Steering support bearing

[Cobra13]

Hello, the last thread from Roncal1 regarding steering has me wondering. Is there suppose to be a support bearing on the intermediate shaft? My setup is Arntz Type 4 with MGB steering and suspension. Thank you for your help!
David

[joyridin']

I do not know if there is suppose to be one, but mine had one. It may have been added after the fact. With the long shaft on the MGB rack, tight corner on the u-joint at the top, it probably isn't a bad idea to have it. Mine was about 1-2" above the rack/steering shaft connection. Mine had the same welded set-up as Roncal1's car, so I replaced the whole shaft when one of the joints went bad.

I replaced the whole front end with the same FASTCar set-up as Arthur stated in the other post (Thank you for all the help Arthur!). The difference is amazing to say the least. It is a lot of money, but in my case, it was probably 150 pounds lighter, rides nicer, and steers a LOT better.

[Cobra13]

Thank you Joyridin'. Do you recall if the post was welded to frame, or was the post welded to a plate and plate rivnuted to frame? Thanks again.

[COBRANIP]

If you have 3 shafts, the center shaft needs a support bearing. If you have only 2 shafts there is no need for a support bearing.
Good luck.

[joyridin']

Originally Posted by Cobra13

Thank you Joyridin'. Do you recall if the post was welded to frame, or was the post welded to a plate and plate rivnuted to frame? Thanks again.

The post was bolted through a plate and the plate was welded to the frame.

If I were installing it, I would just bolt the plate to the frame. Not really sure why it was welded.

[lal Naja]

It is my opinion that the top tip of the shaft from the MGB rack needs to be supported by some sort of bearing or bush. The intermediate shaft in this setup does not need support.

The steering column/shaft on the Butler is firmly mounted to the top of footwell on the gas pedal bracket. The other rigid bearing in at the rack and the rack shaft then extends up about two feet and is unsupported. A 9" intermediate shaft completes the connection from the column to the rack with two u-joints. Under heavy steering it may have a propensity to try to straighten out the drive-line and apply leverage stress the rack bearing.

I made a small custom steel bracket that bolts to the Butler frame. It has an aircraft style ball joint that supports the tip of the MGB rack shaft. Supported it perfectly. But after installing the FastCars IFS on my Cobra the support I made for the Butler set-up is no longer needed.

[Cobra13]

Thank you everyone for your feedback. I think I will bolt the bracket to the frame. I'm about ready to get serious about finishing this project! That's what they all say, right? I will start posting some pictures.
Thanks again for the input.
David

[Roncal1]

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