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dangerous steering coupling?????

Started by _dave720gtr_ , May 06 2006 09:50 PM

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24 replies to this topic

#1 _dave720gtr_

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Posted 06 May 2006 - 09:50 PM

Hi pepoles !

These steering couplings for the torana lj lc in neoprene are week
And could possibly cause steering failure?

My friend replaced one like this one red neoprene 12 months ago!
The other day he was pushing his car out of the shed when it SNAPED!
ONE OF The bolt riped through the neoprene .it only takes one and its all over
there are no link plates bettwen the bolts? there suss!
mines got one on it :blink:

and its coming off! i think LH one mite be the go? Posted Image

or make some link plates ?
what do you think ? one bolt rips through it could spell disaster! :cry:

dave,,,,,,,,

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#2 _rorym_

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Posted 06 May 2006 - 11:06 PM

That makes about 10 I have heard about. Use the rubber ones.
R

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#3 _LJ355_

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Posted 07 May 2006 - 10:02 AM

I had my shaft splined and using splined knuckles heaps better no way of snapping

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#4 Evan

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Posted 07 May 2006 - 11:05 AM

is this an LC LJ thing of for all the models?? , cos i got one on my LX, but it dont look that fat. i dont wnat myne giving way when going fast.

Evan.,..

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#5 Toranamat69

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Posted 07 May 2006 - 11:15 AM

Any pics of the failure? I would be interrested to see.

I have seen a few of these LC ones and the LX type put on without the washers under the bolt head which would make it far easier for them to pull through the polyurethane.

I was just interrested to see if that is the problem or did the poly split through the side?

My rubber one broke on my old LC too so they are not infallible either but it was getting pretty old admittedly.

M@

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#6 _TOBES_

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Posted 07 May 2006 - 12:41 PM

LJ355 - Can I grab some more details on your steering shaft mods. What were the knuckles you used and did you have to dismantle the rack and the steering column to get the shafts splined. I am looking for as much clearance as poss around that area for the exhaust and would like to use as small a diameter universals as I can.
I'm also highly suspicious of the 'cotter pin?' that secures the shaft to the standard universals. My old push bike had the same arrangement for the pedals and I nearly lost the family jewels on the cross bar several times when they stripped...!

Also M@, what do the Subaru racks use here?

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#7 _LJ355_

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Posted 07 May 2006 - 01:20 PM

Tobes you will have to dismantle you rack ,shaft i got the splined unis from MD conversions he also respline the shaft much better than cotter pins ill get a pic for you also what motor you running and what extractors

Lee.

Edited by LJ355, 07 May 2006 - 01:21 PM.

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#8 _73LJWhiteSL_

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Posted 07 May 2006 - 01:36 PM

I had a rubber one on the LJ. It disentigrated the day before a Winton fun day late 2004 when reversing a trailer into the front yard. I got a nolephrene one now. I didn't think you could buy new rubber ones?

Steve

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#9 _dave720gtr_

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Posted 07 May 2006 - 02:33 PM

Any pics of the failure? I would be interrested to see.

I have seen a few of these LC ones and the LX type put on without the washers under the bolt head which would make it far easier for them to pull through the polyurethane.

I was just interrested to see if that is the problem or did the poly split through the side?

M@

yes it pull through the side there is nothing stoping them from doing this
as thay dont have any link plates ?

This will snap or tear long before the coter pins will strip?
no photos the guy is in NT on a fishing trip for 3 weeks when he gets back
i will take a pic or two

cheers dave....

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#10 _rorym_

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Posted 07 May 2006 - 02:45 PM

Tobes, Me too. I spot welded the 2 lower shafts and knuckles to be sure. I got 2 SLR steel knuckles with no movement and reduced my slack down to 2 mm at the top of the steering wheel. I constantly test the single cotter pin at the top of the steering column to make sure it has seated. Tho I must say they lasted in SLR5000s and L34s for years but it does make you wonder sometimes.
Rory

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#11 Loui

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Posted 07 May 2006 - 09:05 PM

If your really worried about the bolts ripping out of the coupling you can put a large radiator clamp aroung the coupling to stop this, but it does look crap.

Maybe this is an item which should be checked for wear every time you open the bonnet. which for me is every time I start it up

Cheers

Loui

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#12 _dave720gtr_

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Posted 07 May 2006 - 10:01 PM

YES ALL WELL AND TRUE^^^^

But if it can snap when pushing the car out the shed
i think it could do the same if you hit a big pot hole !
ether way i dont like them , :<_<:

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#13 Tiny

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Posted 07 May 2006 - 10:36 PM

Great Info dave!

I wonder where you buy these from? if the manufacturer should be made aware of this! Sounds a bit dodgey to me!!

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#14 _dave720gtr_

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Posted 08 May 2006 - 06:47 PM

Great Info dave!

I wonder where you buy these from? if the manufacturer should be made aware of this! Sounds a bit dodgey to me!!

Yer Tiny i just thourght that people should be AWARE! of this this is not the only one i have seen fail.
I am not going to point the finger at a precise manufacturer

But i will say this, It was the red one that failed on my mates 2 weeks ago!
then there is fulcrum there blue: There is 2 or 3 manufacturer
were do you get the rubber ones RORYM!??

