Hi,
Anyone care to comment on the suitability of rod ends as a support mechanism for my steering column extension tube. I need to include a total of three (maybe even four) universal joints in my steering column to guide it around my V8 lump and thus need to support the column in the middle somewhere.

It's already fixed at the rackend and at the end of the column itself so I need one more column support (or two if I use 4 UJ's) to support it properly.

Tiger seem to use a simple rod-end which seems fine but are rod-ends really suitable for this sort of application or should I use a pillow/plumber block or some other form of bearing assembly?

My steering shaft is 16mm solid steel bar and I intend to join the sections using 16swg tubing as a sleeve after bevelling and butt welding the bar itself. I can get 16mm i/d rod-ends but wouldn't I need to have some way of locking the shaft to the rod-end inner race?

Comments welcome...
Cheers,
Craig.


[Edited on 2/1/2004 by craig1410]

Craig, I use tufnol/nylon block as a support adjacent to one of the C.V.'s on our buggy, lot cheaper than rod ends too
Shug.

Shug,
I've used Tufnol before - handy stuff.
Do you machine it to suit or do you buy it as a finished article? Where do you buy it? I used to get it from RS components when it wasn't my money I was spending if you know what I mean...

To be honest I have already ordered a pair of rod ends with a 16mm int.dia. and M16x2mm male thread but I was just having second thoughts. The rod ends are £12 each from BSL Ltd in Irvine and I'm picking them up on Tuesday. I was going to use a pillow/plumber block with a spherical bearing installed but I got fed up trying to figure out what I needed as there seem to be endless permutations of those things. Tiger use a rod end so I thought that it must be okay. Then I started to second guess my decision...

I was thinking of locking the bearing inner on the rod end using a locking compound (Loctite xyz). My concern is that Mr SVA man will fail the car if the inner is not locked to the shaft. Is this likely to be a failure or could I argue that the shaft spinning inside the rod end is okay as long as it is lubricated?

Anyway, thanks for offering an alternative.
Cheers,
Craig.

I cant see why a rod end wont work.

I have 3 uj in my steering and the support was by a 'pillow block' made of alu.

Its about 12mm thick, and forms its own 'bearing' by approx 0.1mm running clearance.

If ford can get away with a big rubber washer as a steering UJ at the rack, I cant see how either of the support methods described doesnt meet standards!

atb

steve

'scuse the ignorance, but whats a pillow block??

Pillow Blocks can be seen in this picture, supporting the steering shaft. They are the pale blue bits.
Cheers,
Craig.

rod ends are commonly used for steering shaft supports. I would recommend three piece metal ones for under-bonnet applications, as steering columns are invariably in close proximity to exhausts/high temperatures, and the teflon lined rod ends won't like that. Keep the metal ones well oiled.

Rorty,
Thanks, I have ordered copper lined rod ends. Should these be okay? The column support itself won't be that close to the exhaust (maybe 8 inches at a guess)
Cheers,
Craig.

I think what you've ordered will turn out to have brass races not copper. Will do just fine.

Rorty,
Yes, come to think of it the guy did say "Copper Alloy" inserts so your probably correct.

Thanks for the confirmation.
Craig.