steering shaft set screws?

[wareaglescott]

Do the set screws on the upper and lower bearings of the steering shaft need to be aligned with the flat part of the shaft or tightened down on the rounded part? Seems with the orientation of the set screws the best you could do would be to have one on the flat. The directions don't specify.

Also where the steering shaft mates with the rack I can still see a little of the splines. Best I can tell it is all the way on. Is this how it should look or do I have something done incorrectly?
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=57982&d=1472478124

Thanks

[WIS89]

Scott-

You want to orient the set screws onto the flat part of the shaft. Your instincts are correct! Some folks have drilled a small hole to help the set screws grab a bit more. I personally don't feel that is necessary, but also understand why some folks choose to do that.

The shaft doesn't look all the way secured to me. Try rotating it a bit to see if you can get those splines mostly covered. I would expect them to be mostly covered, and it appears that yours is not aligned properly, or not slid in enough.

Not sure I helped, but hope I did!

Regards,

Steve

[wareaglescott]

Scott-

You want to orient the set screws onto the flat part of the shaft. Your instincts are correct! Some folks have drilled a small hole to help the set screws grab a bit more. I personally don't feel that is necessary, but also understand why some folks choose to do that.

The shaft doesn't look all the way secured to me. Try rotating it a bit to see if you can get those splines mostly covered. I would expect them to be mostly covered, and it appears that yours is not aligned properly, or not slid in enough.

Not sure I helped, but hope I did!

Regards,

Steve

Thanks Steve. I am not understanding your not aligned properly comment though. Could you expand? I mean if it is not correctly aligned it will not slide on at all will it? The grooves or whatever they are called must line up for it to start sliding in at all. There is no rotating it after it is slid even part way on is there?

Does anyone have a picture of one installed showing that it should cover all they way down on the splines?

[AC Bill]

My joint doesn't cover all the splines, I think it depends on the rack. Mine is a Flaming River which from your picture, has a longer shaft then your rack, yet still won't slip down all the way over the splines.

[rich grsc]

It isn't necessary to have the set screw on the flat, if that is what it takes to align the steering wheel. Tighten the screw just enough to make a visible mark on the spline, then remove the coupler and file a flat spot on the shaft so you can tighten the set screw.

[edwardb]

I think we're mixing things up a bit here. One at a time... The set screws in the upper pillow block and the lower bearing in the footbox I agree aren't oriented quite right to hit the flat on the steering column. But it doesn't matter. Those connections aren't keyed to anything. I put them against the round section. As long as the set screws are tight (plus a little blue Loctite doesn't hurt) they will bite into the steering column a bit and force the bearing to turn and carry the load plus keep the shaft in place. The flats key into the steering wheel in the cockpit, the inner and outer steering shaft, and into the coupler at the steering rack. It's not usual that with the steering wheel and steering rack centered the set screw on the coupler doesn't hit the pocket in the input shaft. I'm 3-for-3 on it missing. Sometimes by a lot. My current build only by a couple splines. But it was still off center, and it needs to be centered. I make a new pocket with a die grinder. It's an easy fix.

As far as the splines showing below the coupler, I've seen some variation in that too. My current build has a Unisteer PS rack from Mark at Breeze. It's showing about 1/8-inch of splines below the coupler. I was concerned at first. But measured everything and determined the input shaft was stopped against the top of the hole in the coupler. It wasn't going any further.

[Al_C]

Scott,

I have the FFR PS rack, and I have splines showing the same as yours. It is bottomed out and isn't going any further. I think we're good.

[wareaglescott]

Scott,

I have the FFR PS rack, and I have splines showing the same as yours. It is bottomed out and isn't going any further. I think we're good.

Thanks. I was pretty sure it was all the way on. I am traveling so will look more carefully at the set screws when I get home.

[CraigS]

Not sure what stage you are at in your build but I want to make you aware that the splines on the rack are the primary point for getting your steering wheel straight and also having equal length tie rods. I wouldn't do anything final like drilling another dimple or grinding a flat, until you drive the car and it is aligned.

[wareaglescott]

Not sure what stage you are at in your build but I want to make you aware that the splines on the rack are the primary point for getting your steering wheel straight and also having equal length tie rods. I wouldn't do anything final like drilling another dimple or grinding a flat, until you drive the car and it is aligned.

Good tip. Thanks