Hairy Bobis Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 I was hoping to replace the rubber washers on the steering coupling on my 13/60 Herald, the existing washers are perished.However after close inspection it looks like the bolts joining the upper joint to the lower joint are 'splayed' at the ends, being a critical part I am assuming this is so they cannot loosen and fall out in use.I was expecting the bolts to be retained with locking wire however I do not think this is an original part as the nut and bolt holding the clamp to the column was a metric size (13mm).Is this repairable using these bolts? I am doubting this.Or can I use replacement bolts which allow the use of locking wire, if so can anyone recommend a supplier?Or have I wasted my money on a superflex kit and should get a universal joint that are sold by the usual Triumph suppliers?Many thanks,Sav Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshire_spam Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 I gave up trying to repair my one with the splayed bolts and asked Spitfire Graveyard to send me one with the lock wire (which they did at a reasonable price) which I then re-bushed with polybushes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobPearce Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 If you carefully grind off the splayed ends and drill into the bolt a little, you should be able to remove them. If that fails, grind off the heads, pull the thing apart and cut a slot across the remnants of bolts to screw them further in and through. Both methods destroy the bolts but they're not reusable anyway. Then find some slightly over-long bolts of the right thread and cross-drill them for wire locking.If you wreck it in the process you can always do as Mr Spam did Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshire_spam Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 Be aware that the bolts themselves are stepped with a wider than usual shank - and as such are made of unobtainium. (I'm passing on the very helpful warning that Clive Senior gave me at the time!)( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobPearce Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 You're right, I'd forgotten that (hey, it's been weeks since I rebuilt Toby's one!)Actually, the photo doesn't look like stepped bolts (and allen-head bolts are not original) so I wonder whether this one has been rebuilt wrongly at some point in the past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 Don't like these at all.Have had various in the past. The original wire-locked ones are re-buildable and I have done so in the past both with suitably sized O-rings and proper poly-bush kits. They never seem to last long. Possibly because I have a Vitesse with a Herald rack and steering effort is high.For the last 10 years or so I've been using a proper UJ sourced from Bill @ Rarebits and it's been faultless.Chris rebuilt a wire-locked joint for his Spit using a proper poly-bush kit. That lasted less than 1000 miles before play became excessive again. That's now been replaced with a UJ similar to mine though I don't remember where he got it from. Must investigate what went wrong with the original as it really should have done better than it did.Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 Do I remember correctly that the escort mk1/2 steering knuckle can fit the triumphs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairy Bobis Posted November 23, 2017 Author Share Posted November 23, 2017 Many thanks for your replies.Looks like I have wasted £15+ on a poly bush kit then!It seems the best long term option is to go down the UJ route.Which is the best UJ to fit? It's only a road car so nothing fancy is needed but I would like a quality part.Are they a straight swap or do they need 'fetling' to fit?Apologies for so many questions.ThanksSav Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velocita Rosso Posted November 24, 2017 Share Posted November 24, 2017 Quoted from Alex Do I remember correctly that the escort mk1/2 steering knuckle can fit the triumphs? Think you`re right...and they are a straight exchange with no messing and more MOT friendly, being solid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piman Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 Hello HB, the double diameter bolts are a common item, referred to as shoulder bolts, used in industry, try googling to find suppliers.Alec Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairy Bobis Posted November 25, 2017 Author Share Posted November 25, 2017 Many thanks for the replies.I think I will go down the UJ route, this appears to be a fit and forget solution, which appeals to me. Keep it simple!After a bit of internet hunting I see these Escort UJs retail around £25. Time to raid the piggy bank.Once again many thanks.Sav Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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