Aloha All,

Long time no post... I guess that means I've been keeping out of trouble...

Anyway, I talked to Randii last week while we were sailing, and mentioned that I think I need a new steering u-joint (the one that attaches to the male end of the rack). He said that could be the problem, or the splines could be wearing out on the rack...

So my question is, has anybody else actually worn out the splines on their rack, or is my u-joint just crapping out?

I'm only asking, because I don't wanna start ripping it all apart, and I REALLY don't want to have to replace yet another rack!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />

Mahalo <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Peter

Peter!

I would suggest getting under there and seeing where the slop is for starters.

Have someone wiggle the steering wheel back and forth and take a look where there is lots of movement.

Then, get back to us.

Michael

Hi Michael,

That is where the slop is, right at the male end of the rack, where the steering u-joint meets the rack, I can't tighten it down anymore, because the bolt is out of threads, I was just trying to find ut if anyone had the splines wear out coming out of the rack, if so, I am gonna look into a creative sleaving solution, if those splines are ok, the I will just need a new u-joint.

Mine got sloppy so i changed it a few years ago, got lucky and picked one up at a junkyard that was in good shape. Don

Peter-

Is there actually slop between the adapter and the splined input shaft of the rack, or is it the other end of the input shaft where it interfaces with the rack?

I would suspect it is the later. The splines themselves should not wear (unless they were loose). I would suspect you have worn out the rack by causing it to turn those 35's (+/- the locker).

Time to find a jy rack.

Good Luck,
Michael

You - Sailing in Hawaii
Me - Shoveling slush in Colorado

You Suck !!

Hope all is well with you Peter,

Dale

Doin pretty good here <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

How are things for you?

I now get cold in 60 degrees...

ok, so I got nervous and just dove in... The splines were just shot to hell on the u-joint and the rack...

My guess is that once when I had an alignment done, the mechanic supposedly pulled the steering wheel off and recentered it. I'm guessing he just loosened the u-joint, spun the wheel and called it good. Thus screwing up the splines and then time taking care of the rest...

My solution, buy a new rack, spend a week trying to get the old one out, and then another week trying to get the new one in <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> nope....

I went the cheapest route I could think of and I think it's a really good one! I went and bought me a roll pin, drilled a hole, beat the pin in, seized it with wire, no more sloppy steering <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

You can scold me if you want, but if you haven't changed a 2nd gen rack, you definitely won't do it a second time! (funny considering I'm on my third rack <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> )

So thanks for your input, I am still just curious who's 2nd gens have gotten sloppy...