The Rodding Roundtable
Motorhead Message Central => Rodder's Roundtable => Topic started by: parklane on January 28, 2006, 04:37:54 PM
Just in the process of hooking up the steering linkage from the R&P to the column, and need a couple of U joints, or maybe double U joints. Can someone tell me how much of an angle can safely be made with a single and double U joint?? TIA
John
Quote from: "parklane"Just in the process of hooking up the steering linkage from the R&P to the column, and need a couple of U joints, or maybe double U joints. Can someone tell me how much of an angle can safely be made with a single and double U joint?? TIA
John
Each manufacturer has a different spec. most are limited to less than I think 30 degrees.
moose
Quote from: "parklane"Just in the process of hooking up the steering linkage from the R&P to the column, and need a couple of U joints, or maybe double U joints. Can someone tell me how much of an angle can safely be made with a single and double U joint?? TIA
John
If you decide to go with a double joint holler as I've got one to sell if the end size would work for you. It's a Borgeson 3/4"DD x 1"DD and Borgeson claims their good up to a 70 degree angle. They sell for $112-$120 in the catalogs, I'll sell this one, it's new never used, for $85 including shipping.
Quote from: "phat rat"They sell for $112-$120 in the catalogs, I'll sell this one, it's new never used, for $85 including shipping.
:shock: :shock: :shock:
The thieving retaillers over here want over AU$300 for those. Thats about US$225. :shock: :shock: :shock: Now THATS a huge mark-up in anyones book.
Back in the 60's before these high tech universal joints were readily available I used a power take off joint. It is rather 'clunky' looks wise but worked fine. :D
Quote from: "parklane"Just in the process of hooking up the steering linkage from the R&P to the column, and need a couple of U joints, or maybe double U joints. Can someone tell me how much of an angle can safely be made with a single and double U joint?? TIA
John
John, the borgeson ones I have used say that 30 degrees is max. for a single. Maybe they have a website with info on it.
http://www.borgeson.com/angle.htm
I used some stock GM joints off of a junked Cadillac and they work fine. The problem is getting the same splines as the shaft.... so I used a cadillac shaft. When I got to the rag joint I used the Ford and that fit the steering box shaft.
One of the things no one ever tells you is that you should spot weld them on when the entire car is done. Otherwise you could get a nasty surprise. Good luck!
Quote from: "docchevy"One of the things no one ever tells you is that you should spot weld them on when the entire car is done. Otherwise you could get a nasty surprise. Good luck!
Absolutely! Some of the manufacturers warn against welding because it might cause damage to the needle bearings. But, it still can be done as long as it's done carefully. An alternative is to put a spot weld on the shaft so it can't go too far into the u-joint. If welding isn't done, at least put in roll pins so the shaft can't enter too far and bind up the u-joint.
I must have wandered around boneyards for 3 days trying different U joints that were compact enough to fit between the 56 column and the Cavalier rack. Finally I just bit the buellet and bought a set of Borgesons, single swivels for the ends and the support bearing with double U joint in the middle. The time I woulda saved by doing that the first time I could have used for something constructive.
Dave R
I got my steering joints from Speedway.
they work real well.
I do believe that 30* is the limit for single joints.
Vance
Quote from: "32 Chevy"I must have wandered around boneyards for 3 days trying different U joints that were compact enough to fit between the 56 column and the Cavalier rack. Finally I just bit the buellet and bought a set of Borgesons, single swivels for the ends and the support bearing with double U joint in the middle. The time I woulda saved by doing that the first time I could have used for something constructive.
Dave R
Dave...........Were two singles enough to go from the rack to the column??
John :)
Borgenson now has unis operating at 35 degrees.......
QuoteThe thieving retaillers over here want over AU$300 for those. Thats about US$225. Now THATS a huge mark-up in anyones book.
Yeah...I know where, and that's why I went straight to Borgenson.
Just on a side note...you can knock a lot of production unis apart and re marry them with others. Just takes a little grinding with a Dremel to grind the peened tabs off. Re join and use a centre punch to make new peen tab retainers. You will find many metric unis are the same as imperial. This way, you can make many different creations. The main issue is shaft length.
Quote from: "32 Chevy"I must have wandered around boneyards for 3 days trying different U joints that were compact enough to fit between the 56 column and the Cavalier rack. Finally I just bit the buellet and bought a set of Borgesons, single swivels for the ends and the support bearing with double U joint in the middle. The time I woulda saved by doing that the first time I could have used for something constructive.
Dave R
Does the double count as 2 joints meaning you have 4 joints? Would you not then need 2 support bearings in this setup?
Yes..you will need 2 support bearings. One above the uni, and the other below.
JOhn,
Here is a photo of the steering hookup in the 56 ranchwagon. Note that I used a double Borgeson at the bottom of the steering column and a single Borgeson at the top of the rack. Between those you MUST have a stabilizer bearing to hold the intermediate shaft steady or the multiple U joints will just twist like a pretzel instead to turning in the correct plane.
It has been a while since I did this swap, but definitely remember that the small area and tight turns required compact u joints and the Borgesons were the only ones I could find that would do the job. I also recollect that I couldnt assemble the u joints in place; I had to drop the rack, fit the pieces roughly where they should go, and then loosely bolt the rack in position. The it becomes a matter of juggleing this and that until you can find the correct placement for the support bearing where everything will turn without binding. And when you have it all hooked up, be sure to try everything under load before you grab the welder.... 'Nuff said about that..
Dave
Quote from: "32 Chevy"JOhn,
Here is a photo of the steering hookup in the 56 ranchwagon. Note that I used a double Borgeson at the bottom of the steering column and a single Borgeson at the top of the rack. Between those you MUST have a stabilizer bearing to hold the intermediate shaft steady or the multiple U joints will just twist like a pretzel instead to turning in the correct plane.
It has been a while since I did this swap, but definitely remember that the small area and tight turns required compact u joints and the Borgesons were the only ones I could find that would do the job. I also recollect that I couldnt assemble the u joints in place; I had to drop the rack, fit the pieces roughly where they should go, and then loosely bolt the rack in position. The it becomes a matter of juggleing this and that until you can find the correct placement for the support bearing where everything will turn without binding. And when you have it all hooked up, be sure to try everything under load before you grab the welder.... 'Nuff said about that..
Dave
Thanks Dave..............they always say that a picture is worth a thousand words, and that certainly holds true here. Thanks to everyone for the replies 8) 8)
John :)