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TR6 TR6 Steering Flex Coupling

SkinnedKnuckles

Jedi Trainee
Offline
Well that 30 minute job only took over 2 hours! The old one came out in pieces - 2 of the opposing aluminum "wedges" completely separated from the coupling.

Of course, the new one was a tad too big, so after 10 minutes of fiddling got out a band clamp. Put the squeeze on it and got the screw/bolts/ ground strap on.

It was then I saw the squirm - about 1/4" between sides. No wonder those pieces separated. Moved the upper bracket about 1/8" until there was slop in the dust covers (I guess that's what they are) on the upper piece. Absolutely could not get any purchase from the lower rod that goes down to the u-joint at the pinion. After 2 tries decided to try later when the ball joints go in.

I wasn't pleased with the extreme counterbore depth, but what more can I say. Seems to be a flex coupling now anyway.
 
I've always struggled with them as well, gets easier with practice.

What is currently disassembled that might be messing up the alignment Brent?
 
tdskip said:
What is currently disassembled that might be messing up the alignment Brent?

?? Nothing, yet - alignment is fine. Later on in the spring or a warm spell I do have to tackle the ball joints, tie-rod ends, & rack gaiters. More fun.

I also decided to move the upper steering column bracket to get rid of the coupling "squirm" and use electrical tape to seal the gap in the dust cover.
 
I tried vise grips & hammer then a few loving taps with a punch & maul - no go. The lower clamp must be rusted to the shaft.
 
Sorry for the bump, but just had to say that the new flex coupling really makes a difference in what's transmitted to the wheel. In the 20 years I've owned the car the coupling has been inspected several times, but it looked ok, so I'll get to it sometime. Pretty sure it was a post here that finally made me do it. Thanks all!
 
SkinnedKnuckles said:
........in the 20 years I've owned the car the coupling has been inspected several times, but it looked ok, so I'll get to it sometime. .....

Unfortunately you can't tell by just looking at it while still installed on the car. The bolts keep everything so compressed that any cracks stay pretty closed. Once I removed it, the crack was more obvious.

Don......I tried the "C" clamp first and got 3 of the 4 bolts but couldn't get the 4th as the clamp wanted to walk on me. I ended up going the hose clamp route. Either way will get the job done if you're patient enough.

CrackedCoupling.jpg
HoseClamp.jpg
 
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