Steering boss/shaft question

[PaulRSchmidt]

My upper steering shaft doesn’t go very far into the boss (like, maybe 1/2”. Maybe.) and I suspect it should. The flat spots on the shaft don’t clear the machined tabs in the boss, but before I grind the flat spots deeper I thought I’d ask. For completeness, this is a Russ Thompson mod, but I’m pretty sure that’s not the issue.

This is the depth from the top:

165768

[edwardb]

Every one I've done the shaft pulls flush. Not sure what's different with yours. But it should engage all the way IMO. I put a large grade 8 washer under the cap screw with a bit of blue Loctite. Requires a wheel puller to remove BTW.

[CraigS]

The shaft should be closer to flush. The hub is aluminum softer than the shaft so use a good bolt, grease the threads and the sides of the shaft, and tighten it down to see if the shaft does a bit of it's own machining and pulls in further.

[PaulRSchmidt]

Requires a wheel puller to remove BTW.

Ah, thanks for the reminder!

[Cincy123]

I have the same issue with my current Coupe build, also using RT mod with quick release mod. I have not tightened the boss completely down yet as I still have to remove it a few more times, but I find it hard to believe it will pull through flush. I disassembled the steering shaft several times and everything seems to match up per the assembly instructions for the power steering install. We'll see what happens at the end of the day when I do the final tighteneing.
John

My upper steering shaft doesn’t go very far into the boss (like, maybe 1/2”. Maybe.) and I suspect it should. The flat spots on the shaft don’t clear the machined tabs in the boss, but before I grind the flat spots deeper I thought I’d ask. For completeness, this is a Russ Thompson mod, but I’m pretty sure that’s not the issue.

This is the depth from the top:

165768

[PaulRSchmidt]

The shaft should be closer to flush. The hub is aluminum softer than the shaft so use a good bolt, grease the threads and the sides of the shaft, and tighten it down to see if the shaft does a bit of it's own machining and pulls in further.

It hits with a fairly solid thunk, so I’m a little leery about making it self-machine. But thanks!

[PaulRSchmidt]

So I did some minor work on the upper steering shaft flat spots with a mini grinding disk, and it inserts pretty nicely now. It’s not all the way flush, but that’s without the press fit, so I think I’m good now.

[Derald Rice]

Now would be a good time to drill/tap your wheel boss just in case a puller is needed in the future.