come off unless it's cut. I used a small heater hose type clamp and so far no leak, fingers are crossed.

 

'92 Grand am with the SOHC 4 cyl engine.....

GENE