Wish I had found this problem sooner...

[slngsht]

With all the changes I crammed into the car before 7/7/7, I had noticed that the steering had developed a fair amount of play in it. I had checked each of the joints to make sure there is no play in them, and concluded the play has to be in the rack.

 

After all the cranking of the wheel at the dragon, the problem was more exaggerated (not a good thing when journalists are driving your car). Folis drove my car and noticed it too.

 

I pretty much concluded that I needed to rebuild the rack, so ordered a new toyota rack (which needs to be shortened).

 

I figured I better fix this before the snowshoe blat, as driving the car had become significantly less enjoyable, particularly on the highway and rough roads.

 

So last night I finally pulled the car in, got ready to pull the rack, and decided to check things over one last time. I found a lock screw that was totally loose, and the cause of all the play. I think I missed it earlier, b/c of the angle of rotation of the steering rod had hidden it. The looseness of the screw did not pose any risk in terms of loss of steering... my steering rod is D shaped, and the screw takes all the play out of the sliding male/female pieces.

 

With the screw tightened, I took the car out again today. WHAT A JOY. Even with my laser level alignment, you can let the steering go, and the steamrollers track true for a LONG time. The joy is back in Frankn7 :hurray:

[solder_guy]

The joy is back in Frankn7 :hurray:

 

Great! Now where exactly is this screw??

 

Rob in Rotus 7.

 

[slngsht]

on mine, there is a support bearing on the frame, half way through the engine bay... between the support bearing and the rack, the shaft is two pieces. This screw takes out the play between these two pieces.

[lowflyer]

I know of one situation similar to this.

 

It was in a street rod using Flaming River pieces. The double ended U-joint was just below the valve cover, and had gotton some hot oil on it from a leak.

 

At about 75MPH on a freeway the driver went to adjust his driving position, you know, just kind of shifting his position in the seat. Without realizing it he pulled back on the steering wheel to pull his body more upright and the steering shaft pulled out of the U-joint.

 

The result was complete loss of steering control, since the wheel and upper shaft were no longer connected to anything.

 

He managed to get the car stopped without hitting anything, although he did run off the highway and onto the grassy center divider. Shook him up a bit, needless to say.

 

"If it ain't one thing, it's another!"

[slngsht]

I know of one situation similar to this.

 

It was in a street rod using Flaming River pieces. The double ended U-joint was just below the valve cover, and had gotton some hot oil on it from a leak.

 

At about 75MPH on a freeway the driver went to adjust his driving position, you know, just kind of shifting his position in the seat. Without realizing it he pulled back on the steering wheel to pull his body more upright and the steering shaft pulled out of the U-joint.

 

The result was complete loss of steering control, since the wheel and upper shaft were no longer connected to anything.

 

He managed to get the car stopped without hitting anything, although he did run off the highway and onto the grassy center divider. Shook him up a bit, needless to say.

 

"If it ain't one thing, it's another!"

 

Major pucker factor