Steering UJ Fitting

Gary14

I have a very slight knocking from steering uj, i have packed with grease which in turn eliminated 99% knock but still evident when pulling away turning right etc. Doing ones nuts in :o

Im going to purchase a new joint from Vx, I have read Haynes, lock steering in straight ahead position remove old joint replace new joint etc. Is there anything else i need to do? because my steering wheel is cock on centre when driving and i hate off centre steering wheel. Or leave it for Vx to fit :thumbup:

JohnnyN

Re: Sreering UJ Fitting

It's on a spline if I remember correctly. I also heard that the joint had been upgraded a few years back. I had the very same problem on my Vectra when I first bought it.

Gary14

Re: Sreering UJ Fitting

Reading Haynes they state mark with a pen in relation to removing / fitting. I know the Astra is on a spline so easy swap i think? without mucking up the steering wheel angles. I have ordered the part so fingers crossed the knocking will disappear.

I have spent a few quid replacing lower wishbones, top strut mounts incl bearings, Arb bushes, roll bar links, outer track rod ends etc to no avail notsure.gif

Since fitting the new coupling to your car have you had any problems since?

Gary14

Re: Sreering UJ Fitting

Booked in at VX on Monday £157.00 fitted, they can have the problem of off centre steering if fitted wrong. Did ask the question would it effect the position of the steering wheel and was advised no. I will wait with baited breath.....

blue_se2

Re: Sreering UJ Fitting

you should have had a go at fitting it first then if it was out get them to redo it. TBH you can get the tracking readjusted to straighten the wheel in most cases prob only if out 1 or 2 splines on the UJ. Can't remember the last time i fitted one onto a veccy but most have pinch bolts and will only line up in one place on the rack end.

Gary14

Re: Sreering UJ Fitting

blue se2 said:
you should have had a go at fitting it first then if it was out get them to redo it. TBH you can get the tracking readjusted to straighten the wheel in most cases prob only if out 1 or 2 splines on the UJ. Can't remember the last time i fitted one onto a veccy but most have pinch bolts and will only line up in one place on the rack end.

Thanks, i hope the coupling lines up straight away, have spent the last three months trying to sort the knocking noise and each time i have removed and replaced suspension parts and redone the 4 wheel alignment , hence the last tracking job the steering wheel is cock on centre and no vibration through the steering at all speeds. If vx balls it up they can sort...

I have never had any problems with other cars regarding steering / vibration before. The Vectra must be one sensitive beast in this area :evil:

Gary14

Re: Sreering UJ Fitting

Fitted today the knocking steering has gone :thumbup:

Gary14

Re: Sreering UJ Fitting

Gary14 said:
Fitted today the knocking steering has gone :thumbup:

Here we go again slight knock from new steering uj again notsure.gif will be going back to VX for another uj joint but surely these units should last alot longer than 5 months.
I have read another post on here that 3 uj joints were replaced in short succession. Any ideas :?:

JohnnyN

Is it VERY tight?

Gary14

JohnnyN said:
Is it VERY tight?

I dont know as vauxhall fitted the new joint, steering is ok, just a slight knock when turning and pulling away, when holding the joint and rocking steering back and fourth you can feel / hear the clunk, only very slight at the moment.

I applied some grease to the last joint which cured 99% of the clunk.

Gary14

New UJ fitted by vx. The small knock from the steering has again been rectified. Hope this one lasts a bit longer.

Anyone else experienced this problem notsure.gif

JohnnyN

I had the same problems until on the last visit and it never happened again. Vx used to swear that it just needed repacking with grease and doing up very tight.

comet

When I bought mine at 9 months old it was doing that - went in for a replacement and was told that a revised joint was on back order. That was eventually fitted and lasted about 6 months. I think I had another couple fitted over the next two years, after that it's been fine until it reached 90k, when a very slight clunk has re-emerged.

There's a How 2 thread on VVOC how to sort it without replacing the joint. I haven't done it since mine is only slight and I've got used to it. It bugged me on a nearly new car, now it's 9 years old I kind of like its little quirks.