Universal steering joint

sony · December 9, 2015, 20:38

Hi all, need to change my lower UV steering joint ,I have read the how to and other posts on here ,can somebody tell me which side I need to take off first ,the joint on the steering rack or the joint inside the car?

Mikeymead · December 9, 2015, 20:56

Never done one but I would have thought the joint on the rack.

Jrichards20 · December 9, 2015, 21:37

Joint inside the car. That way, when your hammering and swearing to get the joint at the rack off you will be able move it towards the steering wheel as it releases. If you try doing it from the rack first I fear you will really struggle to get it off

Anonymous · December 9, 2015, 21:53

As in the how to, you take the pinch bolt out of the top joint and ease apart with a screw driver, after removing the pinch bolt and easing apart the bottom split you knock it up from below.
There is only enough spline length at the top to allow clearance at the bottom.
The only thing I would have done different would be to remove the scuttle as this would have made it a lot easier.

locobuilder brian · December 10, 2015, 09:20

Recently changed one, Used a pattern one supplied by TCB Performance.
Set steering wheel straight with front wheels straight- Release both pinch bolts on upper uj joint - mark top uj so it can be put back in same position- remove top uj IF possible- release bulkhead seal screw -remove bottom uj bolt- knock bottom uj joint up,it will be tight, rusted to the shaft. Getting that to release is the hardest part of the job!
Swap shafts over, putting bulkhead seal onto new shaft (renewed mine as it was torn) rebuild. I tightened all the 3 pinch bolts to 32nm not the 35nm as that felt excessive. Test drive. Checking to see if steering wheel still straight, if not release slide bottom knuckle off & move it round one or two splines until its correct.

sony · December 11, 2015, 19:12

Many thanks guys just fitted it this afternoon soaked the joint on the steering rack for two days with plusgas came off with only two hits of the hammer.

benjamino · December 21, 2018, 15:35

Having a real pain getting mine off! I've got all three pinch bolts loose. The upper ones are free and I can move the upper joint in and out about 5mm. I've loosened the lower one and spread it a bit with a screwdriver - I can see it opening so I don't think it's totally seized - although I guess the side opposite the split could be fused. I can't get the frunk out because the thing holding the spare wheel in is seized - not sure what I'm going to do about that! So I have very little room to tap the lower joint up. Is there definitely enough clearance for it to go up, will the upper shaft go further into the upper joint? I notice some people say to remove the upper joint completely first - I can't see how this is possible either, it only seems to slide down onto the lower shaft a few mm. Am I missing something?

cptspaulding · December 21, 2018, 19:26

Have to take the bottom bolt out!

I was in same situation as you & wasn't aware the bolt kinda acts like a retainer. You'll see once it's out & the UJ is off.

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benjamino · December 21, 2018, 20:03

I owe you a pint! Good job I didn't really whack it then!

Will give it a shot in the morning.

Thanks so much.

benjamino · December 22, 2018, 18:44

Finally all done. What a pig of a job! Managed to remove the spare wheel basket which helped a lot. Not driven it yet - hopefully the wheel is level although it's due an alignment so will get them to correct that that way if needed.