Rack issue
 

Hey guys.

So if you follow my thread, you would see I have my rack installed etc.

When installing my U joint to the input shaft (should be 3/4"-36 spline for mustang II) the U joint wouldn't slide on smoothly. At all.

I thought it was just tight.

I did a rough count on the teeth(once I passed 30 I figured it has to be 36)and i hammered it on.

I took a look at it after hammering it on and noticed it looked like most teeth meshed perfectly and about a ¼ of them didn't.

I emailed the guy I got it from and he did a count on his inventory. They are all 35.. manufacturer defect..

Has offered to refund it.


My question is:
its on there, GOOD. Is it ok to use?

Thoughts?

It would most likely need some REALLY good hits to get it off the input shaft.


Let my lesson be a lesson to others.

Never force it, get a bigger hammer as I was taught...lol

I don't think it's going to be an issue. Was even going to drill a good dimple in it for the set screw just to be sure. Was just curious to people's thoughts.

If it was a default with the rack and they are willing to replace it I would let them, if for some reason you need to remove it sometime down the road it would be much nicer to have the pieces slide apart than to need to beat them apart..my thoughts..

Yeah I would replace it now while they are willing to make it right. Like 56panel said, You will be happy down the road when you need to take the rack off and the u joint slides off easier.

Won't it have damaged the teeth on the male and female ends? Personally I wouldn't leave it like that even if it was solid. Someone is bound to curse you somewhere down the line.

By your post I assume it is the joint that is defective. And what condition are the teeth on the rack now. Are they damaged from installing the bad joint?

The joint is correct (36 spline) The rack is wrong(35 spline)

Hard to tell if any teeth are messed up as it is a tight fit. I dont think its coming apart easy myself.

I would say 5-8 teeth didnt mesh properly.

I suppose a simplistic way of looking at it then is that your shear capacity is around (36-8)/36 of what it should be at best. I think if you take it apart and the splines are damaged it would be very hard to clean up the UJ splines (assuming that's the female part). Ideally if you have a spare shaft to try in it first to check.

I agree. If I take it off, I would have to replace the input shaft (which I cant seem to find a replacement anywhere on the NET) and probably the U joint to fit properly on a 36 spline shaft. There would probably be no fixing the splines.

Horton's should have those U-joints in stock Chad, where I got mine..

Risk and consequence. What would NOT having a total steering failure at speed be worth to yourself, and more importantly, those that share the road with you?