steering joint

Before I moved to the east coast I had some work done at TR, and needless to say the work they did, well did not last that long. This week while moving the car from the garage to the driveway the steering wheel joint stripped (or another term that I can't think of besides stripped)... I have posted a picture. The steering wheel shaft connected to the steering wheel box moves with out the wheels moving... I can spin the steering wheel and the wheel don't move. TR used a C clamp with a bolt, and under the clamp it looks like a piece of copper was used to expand the diameter, because the diameter of the clamp was larger than the shaft. Now I need to fix this and I don't need a gerry-rig. Does anyone have a solution that does not require welding. Welding it is my last resort.

The bolt passes thru the stamped U clamp on the shaft..the shaft has a flat area to keep the steering shaft from rotating in the event the above mentioned spline clamp is loose.....email me direct and I'll reply with my cell number. I can walk you thru the checks to repair the problem

drclockatpa.net


Alan

If the shaft looks as it does and the steering wheel is in the correct position in relation to the blinker housing and column tube, I'd say that they cut your steering shaft an inch too short, and . . . you're lucky to be alive ! ! !

The shaft is supposed to sit all the way down on the little splined coupler bracket. Or, the splined part of the coupler is supposed to go all the way into the steering shaft. The "notch" in the splined shaft of the coupler is there for the bolt to sit in, a safety feature should the nut loosen up, and the end of the shaft should have a similar notch. (This is a common approach with steering shafts, and is used on nearly ALL British sports cars to good end. )

You can cut a second notch in the splined section of the coupler "shaft" and a similar notch in your shaft, remove the shim from the clamp and try tightening everything up, or even grab up a new clamp and bolt, but you REALLY ought to replace the steering shaft with a longer one.

OR . . . you can weld everything together and hope that ypou never have to fix anything relating to the assembly. If you Do weld everything up, unbolt it from the urethane piece or it'll melt on you.

Your choice,

Luck,

TC

If you want to see pics of what the whole thing looks like disassembled, with the notches clearly in view and the bolt and clamp off and on, lemme know. I have two or three complete assemblies on the shelf, I can take some pics tomorrow afternoon

When it comes to steering components, I have learned the hard way to utlize only new ...A really crappy feeling when you turn the wheel and the frigg'in car doesn't quite respond in a timely manner.

No matter how fast you feel your reaction time is "It ain't quick enough" by the time you utter the first of the two most famous words "Oh Sh*t" your well into the "Tundra"

Buy new, both the upper and lower shaft T' sections, a new flex- rag joint.... Use nyloc nuts or safety tab washers that get bent over the edge of a seated nut.

Never had the shaft come loose like yours. The bolt on mine was flat on one side so it sat firmly in the notch on the shaft. What did happen to me on the road was the collapsable section of my used steering shaft broke apart. Luckily it occurred near the entrance to a parking lot and I was able to coast into it due to a dip in the road. I was able to do a temporary fix with some tie wraps and duct tape (never leave home without it or a VISA card)and limped home well under the speed limit. I still have nightmares of this happening at speed on I-95.

I can't tell if the shaft was cut --- or maybe the steering column top mount (inside the cabin) was mounted too far back causing the shaft to be too short. If it was cut and ya need replacement - let me know I have extra shaft from a ~'69 ya can have for cost of shipping from VA (or pickup on way to Carlisle!) On a CMC the shaft should not have to be cut at all --- so thinking the column was mounted too far back (maybe for a short driver). Look in the CMC build manual under library for mounting details.

I have not been able to reach anyone at thunder ranch to find out what happened. I think that I am going to have to replace the shaft. I guess you can say that TR really gave me the shaft on this one! I was talking to my father the other night and I told him what had happened, and he really put it into my head how lucky I am that I was not driving the car when it happened. He also let me know that no manufacture in their right mind should have let a car go in that condition!

The saying that someone said lately... you pays the money, you takes your chances... has been ringing in my head constantly when I think about dealing with Thunder Ranch.

The donor was a 71 bug, do I need to stay within the age range, or can I use any steering shaft from any bug?

I sent ya email with a picture of the extra one I have. Yours does not appear to have the collapsible section on it --- so its not from a '71. I believe '67 up all have the collapsible section. Check out -
https://www.speedsterowners.com/library/cmcmanual2/images/cmc58.jpg
https://www.speedsterowners.com/library/cmcmanual2/images/cmc11.jpg

Looking at the Banjo wheel and column you have posted via your profile you have a very old column (Not from a '71 for sure). Is you key in the dash or on the column? You could have the section from mine welded to yours though. The collapsible part saves you from being skewered in a front end crash - nice safety feature!

my ignition is on the colum not on the dash... although I would prefer that it was on the dash.

Wolf:

I sent you a return email. I will check out shipping and send you a check once I get your address. Thanks again!

Kevin Haskins aka 13 odwagerty There are some important facts that must be presented regarding Thunder Ranch

Chuck:

Yes Chuck, you were gracious to me and I am sure that you would have continued to be gracious to me if I was able to show up at your shop and point out the problems that I encountered. But gracious does not hold water when (if) your car crashes into something or someone, because you lost control.

I was going through litigation with the car and I am still trying to resolve that issue too. Luckily it has not been resolved and I have not been able to drive my car. Had I been able to drive my car, I would hate to see what would have happened had I been driving the car on the highway. I use SOC as a fantastic and regarded tool. SOC is a site that I can count on getting great advice from other fanatics and one that I will use to help assist me in other repairs my car will need in the future. I receive knowledge so I am also going to reciprocate that knowledge back to others.

I told both you and Tom that while I was in San Diego that I had no means to which to wrench a car at that time and that is why I was excited that you guys were nearby and were able work on my car. The fact that you were well regarded and put out exceptional cars only fed my trust in you. However, your years of experience and knowledge in building kit cars

Chuck:

Yes Chuck, you were gracious to me and I am sure that you would have continued to be gracious to me if I was able to show up at your shop and point out the problems that I encountered. But gracious does not hold water when (if) your car crashes into something or someone, because you lost control.

I was going through litigation with the car and I am still trying to resolve that issue too. Luckily it has not been resolved and I have not been able to drive my car. Had I been able to drive my car, I would hate to see what would have happened had I been driving the car on the highway. I use SOC as a fantastic and regarded tool. SOC is a site that I can count on getting great advice from other fanatics and one that I will use to help assist me in other repairs my car will need in the future. I receive knowledge so I am also going to reciprocate that knowledge back to others.

I told both you and Tom that while I was in San Diego that I had no means to which to wrench a car at that time and that is why I was excited that you guys were nearby and were able work on my car. The fact that you were well regarded and put out exceptional cars only fed my trust in you. However, your years of experience and knowledge in building kit cars