steering colum u-joint, can it be replaced?? Options

[Valo666]

I brought Keroppis car into the shop today because she had some ratteling coming from the steering system...it turns out that it needs a new u-joint in the steering colum. I was wondering if it could be replaced? Or will i need to change out entire shaft??

If you dont know what im talkin about..the ujoint is right behind the firewall and connects to the other shaft going down into the actually rack.

[TerryE]

I brought Keroppis car into the shop today because she had some ratteling coming from the steering system...it turns out that it needs a new u-joint in the steering colum. I was wondering if it could be replaced? Or will i need to change out entire shaft??

If you dont know what im talkin about..the ujoint is right behind the firewall and connects to the other shaft going down into the actually rack.

hey
Yes you can! I had a problem like this in my 90 st (steering would get real tight after a couple miles) anyway sent the Mrs to the dealer and lo and behold they had them in stock (about $100 I think. apparently a common failure item) anyway you have to loosen the locking bolts on the U-joint, and you might also have to loosen or remove the 4 bolts that hold the rack to get enough play to separate the u-joint from the shafts (try it from the top first!) otherwise you have to go underneath to get to the mounting bolts (17 or 19mm deepwell socket (the long ones)) make sure the wheels are pointed straight ahead and the steering wheel is level, other-wise you steering will be a touch off one way or another. Or alternately paint scribe and alignment mark on the two shafts. It took me about two hours between getting the car on jacks and the actual replacement.