tulup joint sliding on steering box splines

[keepin the 75 alive]

OK hello again all. Ive been working on my 75 CJ5 I just got dome doing the conversion to front disks !! Did it all by myself etc. learned some cool stuff I wanted to share, Its cheaper to buy the reman units for the calipers 23 bucks orielys, also the brake master cylinder boot is the same as a 56-71 mid sized ford torino or mustang etc. exact fit .

Now here is my question I replaced the tulip Joint on my steering shaft and when I tighten the pinch bolt the joint still slides on the steering box spine shaft ?? is this supposed to do this or is the joint the wrong one. It seems every part Ive got from the online jeep specialty stores never fits.

Oh and I have the spicer part number for the steering u joint I will post up later with the picks of the steering shaft overhaul removal replacement etc. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[73CJ]

Is the spline a good fit?

Power steering takes a larger spline than manual.

The pinch bolt definitely should 'lock' the coupler on the shaft.

 

[keepin the 75 alive]

It does seem to be a good fit. I mean no rotational slop on the shaft. But I crank that thing down with as much as I can, and still I can slide it for and aft. as much as the divet in the shaft will allow the bolt to move. My old joint housing was in good shape so Im considering the solvent tank, then blow it out and repack and clamp . See if it can clamp down. I went and got some material to make the lower bushing in the steering housing. So I have to take the assembly out today anyway. If I did order the power steering one would it be a blatent mis fit , or something I could mistakenly bolt up to my Jeep. The last thing I want is my coming unglued while im going down the road or worse , crawlin out in the back country. Thanks for the response. Any more info would help .

 

[73CJ]

You are right, the power steering coupler would be pretty sloppy

Is the pinch bolt running out of thread? The torque on the pinch bolt should be 15-20ftlbs per the FSM.

Is the new coupler slit as far as the original?

Did you use a caliper to measure the new vs. The old spline?

Just some ideas where to look.

 

[IOPort51]

could you use a larger pinch bolt? something that would take up the slack in the notch, is the bolt smaller than the notch? the sliding on the splines may be ok as long as the tulip won't slide off the end.

 

[keepin the 75 alive]

73, thanks for the check points. I will check them today, I'll check the slit, and the bolt for more thread and also I know I was going way tight on that sucka. I mean it was arm torque but way more that 15-20 So it may be I ran out of threads. I m gonna check the OG wall thickness too. Sometimes these after market parts are a little skimpy in the wall thickness. I will update when I find the culprit.

IO thank you too I will check those things and see what I come up with, Verneer caliper in hand !!!!

 

[IOPort51]

is there play in the wheel because of this?? the slide in and out would not the end of the world as long as it did not slide off completely. to have to turn the wheel 1/4 turn before anything happened would be a real problem.

 

[keepin the 75 alive]

there is really no slop in the system other than the plastic bushing at the nd of the steering column. I made one and am gonna be putting it in today so then ill take out the shaft and check that joint. The joint is new. the u joint is a spicer and is new on the steering joint. hte gear box is about a year old all tie rods and ends and ball joints are new and moog so it is very tight. Im about finished and should be alot better on the steering after it is said and done. before, man it was 40 mph max speed or its changing lanes , uh... with out my say so haha. you know what im talkin about.

 

[keepin the 75 alive]

OK so here is the final outcome on the tulip joint. the original OD of the spined end of the joint is thicker, and the clamp was radiused for that thickness. The replacement housing was a bit thinner and the clamp could not adequatly clamp. So I cleaned the original housing and used the guts and boot from the new one and replaced it. Super fine !!!

end summary , if you get the joint complete make sure it comes supplied with the clamp.

Steering is all back in and tight as a frogs butt.

thanks for the help all.