Hello Subie lovers,

 

I have a 1984 GL wagon, the original PKmobile. I just replaced the power steering rack with a rebuild (from http://www.carsteering.com) and that nice tight rack made the slop in my steering coupler u-joint stand out like a....well, it is sloppy.

 

I found one at the local PnP, only $10, but it came from a Subie with 197k on it, and has a bit of slop too. I just called the local Subaru store, since both my local parts shops said that they can't replace the u-joint, and SOA says that I have to buy the whole steering column! $400!

 

this blows chunks. Has anyone gotten that u-joint replaced?

 

I have the tighter one installed, so I can take the sloppy one apart, but one shop said the bearing caps are too small to replace.

 

this doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but I thought I would put it out to you all.

 

Thanks,

 

Mendo

maybe a custom bearing shop could make some bearings for you?? We have a shop called brown bearing that you can take your old ones in and they measure them and can build or replace them with new ones??? just an idea ??

you can part off a tilt column and use the u-joints from inside it. that is what i used when i lifted my wagon, the splines and pinch bolts will fit the same

you can part off a tilt column and use the u-joints from inside it. that is what i used when i lifted my wagon, the splines and pinch bolts will fit the same

Thanks Miles! great idea, and ANOTHER part rescued from my '82 Subimarine!

I sank a subie on the beach 3 years ago, and have been pulling bits off of it ever since. It has tilt, and I just got the shaft out of it, and the u-joint is in great shape. You get them from the yoke by grinding the little punches out and pressing in a vise?

 

anyway, a step forward! Thanks again.

 

Mendo