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Steering shaft flexible coupling - quality source ?


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I don’t know why rubber products are such poor quality in the 21st century ? They just seems to disintegrate in no time. 

This steering coupling has barely lasted 18 months , it appeared to be a good product when I bought it. I replaced a coupling of unknown age out of caution, it was actually in way better condition than this is now.

I am happy to accept it is a consumable item but would expect more.

Having a couple of hundred miles to do this weekend I have changed it for a used one I had that was in good condition. 

Anyway does anyone have a recommendation for a good version or are they all from a single source and we gets what we gets. 

Thanks in advance

 

F8EB6122-9DA0-4AF7-83D8-E92F0F4BA965.jpeg

7E2DE1AC-86C7-49F8-89C1-5E819C515880.jpeg

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Are they the same as the 4a if so I believe the ford escort mk2 coupling fits so maybe this ?

Ford Escort Mk2 Steering Coupling Repair Bush Kit - SuperPro Poly https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F332464905820

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24 minutes ago, pheaney said:

I don’t know why rubber products are such poor quality in the 21st century ? They just seems to disintegrate in no time. 

This steering coupling has barely lasted 18 months , it appeared to be a good product when I bought it. I replaced a coupling of unknown age out of caution, it was actually in way better condition than this is now.

I am happy to accept it is a consumable item but would expect more.

Having a couple of hundred miles to do this weekend I have changed it for a used one I had that was in good condition. 

Anyway does anyone have a recommendation for a good version or are they all from a single source and we gets what we gets. 

Thanks in advance

 

F8EB6122-9DA0-4AF7-83D8-E92F0F4BA965.jpeg

7E2DE1AC-86C7-49F8-89C1-5E819C515880.jpeg

That is shocking.

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That's just typical of aftermarket rubber and not reassuring for a part you can see what about the rubber parts you can't?

In such safety critical areas suppliers should ensure they are designed to last 10 years. If its price driven then offer two versions I know what I would fit!

New cars have better quality rubber components if for no other reason to avoid warranty claims and safety recalls so it can be done.    

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I assume this came from one of our major suppliers, I've had problems with their rubber parts in the past- they seem to use any cheap grade of rubber for replacement parts, regardless of the duty.

I will gladly pay a premium for quality parts and  look with interest on the alternatives,

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Thanks Hamish - I  had a look on the Rimmer site and the part number is the same for the 4 and the 6 . The 4 has 2 of the things! must have had trouble with bad roads and pot holes back in the bad old days.

SuperPro don't quote it as a Triumph part but it  sure looks the same , so if it fits a 4 it must fit the 6. 

I have just been replacing anything rubber with poly whenever I get the chance. I got the shock initially when I had an MOT caution on an original lower balljoint cover on my 2000 saloon, I changed it  3 months prior to the next MOT so I wouldn't  have an issue and guess what it failed in that time !!! Fortunately Chris Witor provided a proper upgrade.

As PodOne says we would happily pay for quality parts , there's plenty enough  to worry about as it is  when properly using our cars without it being the new parts just put on.

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Good shout Hamish, after all the Escort Mk2 lower steering U/J coupling fits so why not the flexible one? Should be decent quality at that price! I replaced the lower flex coupling on my 4A column with a Group 4 Escort type U/J from Rally Design. In conjunction with solid rack mounts the steering response was sharpened and I have not noticed any increase in harshness transmitted from the road surface, this is probably being masked by the flexible upper coupling, which I retained.

The quality of the modern flex couplings seems shocking. The one I removed from my car when I fitted the U/J was original as far as I can recall and at well over 40 years of age showed no sign of cracks developing in the rubber.

Tim

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13 hours ago, pheaney said:

I don’t know why rubber products are such poor quality in the 21st century ? They just seems to disintegrate in no time. 

This steering coupling has barely lasted 18 months , it appeared to be a good product when I bought it. I replaced a coupling of unknown age out of caution, it was actually in way better condition than this is now.

I am happy to accept it is a consumable item but would expect more.

Having a couple of hundred miles to do this weekend I have changed it for a used one I had that was in good condition. 

Anyway does anyone have a recommendation for a good version or are they all from a single source and we gets what we gets. 

Thanks in advance

 

F8EB6122-9DA0-4AF7-83D8-E92F0F4BA965.jpeg

7E2DE1AC-86C7-49F8-89C1-5E819C515880.jpeg

Once again this looks to me that a very cheap neoprene compound mix has been used where there is more fillers in the compound than actual compound . When I see examples of this it always seems to be the same problem. All the usual suppliers of TR moulded products seem to fall into this trap except if the moulded items are made out of PU. My new steering rack bought from Moss, the rubber boots lasted under 18 months before they split and I got an MOT failure on this. The MOT station replaced them with PU boots made by Firstline , who have a a very large range of PU boots ,problem gone! So quality is out there!

Bruce.

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Some of that could be due to alignment of the steering column. See if there is a straight line from the pinion to the coupling. If not, the rubber coupling will try to act like a U-joint stressing the rubber creating the split as seen in the 2nd picture posted

You may have to rotate the steering rack within it's mounts to get that straight alignment

 

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I replaced both of the rubber couplings on my 4A with steel ones. I initially used the Moss TR6 parts but both of them wore out in 5000 miles. I now have the Revington ones which are much larger and stronger. The steering is much more direct and I have had no problems with kickback on Australian roads.

The problem with the rubber ones may well be one of age. How do we know how old they are when we buy them? Unlike tyres, there is no manufacturing date on them and NOS could well be 20+ years old. I was once told by an older wiser mechanic that it did not matter how well you cared for your car, after 20 years or so all of the rubber parts would start to deteriorate. 

Bit like us then.

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As I know only the steering shafts of the TR4 and TR4A is teethed on both ends.

The lower flexible coubling I replaced on my Tr4A by the TR5/250/6 u joint made of steel from the TR shop, it works lovely since years.

The upper one I keep he old rubber item: original, easy to disconnect and in the case of an accident I hope it brakes in pieces.

Is that already a safety steering column? <_<

Ciao Marco

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On ‎2‎/‎2‎/‎2019 at 12:04 PM, RogerH said:

Hi Bruce,

          I will mentioned it to Jeff M but it would be far better if members would first comment to the supplier and then fill in a PQI form.

 

Roger

Roger I take your point, but the use of neoprene compound was being phased out by the UK motor industry 50 years ago! and replaced by nitrile or PU compounds. Its use today is because of it cheapness but the cracking that you see is down to poor quality of compound ( too much filler) and poor ozone resistance, The other two compounds have a natural greater resistance to ozone attack.

Bruce.

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  • 1 year later...
On 2/1/2019 at 5:43 PM, CK's TR6 said:

I replaced mine with a shaft with a u joint on each end from Revington.  

 

I am currently looking at the same part you're mentioning. Yes, my flexible coupler split apart making a hard left turn in my garage (low speed thankfully). I have a 1974 TR6 and saw the upgrade revington mentioned with the u joints at each end. What has been anyones experience with this alleged upgrade. Do you find it to be an upgrade. Is the flexible coupler and hardware still required or does this shaft replace everything in between the steering rack and upper column? Any increase in vibrations or road harshness at the steering wheel. Thanks.

Edited by derrick211
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