Steering universal/knuckle length issue

Smokey · Post by **Smokey** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 9:29 pm

After installing my 2" lift on the L, the stock steering universal is too short, the one that came with the lift does not line up properly and the 3" one i have is WAY to long to even get on. The 2" one fits but the spot where the bolt goes through the upper end of the universal is too high on the steering column shaft. The bolt hole lines up with the threaded part not the flat area. Question is can i get the angle grinder out and make the flat part longer to accommodate the screw or is there an easier way to fix this?

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:50 am

You may have been supplied with the wrong one...there are two types - one to suit power steering racks and one to suit non-power steering racks. One is longer than the other.
Edit - oh also, are you sure you havn't just got it up the wrong way? The ends are different to each other.

Smokey · Post by **Smokey** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:12 am

Your prob right Andrew, I bought the kit on ebay so not sure weather its for pwr steer or manual. Recon the angle grinder idea would be a problem? I can't see that it would matter much if I extend the flat part for the screw to tighten onto.

I tried it both ways, but good point

From memory the longer end of the universal is attached to the column end.

Outback bloke · Post by **Outback bloke** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:21 am

You can get under your steering column and loosen the 2 bolts, slide the column up as far as you can and then tighten. It may just get you the amount you need.

If not you can grind the thread like you said but your bigger problem is going to come from the bottom. Being that far up, the lower end of the column is going to be fowling in the uni. You could cut the bottom off but then you don't have te fail safe on there. That is a bad idea in my books.

Best bet is to get the right extension to start with.

Post by **Alex** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 1:51 pm

yeh i wouldnt muck around too much with steering. What makes the liftkits illegal in WA is the steering extension. Apparantly your not allowed to re-weld anything to do with steering(although im pretty confident my steering extension is stronger than the original!)

alex

Smokey · Post by **Smokey** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:04 pm

All fixed. Thanks for the advice guys as usual. Took it off and had a fiddle with it. Ended up making sure both ends of the rod stayed well away from the actual universal joints and grinded the thread about 3mm further up the shaft to accommodate the screw.