1984 308 QV steering wheel - I coulda died!

[Quasimotor]

My friends, I thank you all for your kind replies and concern for my safety. Since my initial test, the weather being so hot, I've kept the car in the garage. In answer to the first question, no, I never experienced any slippage in the steering wheel. It came loose suddenly, and mostly in the counter-clockwise direction - clockwise it held a bit longer but the car only came out of the garage, left-turning backwards, turned right to go forward and gave up completely on the counter-clockwise turn. I got about 10 degrees of wheel turn to the right again to park it safely to the side of the house, then it gave up in both directions.

Regarding the two drawings bolt 54 is the bolt I tightened. The spline is the same part in both pictures, coming just an inch or so out of the R&P box. The disk shown upwards from the bolt, is a flange on the firewall. The two drawings are slightly different in rendering but show the same things.

When I visited Dflett and saw his 308, he demonstrated to me that the bolt, when loosened, would allow a screw driver to lever the clamping portion to be pushed up into the firewall enough to expose at least part of the splines. I did not try this as I was concerned with putting the car back in the garage before further thunderstorms hit.

My plan is to wait until the weather cools a bit and then examine the splines further. I do not know if I will be tempted to drive the car much before then! It's no fun driving in 90 degree heat (no AC) and less fun wrenching. It may come down to a winter project to put in a new R&P and while in there, go for the neoprene bushings etc.

More comments and suggestions welcome. I hope everyone is enjoying this thread.

Quas

[BigTex]

Originally Posted by Steve King

I would remove the bolt and remove the joint . Check the spline on both the rack and the joint. If either looks worn the replace the problem part. Use new bolt and stopnut when reassembling.

Good advice, IMO.

Once loose, the splines might be damaged, or not.
But I would want to clean and inspect them.

It's similar to the mounting of your windshield wiper arms (tapered spline) but, IMO, a little more important...

If the bolt is okay maybe reuse it but I'd want a nylock or a locking hex nut there?
What should it be from the TAV description?

A locking nut on that bolt?

[Quasimotor]

What's a TAV? My mechanic said to get a "hardened" bolt. Nothing said about the nut. Do they make cotter pin or wired through bolts like that. Might be a good idea. Anybody add a wired or cotter pin bolt down there?

[2NA]

TAV = drawing

A good quality M8x1.25 bolt is all you need with a nylock nut so it won't come loose.

[Quasimotor]

And the torque on such a nut would be??

[tbakowsky]

Originally Posted by Quasimotor

And the torque on such a nut would be??

25-30 ftlbs....

[Quasimotor]

thanks - will try it all this week and report. Fine thread gents!

[Martin308GTB]

Hello from Germany,

I once experienced a loose bolt too. Without any effects on the steering but while checking the steering rack I saw, that I could move the spline longitudinally.
I think it takes a a long time till this will get bad effects on the steering.
And I'm sure, that prior to stripping the spline completely, one experiences excessive play. At least for an italian sports cars steering, not so for an American Car steering :-)
I retightened the nut with a drop of Loctite and never had the problem again.
(10 years ago ).

Best Regards

Martin

[Quasimotor]

Thanks. I appreciate the confidence-building email. My mech says I should attend to tightening the nut side as well, and suggested more than 25-30 ft/lbs - more like 60-70. Says as long as nut is not stipped and splines and socket tightly together, no reason to worry. But even he is curious what made the nut loosen up, even after 28 years.

[166&456]

I would not drive the car anymore. The bolt was too loose and over the years the splines wore, and finally either part got stripped. Just retightening the bolt now is most likely too late and will give you an illusion it is fixed until it happens again and indeed kills you, or someone else. Take apart the joint and thoroughly inspect the parts. Good chance you will only need to replace one end to regain a safe connection again.

[Quasimotor]

Okay, guys. I got the message. ASAP I get in there and separate the parts to examine. Will supply pix if I can and report back to assure you all of a safe passage. Many thanks for your kind regards and best advice.

Quasimotor

[dmaxx3500]

GET OUT OF THE CAR RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!
please give me your address so i can send a truck to pick up this ''DEATH TRAP'',i will dispose of it ASAP so no one gets hurt,also include any spare parts,keys,books,etc,,so this can also be used,i mean gotten rid of