308 GT4 Steering Column Universal Joint Alignment | FerrariChat
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308 GT4 Steering Column Universal Joint Alignment

Discussion in '308/328' started by grtoz, Sep 10, 2014.

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  1. grtoz

    grtoz Karting

    Dec 14, 2010
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    Byron Bay, Australia
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    Graeme Towers
    #1 grtoz, Sep 10, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I’d appreciate help with two questions.

    While the universal joints in the steering column of my GT4 are indexed to one another, when the steering wheel and road wheels are in the straight ahead position, the universal joints are rotated a few degrees from the horizontal or vertical plane. Is this OK if the UJs are correctly indexed?

    If it’s not OK, then to adjust them into the correct position I need to collapse the column to allow the top and bottom UJs to be rotated on the splines. What's the best way of doing that? If I loosen the UJs at “A” and “B” in the picture will the column collapse sufficiently to allow me to make the adjustment?

    With thanks
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  2. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #2 Steve Magnusson, Sep 10, 2014
    There's no requirement for a relationship of horizontal-when-going-straight, nor for any special relationship between the two u-joints in such a very, very low RPM application (in fact, the system has a built-in design sin of the input shaft not being parallel to the output shaft which would cause havoc in a high RPM application, but can easily be ignored in a steering column application). You worry needlessly ;)...
     
  3. grtoz

    grtoz Karting

    Dec 14, 2010
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    Byron Bay, Australia
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    Graeme Towers
    #3 grtoz, Sep 11, 2014
    Thanks Steve
     
  4. robertgarven

    robertgarven F1 Veteran
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    Feb 24, 2002
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    Robert Garven
    #4 robertgarven, Sep 12, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Guys,

    I messed with this for hours. On mine the lower nut comes very close to the clutch stop nut! Steve said the sliding shaft should be tight but I talked to several GT4 guys who said theirs were loose. I bought a special wrench to tighten it. But I think it slides in and out with the steering wheel tilt control?

    You can spend days under there and its not good for your back or sanity!
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  5. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Steve Magnusson
    #5 Steve Magnusson, Sep 12, 2014
    You're mixing two things together Rob -- the large nut needs to be loosened to MAKE a change in the tilt adjustment (as the distance between the two u-joints changes vs tilt of the upper section), but, once the tilt angle of the upper portion is set/tightened, the large nut should be tightened (as the distance between the u-joints stays the same after that).
     
  6. Robz328

    Robz328 F1 Veteran
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    Rob Hemphill
    #6 Robz328, Sep 12, 2014
    It's a little better if you pull the seat out first.
     
  7. robertgarven

    robertgarven F1 Veteran
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    #7 robertgarven, Sep 12, 2014
    Steve,

    At least I have the wrench. I had to buy a very special wide mouth short wrench. There is also not place to grab the tube without putting lots of stress on the universal joints. I did tighten it as best as I could.

    Rob
     
  8. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

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    Brian Crall
    #8 Rifledriver, Sep 12, 2014
    I have never seen the factory tighten the big nut. For one thing that is the collapsible steering column for crash protection. Normally when, on an untouched car, the column is unbolted you can just pull that coupling apart. It is not "loose" but it isn't big wrench tight either. It should be tight enough that the splined shaft cannot wobble around but loose enough that the collet lets the splines slide.
     
  9. Ferraridoc

    Ferraridoc F1 World Champ
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    Patrick
    #9 Ferraridoc, Sep 12, 2014
    Mine was tighter than a nun's... never mind. It appeared to have been centre punched, but I couldn't get a good look at it - does anyone know this to be true? In any case, I couldn't loosen it, and was afraid to damage the (VERY expensive) U-joints - I might try gripping the pipe with a Stilson wrench, but if anyone has an idea, let me know? Until then, I can't adjust my steering.

    WRT the relative angle of the U-joints, I would think that 90 degrees would make sense, as they don't transmit constant velocity, but on my Esprit Turbo, they were set at 30 degrees - something to do with "steering feel" as it said in the manual, and Lotus is not known for buggering up a car's steering, so there's another datum point to confuse everyone.
     

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