Steering Coupler

[level9]

On 3/26/2024 at 7:46 AM, Slartibartfast said:

I just tried to install mine, and it's all wrong. 65mm bolt spacing instead of 60, and the splined hole is too small (15mm vs just over 17). Luckily I tested it on the shaft from the parts car before taking Rat Trap off the road.

 

hrm. Maybe they sent you the wrong one? I just got the Lares 210 and the holes lined up fine.

The main issue with it (as was noted) was the female spline end was too small for the steering shaft and it was riveted onto the coupler.

So I drilled out the rivet heads (5/16" bit), swapped over the bushings from the old coupler and reused the female spline end that came with the vehicle.

[Slartibartfast]

Well, it sure wasn't the right part for the truck! The packing sheet (and the box IIRC) said it was the 210, but I don't remember the part itself being labelled. Guess it might've been the wrong part in the right box. Did you measure the bolt spacing on your splined yoke piece? Mine's 60mm between centers. I'm wondering if Nissan made different widths for some reason.

 

This reminds me that I need to get around to installing mine.

[level9]

25 minutes ago, Slartibartfast said:

Well, it sure wasn't the right part for the truck! The packing sheet (and the box IIRC) said it was the 210, but I don't remember the part itself being labelled. Guess it might've been the wrong part in the right box. Did you measure the bolt spacing on your splined yoke piece? Mine's 60mm between centers. I'm wondering if Nissan made different widths for some reason.

 

 

It's interesting.. on the yoke (from Lares) I get ~62mm. on the Lares coupler I get ~61mm and the car is ~60mm. There is definitely a slight bit of variance here but doesn't seem to be an issue - at least with fitment. I'm guessing tolerances may be a little loose by design.  I decided to try the Lares one since I like the reinforcement plates it came with. I'm suspicious the polyurethane option for a 240z/260z/280z may also work (Energy Suspension 7.16101R) but can't confirm. Maybe will try it later.

 

Didn't feel like digging into the whys about the tolerances so I asked ChatGPT for a possible explanation and this seems plausible.

 

• Design Features:

  • Steering couplers, such as the rag joint or polyurethane coupler, typically have bolt holes that are designed with a small amount of play. This allows the coupler to adjust slightly during installation, ensuring that it can fit properly even if there are minor misalignments between the steering column and the gearbox.

• Purpose:

  • The alignment tolerance helps in reducing stress on the steering components and ensures smoother operation. It also simplifies the installation process by allowing for easier fitting without the need for precise, exact alignment of the bolt holes.

• Installation:

  • During installation, it is important to align the coupler as closely as possible, but the built-in tolerance provides some flexibility. The bolts can be slightly adjusted within the holes to ensure a secure fit.

[Slartibartfast]

I wouldn't be surprised/concerned about a little misalignment, but the Lares was enough off from mine that I was concerned I'd damage something trying to make it work. It's a little exaggerated in the picture due to the parts not being lined up straight, but even straight on it was off by enough that I didn't like it. I measured 65mm center to center on the Lares, but that was from the bolts, and I don't remember checking whether they had wiggle room or not.

 

 

The Z car parts looked different to me, but I only looked at pictures online.

[level9]

1 hour ago, Slartibartfast said:

I wouldn't be surprised/concerned about a little misalignment, but the Lares was enough off from mine that I was concerned I'd damage something trying to make it work. It's a little exaggerated in the picture due to the parts not being lined up straight, but even straight on it was off by enough that I didn't like it. I measured 65mm center to center on the Lares, but that was from the bolts, and I don't remember checking whether they had wiggle room or not.

 

 

I thought the same when I saw it but the included pre-attached assembly bolts were tweaking the shape of the coupler. Remove/loosen the bolts and it will flatten out 

[Slartibartfast]

That makes sense. Good to know the Lares is an option if you don't mind taking it apart.