Replacing Steering Shaft

[ForcedSHO]

Hey all,
Just got my car back from the mechanic. He told me that I will need to replace the steering shaft due to all the play in the steering. Driving to work today it was very noticable.

Hoping someone can tell me how to replace it. Any pics would be helpful. Also I can not find one online. I'm assuming I need a new one unless I can get a rebuild.

Thanks all.

 

[Bob Gervais]

This is not really a common wear item, at least not that I know of.

Was the play in the steering noticable before? What other work did he do to the car?



It's pretty simple to replace. Take off the nuts holding the rubber boot to the firewall and slide it up the shaft. Remove the pinch bolt at the lower joint where it attaches to the steering rack. **Before you remove the lower joint from the rack, make sure you secure the steering wheel so that it cannot rotate and damage the clockspring** Remove the upper pinch bolt, and remove the shaft. The bottom joint that connects to the rack is sometimes a little tough to get off. You can use either a small chisel or flat screwdriver to pry the slot open a little and loosen the joint up.



Before replacing it though, I would try this out:

http://www.shotimes.com/php-bin/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=107

 

[ForcedSHO]

This is not really a common wear item, at least not that I know of.

Was the play in the steering noticable before? What other work did he do to the car?http://www.shotimes.com/php-bin/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=107

I bought the car a few weeks ago. It was parked in a garage for 9 months. Towed it up to my mechanic. Only drove it to turn around and get on the flat bed. Steering seemed a little loose then.

Mechanic did:
A/C system
Complete Flush of all fluids
New Rear Struts
I believe bushings for endlinks in front (don't have paper in front of me)
Few other things.

It's a 1994 SHO with 120k on it. That article was talking about 91-93 though.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Bob Gervais]

It does say those years in the article, but I've seen other years do it as well. Also, I about the work your mechanic did, because if he had replaced the rack and followed the book's torque specs, it could still be loose.

Good luck with the repair, and your new to you SHO!

 

[ForcedSHO]

Thanks Bob saw the boot above the pedals will remove it tonight and figure out which is the pinch bolt. Will take pitctures for a how to also.

 

[ForcedSHO]

Do you have any pictures.

 

[Bob Gervais]

I don't personally.

Once you get the boot off and slid up, you'll follow the steering shaft all the way down. The last joint that you get to at the firewall connects to the steering rack, and is what has the pinch bolt in it. It should be a 10mm hex head bolt, though I've seen 13mm hex head bolts as well.

 

[ForcedSHO]

Alright I believe I found the pinch bolt. It seems like the nut was not there. I went and got a new bolt. Seems like I got the wrong one though. Will tighten and then come loose if you try to tighten it anymore.

New bolt (obviously) on what I believe is the pinch bolt.



Just after steering wheel u-joint.


Other side of pinch bolt