Steering Linkage
I have to use two universal joints to connect the end of the steering shaft to the rack n pinion unit. Everything I read said use Flaming River or Borgeson u-joints. Unfortunately, by the time one of their u-joints get into Canada, I'm looking at $125 a pop. I need two, add in tax and the total is hitting close to $270. Way out of my price league. So its off to search the Internet to see what I can find.
Did some serious searching on the net and found out this info from http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/powersteering/index.html who was installing a GM power steering box into a Jeep:
Here are the part #s for the little steering u-joints:1. NAPA part # 1512- 3/4" bore yoke About $15 (part number may be wrong!)
2. NAPA part # NUJ338- u-joint About $8
3. spicer part # 10-4-621-SX (Spicer 3/4" yoke) same as NAPA, only cost more.
4. Spicer part # 10-4-551-SX (Spicer 3/4" splined for GM p/s box) About $22
5. AFCO 3/4" bore complete u-joint. This is a small bad ass little u-joint. Used for custom steering on race cars and such. Perfect for tight places. Here is the part number for the non splined u-joint: 30303. Note: this can be purchased through Tognotties or other high performance shops. The cost is $60.99 for both splined and non- splined. By the way, AFCO is the name of the manufacture.
Check out the AFCO site, they have some interesting products including neat lowering blocks and one that is even adjustable for fore and aft positioning. It would be great for centering your rear axle in the wheelwell.
Unfortunately, NAPA US and NAPA Canada don't have the same part numbering system. So after some fruitless phoning around, I went to the wreckers. I found that quite a few models of fwd GMs have minature u-joints (similar to the driveshaft u-joints) to connect from the steering column to the rack n pinion. Mid 80s cars like Citations, Celebrities and even Fireflies have the 2 u-joints. I bought a complete steering column with the u-joints for $15. The u-joints are about twice the size of a Borgeson joint and are packed with grease. They would need some sort of protection to prevent dirt from getting in. They look like they would be pretty close to my exhaust manifold so a heat shield would have to be made if they would work.
GM small, mid size and minivan u-joints
Side view showing steering column to rack connection
The green arrow indicates the adjustment for the column shifter as I found out. The two bolts are on spiral grooves, that allow you to set the amount of play when you pull on the shifter to shift gears. I had set it too tight and couldn't pull the shifter back at all. The tranny was locked in Park!
Top view showing angle and exhaust clearance
I used a 1990 Firefly's universal joints to connect the 80s Chevy van's steering shaft to the 86 Buick Park Avenue's rack and pinion. The steering shaft was cut down and silver soldered (rated 70,000 lbs - as good as welding!) to the Firefly's steering shaft end. The ends were butted with a male/female dowel arrangement.
An adapter was welded onto the end of the Firefly's universals to connect to the rack. Four long allen screws keep the universals firmly attached to the rack and prevent the rack from slipping. Each screw has a locking nut to keep it from coming loose. I will check these periodically and locktite them in place for added safety.
It's hard to tell from the pictures but there is about 1/2" of clearance between the steering shaft and the frame. There is a bearing at the end of the steering column and it is held in place by a spring. The spring presses against a clamp at the end of the shaft and just before the first u-joint.
Steering hardware info
I'll hit the wreckers and take apart a tilt steering column to see what is used as a u-joint for the tilt mechanism, maybe its smaller. (Later...) I went to the wreckers and took apart a 77 Caprice tilt column. It is a ball and socket joint more like a hip joint. Most of it is plastic and there is an outer casing/frame that holds the whole mess together. There's no way that it could be used for my purposes.
I did find that 80s GM pickup trucks use one vibration damper near the steering box and a large universal joint at the steering column. The shaft between the two is collapsable (pix on the way). Mid 80s full size vehicles used a shorter version of the universal joint also (pix to follow). Both u-joints are larger than the Citation style and have less angle of deflection. I pulled one of each off of the cars just to play with (cost $8 each per shaft).
GM full-size cars (top) and truck u-joint (bottom)
GM vibration damper - car on top, truck on bottom
I looked at Chev mini-vans and the 90 degree angle that the steering shaft is to the steering box is quite amazing. I didn't think that two universals could smoothly turn at such a great angle. The mini-vans use u-joints similar to the citation's. Chrysler mini-vans and Datsun 240Z have u-joints that may be a little smaller than the Citation's.
Steering shaft coming out of firewall (next to master cylinder) then straight down to steering box
I first thought the following pictures of older Volkswagen bugs and Volvos were u-joints but are both collapsible sections and not u-joints. The older VW bug has what looks like a serated metal tube for a collapsible section
Volkswagen collapsible column section not a u-joint as originally thought
The Volvo is summed up with one word: strange. Doesn't look like anything except some off center rods bolted together. It is in fact another collapsible section and not a u-joint.
Volvo's collapsible steering section.