Leadership Team Shortshift Posted June 1, 2020 Leadership Team Share Posted June 1, 2020 Can anyone tell me if the steering column UJ is Caterham-unique, or maybe it comes off something a little less 'special'?Cos it's bloomin' expensive to buy from CC!James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECR Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 No it's not unique and when/if! My laptop finishes restoring I think I have details which I can pass on assuming no one else has answered Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Lowe Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 Have you spoken to Chris at Redline James? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECR Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 If you search blatchst for steering coulomb u/j there's info alreadynacam bh9 is the I'd of the joint and I think car builder solutions is one source Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Shortshift Posted June 1, 2020 Author Leadership Team Share Posted June 1, 2020 Thanks chaps. Found several variants online at around 50% of the CC cost (much as it pains me to say) with Royal Mail first class delivery included - so hopefully I'll have it tomorrow.For future reference, the details are: 36 x 9/16 splines (36 splines on 9/16" diameter shaft) with distance between bolt centres of 75mm. Obviously it was a joint US/EU design, incorporating a mix of imperial and metric units. Often sourced for use on MkI/II Escorts (ahh, the memories) and perhaps also on TR5's and 6's.Background is that I was chasing down some general stickiness in the steering, particularly about the straight-ahead position. Found (a) that the rack was not correctly located/rotated in its clamp mountings to align the short input shaft at the same angle as the steering column and (b) that the UJ was not mounted with the cruciform square to normal axes with the rack centred. And then on removing the joint (to reposition it by a couple of splines) I found that it was © also notchy (worn/damaged bearing) at exactly the straight-ahead position. So hopefully with all three of those points attended to, the steering should be nice and fluidic.James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 Have you checked lock to lock with the front wheels off the ground ? You can adjust the pre-load screw on top of the rack. It has a hex socket in it and a huge lock nut around it ... something like 34 or 36mm ? Have you also lubricated the rack ? Remove the driver side gaiter from the rack body and grease the teeth underneath while winding from lock to lock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 I used a mix of LM and EP90 on mine, to make semi liquid grease. Not sure its a bona fide lubrication approach but thought slightly runny would be better!One of dads cars (Marina I think) used EP90 in the rack and we had a special little bottle to dribble some in!Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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