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Author Topic: Replace Steering Intermediate Shaft  (Read 14852 times)

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87GoldStandard

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Replace Steering Intermediate Shaft
« on: June 23, 2020, 04:59:34 pm »
The intermediate steering shaft is rusted out and needs replaced on my '87 GT. Because of the layout on a Fiero, it's not quite as accessible as on other cars. Is there a good way to go about this? I found the bolt (picture in attachments) that I think is what secures the entirety to the rack and pinion, on what would be considered the front portion of the firewall. The only thing I could find regarding the steering shaft in the service manual, was a single diagram (also in attachments). Any help is appreciated.
« Last Edit: June 23, 2020, 05:02:08 pm by 87GoldStandard »
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Fierofool

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Re: Replace Steering Intermediate Shaft
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2020, 05:39:05 pm »
Remove the spare tire and then the plastic tub that it sits in.  You may have to remove some other pieces to accomplish this, but that will give you a full view of the ground from the top.  The rack and the steering coupling will be in clear view. 
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GTRS Fiero

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Re: Replace Steering Intermediate Shaft
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2020, 05:51:59 pm »
Just FYI, be sure your replacement is not for an '88.  The earlier years have a different shaft.  You'll also want to check that the pin is still in place, on whatever shaft you get.

IIRC, you have to move either the steering column or the steering rack to get the shaft out.
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87GoldStandard

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Re: Replace Steering Intermediate Shaft
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2020, 06:01:34 pm »
Quote from: GTRS Fiero on June 23, 2020, 05:51:59 pm
Just FYI, be sure your replacement is not for an '88.  The earlier years have a different shaft.  You'll also want to check that the pin is still in place, on whatever shaft you get.

IIRC, you have to move either the steering column or the steering rack to get the shaft out.

Thank you for the pointers. The shaft I got is reconditioned off of an '87. The column is also completely off right now because I had to replace that too.
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GTRS Fiero

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Re: Replace Steering Intermediate Shaft
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2020, 06:03:24 pm »
Great!  When you put the column back in, it may be a good idea to loctite the mounting bolts.
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Fierofool

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Re: Replace Steering Intermediate Shaft
« Reply #5 on: June 23, 2020, 06:04:03 pm »
I was going to say that I have an intermediate shaft if you needed one. 
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There are three kinds of men:

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scottb

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Re: Replace Steering Intermediate Shaft
« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2020, 07:56:07 pm »
Quote from: GTRS Fiero on June 23, 2020, 06:03:24 pm
Great!  When you put the column back in, it may be a good idea to loctite the mounting bolts.

Can I ask why you recommend using loctite on the mounting bolts?
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GTRS Fiero

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Re: Replace Steering Intermediate Shaft
« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2020, 07:58:48 pm »
So they don't come loose.

Actually, it should be threadlocker.
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scottb

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Re: Replace Steering Intermediate Shaft
« Reply #8 on: June 24, 2020, 08:17:12 pm »
I am not a professional mechanic, nor did I stay in a Holiday Inn, but I would recommend against that. Thread lockers are used in situations where vibrations may loosen hardware, such as flywheel bolts. Besides, I believe the mounts are designed to move in case of a hard collision. Even on the late model racecar that I worked on used loctite sparingly. Also makes it unnecessarily difficult to remove the next time
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Fierofool

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Re: Replace Steering Intermediate Shaft
« Reply #9 on: June 24, 2020, 08:19:50 pm »
I use Blue LokTite when there's a chance of something coming loose and causing a critical situation.  It can be removed without using heat. 

What's the difference in LokTite and Threadlocker? 
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There are three kinds of men:

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2.    The few who learn by observation.
3.    The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves.    Will Rogers

GTRS Fiero

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Re: Replace Steering Intermediate Shaft
« Reply #10 on: June 24, 2020, 08:23:05 pm »
Blue loctite was used on my steering column bolts.  2 years later, those bolts were loosened to deal with a different thing.  Heat worked.
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GTRS Fiero

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Re: Replace Steering Intermediate Shaft
« Reply #11 on: June 24, 2020, 08:23:25 pm »
Quote
BLUE THREADLOCKER – Medium Strength

Permabond Blue Threadlocker MM115 is a Medium strength Medium viscosity threadlocker.  Blue threadlockers are often called removable threadlockers as they can be disassembled with hand tools.
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scottb

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Re: Replace Steering Intermediate Shaft
« Reply #12 on: June 24, 2020, 08:24:19 pm »
Quote from: Fierofool on June 24, 2020, 08:19:50 pm


What's the difference in LokTite and Threadlocker?

Spelling......... loctite is a brand name
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87GoldStandard

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Re: Replace Steering Intermediate Shaft
« Reply #13 on: June 30, 2020, 09:28:13 pm »
Quote from: GTRS Fiero on June 23, 2020, 06:03:24 pm
Great!  When you put the column back in, it may be a good idea to loctite the mounting bolts.
Do you happen to have any tips for getting the steering column shaft into the U-joint of the half shaft? It has about 1/5 of an inch left to go and that tiny amount is throwing off the alignment of the supports and even the steering wheel lock plate doesn't want to fit right because of this. I've tried everything I could think of but it doesn't want to budge that last little bit.
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87GoldStandard

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Re: Replace Steering Intermediate Shaft
« Reply #14 on: July 02, 2020, 01:54:01 pm »
Quote from: Fierofool on June 23, 2020, 05:39:05 pm
Remove the spare tire and then the plastic tub that it sits in.  You may have to remove some other pieces to accomplish this, but that will give you a full view of the ground from the top.  The rack and the steering coupling will be in clear view.

Is there any specific way to go about getting the steering column shaft into the U-joint of the half shaft? It doesn't seem to want to budge anymore with about 1/5 of an inch left to go. It's throwing off the alignment of the supports among other things. I've tried everything I can think of and what little I could find but nothing is working.
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