Excessive Free Play

[PatK]

Hello fellow members, I wonder if you can help me with a problem of excessive steering free play in my 1965, Mk2,3.8L. There is approx 1" free play at the steering wheel, which I have traced to a device fitted to the top of the intermediate column ( the W/S manual calls this the lower column, but my car has rack and pinion steering and there is a third short column below this one. This appears to be a cylindrical device which is attached at the top, to the upper column by a pinch bolt and at the lower end a universal joint attaches it to the short lower column that goes into the rack. I have hopefully attached a photo below.
All the free play comes from this cylindrical device which I guess has a type of U/J inside which is covered by a rubber gaiter. I have looked into the Jaguar Workshop Manual, but can see no illustration of this, and I can't find one on SNG Baretts, so I'm wondering firstly, if they are still available or can be rebuilt. If not, can this U/J be removed and an alternative U/J be fitted to this intermediate ( lower ) column, since the service manual shows what appears to be a normal U/J plus what appears to be a rubber damper as well. If not I guess that I will need a new/ used column to fit the normal U/J onto.
Any help or advice would be much appreciated, Thanks,

Patrick

[Ronniebiggs]

Pat,

The device is indeed a type of UJ - rather like a CV joint it also allows 'plunge' to take up any axial movement. Parts are available from the usual places, I suspect the nylon rollers inside have broken up.

Jay

[PatK]

Thank you very much Jay that is very helpful Do you know how i can remove it? I guess that firstly I would have to withdraw the upper steering column by removing the pinch bolt. It appears to have 4 allen headed bolts attaching the top of it to the column, if I remove these can I access the inside and remove the nylon rollers and then replace them in situ, or will it be easier to disconnect the lower steering column entirely, which looks like a big job with little access.Sadly Jay there is no mention of this at all in my Jaguar service manual, but there is a picture of it in the parts manual.
As an aside Jay, thank you for the info on fitting rear seat belts, my car has all the attachment points built in and we now have lap and diagonal belts in the rear.
Thanks

Pat

[Ronniebiggs]

Pat,

Pleased to hear safety (for both front and rear occupants) has been improved!

As regards rebuilding the joint, you'll need to remove the pinch bolts at the top (immediately above the joint) and at the bottom (below the UJ just visible at the RHS of your picture).

If you're lucky, there will be enough axial movement to allow you to take out the intermediate column. Four cap headed screws to dismantle it.

If you're NOT lucky, the axle beam will need to be lowered to give you clearance. As your car has rack & pinion steering I don't know if this will be necessary; the rack may be 'moveable' once its mounts are removed.

If the former, buy a lottery ticket immediately!

Let me know how you get on.

Regards,

Jay

[340jag]

I took mine apart a few weeks back , joint was a bit dry , so packed it out with grease , it's a poor design , the part that bolts on and has the spline in it , has a hole straight through , nothing to stop the grease from coming out , and dirt getting in , so I placed some plastic between the joint before bolting it back together works fine !!

[PatK]

Thanks Jay and 340 Jag that was most helpful. I think that I will leave the job until the autumn and winter, with quite a few other jobs, and enjoy driving the car this sunny summer. I managed to pick up an overhaul kit, consisting of two circular nylon rollers and a UJ for the bottom end. I shall now go with my trusty LED torch and peer deep into the bowels and see if there may be enough space to do it without dropping the front suspension and the torch!.
Patrick