steering intermidiate shaft

[pimms]

Hi all,

Having some problems with connecting the steering intermidiate shaft.
I have two different shafts, one frome the X 1/9 ( longer and thicker )and one from a Lancia Beta ( with 2 different splines) pic. no 1. I understand from the building manual i need to use the Beta one, but:
* one side has different splines than the other so it does not fit to the X 1/9 steering column ( pic no 2, on the right is Beta ) :(
* when i tighten up the aluminium mounting block that fits the shaft to the chassis the shaft does not turn anymore ( pic no 3 Alu block ) :confused:
Am i doing something wrong here :o

Is it ok to take of one universal joint from the X 1/9 and weld it to the Beta intermidiate shaft, and maybe before welding it put a bearing on the shaft ( to mount it to the chassis instead of the alu mounting block ) I think i saw a picture somewhere on the forum of someone who did this :confused:

Any one had the same problems or a good solution for it?

[chris.richard]

Hi all,

Having some problems with connecting the steering intermidiate shaft.
I have two different shafts, one frome the X 1/9 ( longer and thicker )and one from a Lancia Beta ( with 2 different splines) pic. no 1. I understand from the building manual i need to use the Beta one, but:
* one side has different splines than the other so it does not fit to the X 1/9 steering column ( pic no 2, on the right is Beta ) :(
* when i tighten up the aluminium mounting block that fits the shaft to the chassis the shaft does not turn anymore ( pic no 3 Alu block ) :confused:
Am i doing something wrong here :o

Is it ok to take of one universal joint from the X 1/9 and weld it to the Beta intermidiate shaft, and maybe before welding it put a bearing on the shaft ( to mount it to the chassis instead of the alu mounting block ) I think i saw a picture somewhere on the forum of someone who did this :confused:

Any one had the same problems or a good solution for it?

Can't comment on the first half Pim, but some people do cut the shaft and use a rose joint to mount the shaft instead of the aluminium block. Get the shaft professionally tig welded back together - not a job for an amateur!

[guy mayers]

Hi Pimms, mixing and matching the universal joints is not a problem and can give you the exact length intermadiate shaft you need. The welds can be ground off easily enough and rewelded by a competent welder. If you don't have the experience get someone who does! Make sure that the unicersal joint isn't damaged by the heat from grinding off or rewelding. There shouldn't be any twisting play in it.
The intermediate bearing is often tight and this can be releived by some careful sanding and spacers between the halves if necessary. However, if you are going to split the intermediate shaft I'd recommend putting a proper bearing in there. Whatever you decide to do make sure that fixing the position of the bearing is the last thing you do on the column as misalignment will cause friction whether it's the ally block or a proper bearing. This means you'll have to sort out the bump steer first!
Guy

[Chris J]

Pim

You COULD re engineer the standard kit steering arrangement, but for starters I'd go with what you've got there. That is, the aluminum block 'bearing'.

The aluminuium split block 'bearing' allows you to build the car using stock components. So the idea of it is for ease of build rather than have to make up a custom shaft that include a 'proper' bearing.

Lots of people are out there happily using this aluminium split block arrangement, and it works well if it is positioned in exactly the right place AND you make sure it has enough grease on it for lubrication. You'll need to get the shaft right down to bare metal, remove the black paint/coating on the short area of the shaft that turns in the aluminium block. 'Might be best to give it a bit of a polish too.

However, some people have gone the re engineered route. I think Colin Artus's car has a specially made steering shaft bearing, but the one you'll have seen recently is on John H.'s car. (See photo)

By the way, I've never seen a shaft with the fine splines. I thought all the Fiat Lancia shafts had the more course splines??

[Chris J]

The photo:

[Chris J]

Re: the photo

I'll just point out that the main part of the steering column is at a non standard (for a Hawk) angle too.

[strat6v]

Hi Pimms,

Photo's in my gallery, If you have your seats, pop them in on some padding, sit in and shuffle yourself/seat around till you are comfy and you have headroom. Tilt back and forward to find the best position. Oh.. get a friend or neighbour to hold the complete column and steering wheel or use a 'g' clamp to hold it in place to make sure you can get your legs in and out and the angle of the wheel feels comfy. i guess what i'm saying is to make the car fit you, not the other way round. If i recall, when we met at the agm(parts exchange in the car park) you were quite tall so you may have to play around with the column a bit.

If you want some more pics of my column mods(x1/9)pm me your email and i'll send you pics/measurements. My setup should fit me like a glove now. I am 185cm/s tall and had no choice but to change things. Its quite easy though!! :)

If the welder messes up and fries the universal joint seals, don't despair. If you have a second column carefully cut the metal around the bearings on that , open the gap and remove the needle roller bearing and seals, remove your damaged ones from the 'best' uj's without cutting the metal obviously , then carefully press the replacements in, not too tight though.

As far as the split column bearing, mine went in the bin. It didn't line up even with a standard column set up and made the steering stiff to turn. i got fed up trying so bought a rod end instead.

Regards.

John.

[BAS]

That's how I set up my steering as well, but I have managed to us the spilt bearing but I did have to rubber mount it (see photo in my gallery). I made up a sleeve to go over the shaft then pinned it in place on the car and got it welded up later.

[Chris J]

Pim

On second thoughts, if you are on the taller side, maybe it would be a good idea to get the column 'just right' from day one as John describes.

I'm lucky that I seem to be able to fit into the most un-ergonomic cars. Unless I just put up with it without thinking?

[Chris J]

'Just a bit more food for thought:

Using a standard intermediate shaft on my blue car. This was the only way I could get rid of a small (but annoying) bit of play on straight ahead. By fixing an slightly angled block of alloy between the standard split block and the supplied mounting. (see photo)

There's also a nylatron split bush which has been added afterwards.

[Chris J]

On the car I have now, fixing the split block and the whole steering column arrangement in the best place where it seems to want to lie, meant that the universal joint nearest the split block was in the space where the block would normally be (under the mounting) So I had to mount the block further back. (see photo)

I won't be using a pile of washers to fix this if I do go with this arrangement. It was just a temporary thing.

[Chris J]

Here's another photo of the same car:

As Guy says, you need to finalise the rack mounting BEFORE doing the steering column.

[guy mayers]

That's an interesting looking seal on the bulkhead for the steering column Chris. Care to share?
Guy

[Chris J]

That's an interesting looking seal on the bulkhead for the steering column Chris. Care to share?
Guy

It's the inner part of a Metro gearstick gator, but there isn't quite enough room for the Triumph flexi joint to turn without shifting the gator around. It could do with the idea that John 'strat6v' came up with. (see gallery)

It was my attempt to stop the wind whistling up my trouser leg at any speed. Something I remember from driving my other Transformer/Hawk!

[pimms]

This means you'll have to sort out the bump steer first!
Guy

Guy or anyone,

Don't know exactly what you mean by bump steer :confused:
How do i fix this "bump steer"? :o
Here's another ( off topic ) english word . I have a lamp pop up mechanism that says "NS"
I think it means "near side", does it mean the right side of the car ( in Holland passenger side ) or left side? Left and right is easier for me otherwise i get confused ;)

[Chris J]

Pim

NS is near side which is left side (driver's side in Holland).