But not that i think it maters what colour it is? if it made of the same crap in the photo above neoprene" put a hose clamp like LOUI said on it just in caise?
I have seen this done on the old rubber ones two extend their life.

cheers ...dave...

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#15 _efi-202_

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Posted 08 May 2006 - 08:21 PM

i did mine a few months back but it was blue and rounded. i forget what brand. Ill see if i can find a receipt but i remember the install instructions did mention you need to insert the bolts the right way to lock the knuckle together if there is a failure in the bush.

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#16 _TOBES_

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Posted 08 May 2006 - 10:09 PM

What is it that actually knackers these things???

General wear and tear?
Poor design and engineering?
Heat? Extractors are on the other side with a six so that just leaves general under bonnet heat.
Oil and grease perhaps, as you have to use special grease on bushes, etc?
For example I bought some used sway bar links with Nolathane bushes about a year ago and threw them in a box for future reference. The bushes must have copped a dose of something toxic as they have turned to cheese and are falling apart. I mean literally dropping off in small sticky peces and leaving a red stain on my fingers...

Not all poly's are created equal either...

Lee, would love some photos...
I am putting a 1UZ in my UC and need to run a single 3" exhaust pipe right past this coupling so clearance and heat are the main problems.
What really has me worried tho is my boy's UC running a 350 Chev. We have finally found a set of Pacemakers for it, the ones with two pipes running each side of the steering shaft to give it a nice even toasting... A couple of steel universals on splined shafts would give me some peace of mind. There are some things I would put up with or do to my own car that are simply unacceptable on his!!!

Cheers

Bill

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#17 Tiny

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Posted 08 May 2006 - 10:14 PM

Yeah i dont want to slander teh manufacturer at all, but if its a fault with their product, they may not be aware of it and may be able to alter it to make it better/safer!

Regardless its good info, and i would prefer if the actual names and brand were NOT divulged for the above reasons!

Thanks

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#18 _LJ355_

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Posted 08 May 2006 - 10:35 PM

Hi bill heres the pics for you

Lee.

http://s54.photobuck...nt=44e9b001.jpg
http://s54.photobuck...nt=3c990f5f.jpg
http://s54.photobuck...nt=d8766088.jpg

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#19 _TOBES_

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Posted 08 May 2006 - 10:35 PM

Sorry Tiny, not having a shot a Nolathane at all...
As I said they are second hand so i have no idea how old they are or what they may have been dosed in...
It does highlight the need to look after this material and be careful what they come in contact with. Just thinking about it then, these couplings are not too far from the brake master cyl. Brake fluid???

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#20 Tiny

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Posted 08 May 2006 - 10:47 PM

Tobes: Thats cool mate we dont know what brand the failed ones were and your right.. anything could have caused your ones to perish like that! It would be VERY interesting to find out what it was!!

Cheers

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#21 _devilsadvocate_

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Posted 09 May 2006 - 01:25 PM

Is the uc the only one that has a shield around the coupling?
Gather it got put there to stop problems of contamination from other underbonnet fluids.

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#22 _HatchmanSS76_

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Posted 09 May 2006 - 01:30 PM

Had similar experience with a nolathane one in the Hatch. It melted halfway through due to the heat off the extractors. I was horified as that was only after 4 weeks.
I managed to buy the last 5 origonal items in Adelaide last year.

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#23 _dave720gtr_

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Posted 09 May 2006 - 05:38 PM

I think this problem goes back to the original design . when holden made them Thay did,nt fit link tags , if you look at others like HQ thay have linking plates That are there for safety.

This is why there failing . may be thay run on two much Of an angel to fit the link tags? im unsure. i just dont like the ider of 1/2 inch of Neoprene around a sleeved bolt being the only thing holding your steering Together! the rubber may fall apart or brake fluid oil or petrol?will stuff them . Very true... you would have to be crazy to run your extractors ,anywere near The rubber/ neoprene steering cupling. :blink:

AND tobes! its neoprene ,1uz turbo dump pipe? no way. fit the LH one or do what lj355 has done to his
thats wicked work there lee! top job mate ,

cheers dave

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#24 _TOBES_

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Posted 09 May 2006 - 09:50 PM

Thats beautiful Lee, decent meaty uni joints, fine splines and lock nuts... Exactly what I'm after. Cheers...
Made a few calls today and waiting to see what turns up.

Might also check out what Subaru use. If M@ can sort the Subby rack conversion we would be among the first in line, so maybe it pays to keep our options open???

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#25 _torana05_

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Posted 09 May 2006 - 10:39 PM

I too have had this problem over the last few years with a certain brand (red). I have brought this to their attention, but nothing has been done. I now only use Fulcrum Suspension components, they are located in Brisbane & manufacture their own brand of bushes, which are available in different grades of urethane. I recently had to replace the red ones in the rear trailing arms of a LH Torana, they where 18 months old & had gone that hard they just fell apart. Has anyone any complaints with the Fulcrum brand (Super-pro), if so please let me know & i can bring it to the attention of the sales rep.

My two cents worth!!

Andrew 2.