Steering shaft coupler to gear box!

[frank1966]

I took apart and removed my steering column. Is there an aftermarket coupler I can use instead of reusing the original? It seems very sloppy - those shoes just fell off and it looks like that tiny pin hold it all together. Why didn't they just spline the end of the shaft and connect to the gear box with one of those splined joints?

[birdsandbees]

Well the shoes can't "fall off" unless you pull the coupler outer shell off first. The little pin only retains stuff so you don't rip the shaft seal off before the column is installed. Once installed the little pin does nothing.

Yes you can buy a rebuild kit, with new a new spring plate, shoes, etc.

Page 37/38/39 in my restoration thread show the coupler assembly fairly well.

[Kern Dog]

Those that do not understand something may often ridicule it.
The factory design allows fore and aft movement, the other designs do not. Properly assembled factory couplers have no slop and allow some fore and aft movement which occurs as the car and chassis flex while going down the road. The fixed U-joint and splines do not move fore and aft so it transmits more vibration to the wheel.

[frank1966]

Not sure if id call it ridiculing but okay, thought there would be something better since it is 50 year old design.  So it is recommended to just rebuild rather than using a U joint. When I had it all together I could not slide that joint on - tried everything, it seems like it did not reach and that coupler seemed stuck, not sliding enough to give me enough reach to slide on the gear box. How far should the coupler be extended? to the end touching the small pin? No problem with the splines or coupler, once apart the coupler slid on to the gear box no problem. Shaft looks fine not collapsed. It seems like those shoes do not mount very tight to the pin, guess rebuild kit would fix that.

[A383Wing]

You probably have the shoes installed 90* off......they will go on in any direction, but only one way will not be sloppy.

Bryan

[Kern Dog]

There are two sets of splines with a concaved recess between them. THAT is where the roll pin slides in to retain the coupler.

[birdsandbees]

The "H" of the two blocks has the "legs" of the H facing up and down the shaft.

[frank1966]

Nice pic thanks. It was also packed with grease, should I put a good amount, can I put too much?

[birdsandbees]

If you had too much the rubber seal would be bulging severely as you try to get the coupling onto the box spline.