Addressing Binding in the U-Joints

Making sure that your universal joints (u-joints) are operating correctly will insure that products last the life of the vehicle and stay safe on the roads. One thing we cannot stress enough with the Steeroids™ rack and pinion kits is the importance of having your u-joints adjusted correctly.

If your u-joints are not adjusted correctly the most noticeable thing you will experience is a ‘binding’ in the steering. You will notice a stiff spot in your steering wheel every 90 or 180 degrees of rotation. This is caused by over-angulation or improper alignment of the u-joints. This may not always be noticeable with power steering cars when the vehicle is running because the boost of the power steering pump may overpower the binding and you may not notice it. You need to make sure that the rotation of the steering wheel / u-joints is absolutely smooth throughout the entire travel of the rack unit with the front wheels off the ground and the engine off, rotating the shaft by hand. If you feel any binding at all, it needs to be adjusted or else there will be premature wear. Follow the steps below to make sure the u-joints are adjusted properly:

1)    First, make sure that there are no shafts protruding into the center portion of the u-joints. This includes the steering column, the intermediate shaft between the two u-joints and the pinion shaft on the rack. If any shafting is protruding into the center portion of the u-joint it can hang up on the yoke of the u-joint while it is rotating and cause stiff spots and binding.

2)    Make sure that all of the shafts are completely engaged into the u-joints. The steering column, the intermediate shaft and the pinion shaft on the rack unit all need to be fully inserted into the u-joint (but not protruding into the center portion of the u-joint as mentioned above).

3)    Be sure your u-joints are phased correctly. Use the chart below to determine correct phasing:

4)    Once the first two steps are finished, loosen the steering column. There are two locations to loosen it – one at the fire wall and the other under the dash near the steering wheel. Once the column is loose, pull the column back toward the driver. This will relieve the angle on the u-joint. Only a little movement of the steering column can make a big difference in the u-joints. Now, while the column is loose, slide the forward end of the column toward the engine. The steering column has some horizontal adjustment built into it, and again, a little bit goes a long way. NOTE – If you have a Corvette or Chevelle, you will need to loosen the support bearing to make these adjustments and let it ‘float’ until you are finished tightening the column back up.

5)    Corvette & Chevelle Owners: If you are experiencing u-joint binding the problem is most commonly found in the upper double u-joint where it attaches to the column. Usually the binding occurs when the upper u-joint gets into an ‘S’ shape when viewed from the top. You want to adjust the column so that the u-joint makes a nice, smooth arch from the column down toward the rack.

NOTES:

•    If you purchased your Steeroids rack and pinion kit over 6 months ago, you may want to download a current set of installation instructions for more tech tips. You can download them from our website at the link below:

http://speeddirect.com/index.aspx?nodeid=79

•    If the steps above do not solve the binding issue, you may need to use a different length intermediate shaft between the u-joints. This is extremely rare (usually only encountered when the customer has an aftermarket steering column or other aftermarket components changing the geometry). If you need a different length intermediate shaft, they are available at the link below in two inch increments. You can then trim the intermediate shaft to be the correct length for your application.

•    If your u-joints have already worn out due to improper alignment, you might not be able to get the binding out of them because they are twisting and binding up. To determine if your u-joints are worn and need replacement, remove each u-joint and try to twist them (wringing them like you would a towel). If you feel any play or motion in the u-joint, it needs to be replaced. You can order replacement parts through SpeedDirect at the link below:

http://cmc.speeddirect.com/items.asp?Cc=UJOINTS&iTpStatus=0&Tp=&Bc=