Steering Couple Issue

[StromSpeed]

I am trying to install the steering arm with the coupler to the manual steering rack.
The issue: the coupler only slides on about 1/4" then stops. Lock screw is fully out. No matter the rotational position, it will not slide on.
I have cleaned and greased the splines and still no joy. It almost looks like a spline mis-match after the 1/4".

Before I start using force and break something, I wanted to ask how this should fit on: with or without force? :confused:
Picture below:

10746

[skullandbones]

It's been a long time since I did that task but I do remember it didn't go on so easy as I expected. I had it off and on several times before it finally slipped on (tight fit). I even counted the splines to see if there was some incompatibility. Finally, I tapped it on with a small hammer. I was also worried that I might cause damage to the rack seal if I banged on it so I was very gentle tapping it on. It appears to me from the pic that your rack spines may be a little burred. You might want to take some fine sandpaper and clean those up if those are really burred. Good luck, WEK.

['33 BOD]

I had the same problem. After hammering the €£#¥ out of it, I finally sent one shaft, flange bearing & joint back to FFR. They said the wrong size flange bearing was sent out in the kit. They also told me this never happens. I used a metal file on the end of the shafts but a few of them were ridiculously tight fits. Never to come apart.

Brian

[StromSpeed]

Thanks guys for the info. I'll give the filing a shot then a gentle hammer! :-/

[Jacob McCrea]

In conjunction with filing the shaft a little, you might want to try the hot/cold trick: put the shaft in a freezer or otherwise chill it with something very cold (ice water perhaps), and put the other piece in an oven at maybe 200 degrees. A heat gun should also work. That should be enough to get some expansion. By shrinking one and expanding the other just a little, they might slip together just fine, or with a gentle tap or two.