MT-5 Wagon Steering Joint

[NOTAURIUS]

It has been about 10 years since I replaced a SHO rack, and have run into a problem on the '87 MT-5. I cannot get the U-joint pinch fitting to slip onto the snout of the new rack. I have tried spreading the joint open with a screwdriver, pushing the rack upwards, and just about anything I thought may work. I can get it to where it starts to engage because the joint no longer can be turned, but not all the way on and then it just pops apart. I have not lowered the subframe, and I doubt that would help much anyway. Has anyone run into this issue?

 

[sperold]

Lowering the sub frame does not help.

I had to take the front seat out and remove that huge rubber and sheet metal floor access panel and work at it from the top. It is a pig of a job to push the steering shaft up against an internal spring to get it over the rack tower and align that slot using the steering wheel.

That universal joint is removable from the steering shaft, but I don't recommend that as I had a ton of trouble getting it back together.

Get something solid in that area behind the pinch fitting on the joint, and use a cold chisel to open up the pinch zone.

 

[Jbeck]

the rack and slip joint dont look like they match angles in the pic...it looks like the rack is angled forward compared to the slip joint.....could be just an optical illusion but thats what it looks like to me....You are trying to put a SHO rack into an '87-MT5?

 

[NOTAURIUS]

The replacement rack is standard for this car, although it is a different part number than a rack for a SHO. Physically they are probably the same, the SHO rack just has small internal spacers to slightly limit travel when turned to the lock from what I understand. After attempting to reconnect this joint over several days, I was finally successful by jamming a large screwdriver into the joint with a hammer, and pinching the u-joint down over the shaft with my left hand. It was not fun and much more difficult than it should have been. I even made a steel wedge and tried to press it into the pinch joint with a C-clamp which did not work very well.

 

[Jbeck]

Glad you finally got it, sometimes they are difficult...

 

[SHOVNST]

Regardless of the vehicle, those can sometimes be a nightmare. The slip joint is precise enough where the two ends need to be perfectly aligned. Then add variables of factory/aftermarket and new/old parts, etc.


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