Cabrio lower steering universal joint

[geoff b]

Hi, does anyone have experience of replacing the lower steering universal joint between the rack and the steering shaft on a Cabrio. Mine is excessively worn.
I haven't removed it yet, but the one that Burton Power list as for a Mk I/II Escort looks similar. Any clues or part numbers would be most welcome.
It looks like undoing the top joint and moving the rack forward will be the way to get to it.

[Ye Ol Ripper]

Re: Cabrio lower steering universal joint

Hi Geoff

I have not yet worked on the steering on a Cabrio , however I used to do a fair bit on the earlier Fords in the 70's-90's.

Without seeing it I can't be certain but my initial thoughts are and provided that it's practical to do is to undo and remove the 2 x 13mm clamp bolts; one of them is onto the rack , the other on the column.

It would also be a good idea to unplug your indicator switch and wiper wiring first.

Then where the Steering column mounts to the car ( usually on most cars under the dashboard), undo those bolts and then pull the assembly complete with steering wheel still attached back a few inches.

That should hopefully allow you to remove and swap out the UJ.


If that isn't practical to do with your setup and you intend to undo the rack from it's mounts, separate both of the track rod ends from their steering swivels before undoing the rack.

If you don't, then it will be a lot harder to reposition the rack after swapping the uj out and by then be much more difficult to separate the track rod ends whilst everything is moving about all over the place.


Was the UJ's used not from a Sierra or Cortina for that model Marlin?

[danny_nelson]

Re: Cabrio lower steering universal joint

Universal joint part number Leyland 145377 or Brown Brothers part number PSSC 1113 Release fixings to both end of joint, and look where the shaft is joined by another joint to the side of the servo and undo the two clamp bolts The bottom section of the column can the be withdrawn , and the bottom joint replaced. No need to remove column or release the rack. Centralise the steering before you start the above procedure.

[dogoncrazy]

Re: Cabrio lower steering universal joint

As Danny says, part numbers are for Triumph 2000 steering joint .

[cabrioman]

Re: Cabrio lower steering universal joint

Some of the Cabrio/Hunter steering shafts Marlin fitted have staked UJ’s on the end of the shaft at the rack end and can’t be replaced. If its this type of shaft you would need to get an engineering shop to replace the UJ.

Both the lWB Cabrio And Lwb Hunter I had originally had this type of shaft. I replaced my Hunter shaft with a shaft splined at both ends that had bolt on UJ’s top and bottom. Not sure how many marlin supplied shafts were separate UJ’ and how many were staked.

You need to check which type you have.

As others said no need to remove the column regardless of the type of shaft, just remove the 2 bolts holding the triangulated top coupling and remove the pinch bolt at the rack, the shaft can then be slid off from the rack towards the bulkhead, a hammer may be required to induce the slide!!

[Peterx]

Re: Cabrio lower steering universal joint

Just to add to the knowledge base here, my BMW e30 based Sportster kit was supplied by Marlin with a steering shaft that had the lower UJ welded to the end.


And, Mike Garner's Cabrio was supplied with the lower UJ from a Ford Fiesta/KA.

(Mike's picture below ...lower UJ on the far right))

Lower Steering Column Arrangement by Mike Garner, on Flickr

[geoff b]

Re: Cabrio lower steering universal joint

Thanks folks for all your advice. As you said, the lower pinch bolt was just about accessible, so I could remove the shaft after undoing the top triangular joint. Rimmers do list the Triumph 2000 joint, but in fact I got one from Car Builder Solutions within 24 hours, and it is almost identical to the old one. So, the job was done fairly easily.
However it started me thinking about the upper universal, which would not be so simple as it is integral with the shaft as supplied by Marlin. Car Builders Solutions now list a u/j with ford triangle in and spline out, which would enable a shaft with splines at both ends to be used, and simple replacement of both joints when necessary. This raises the question of making such a shaft, and the suggestion I have read elsewhere that welding is not acceptable for the MOT. This seems unreasonable, given that the original shafts involved welding, but has anyone come across it?

[danny_nelson]

Re: Cabrio lower steering universal joint

I think there is an article on here somewhere, and in an old Pit Stop by David Ison (Dean of St Pauls) and Marlin Cabrio builder. It was a detailed record how he changed steering column UJ.

[wiggiesworld]

Re: Cabrio lower steering universal joint

I think there is an article on here somewhere, and in an old Pit Stop by David Ison (Dean of St Pauls) and Marlin Cabrio builder. It was a detailed record how he changed steering column UJ.

Well remembered Danny, its in October 2008 Pitstop, page 29.

[philmcgrath]

Re: Cabrio lower steering universal joint

I just looked for the October 2008 edition in the Pitstop archive on the site and the link opens the December/January 2008 edition. Can this be corrected?

https://www.marlinownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?155-October-2008

[wiggiesworld]

Re: Cabrio lower steering universal joint

I just looked for the October 2008 edition in the Pitstop archive on the site and the link opens the December/January 2008 edition. Can this be corrected?

https://www.marlinownersclub.com/for...5-October-2008

My fault , I was obviously having a reading/typing mismatch. Just looked and its October "2007"... Soz!

FYI how I got this article is I went to the PitStop directory, searched on "Ison". It then gave a list of 6 articles, one of which was "List of Cabrio Tech Articles in Pitstop ". Then in that article I performed a "find on this page" in the browser, which gave a few for David Ison entries and you will see one for Steering Repairs. Included is the year/month for the PitStop.

Hope that helps.

[philmcgrath]

Re: Cabrio lower steering universal joint

Thanks for the information. Found the article OK under October 2007.

Even so the Pitstop link for Oct 2008 wrongly brings up the December/January 2008 edition. Perhaps Geoff Grum could take a look and hopefully post the correct edition?

[ggrum]

Re: Cabrio lower steering universal joint

I can confirm that the Oct/Nov 2008 issue of Pitstop is missing and the Dec/Jan issue has been duplicated. I can't post the correct one personally because it was before my time as editor but I have set the wheels in motion to, hopefully, get it changed.

[philmcgrath]

Re: Cabrio lower steering universal joint

Thanks Geoff

[dcunn]

Re: Cabrio lower steering universal joint

Webmaster has dealt with it.

Looked correct to me just now

DC