FAM1718 replacement

[AlanH]

Given the reported problems with fam1718 replacements from some suppliers, I have been looking around and seen this.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kreuzgelenk-L ... SwA3dYP4EA
They look more substantial than others and I wondered if anybody had fitted them.

[tony g]

To be honest Alan, I would just buy the poly repair kit from Witor and rebuild it. Ive done 2 now and they feel great. If the splines are good theres nothing else to go wrong apart from the bushes.
http://www.superflex.co.uk/proddetail.p ... F374-1179K

Tony

[AlanH]

Tony

That sounds a good idea but how do I get the screws out and, if I do, how do I make sure that they are secure when I put them back.

[tony g]

Just unscrew them and they will come out. The peen isnt that strong really and will pull back in when coming throught he thread. When refitting use locktight on the threads

Tony

[oldengineer]

You could of course just buy a new one from Rimmers - their latest sale prices for these are cheaper and they do the U/J version as well
http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/ItemSearch- ... rc=UK2316W

[AlanH]

You could of course just buy a new one from Rimmers

I have seen this offer but there have been reports, I think on the forum, of some aftermarket units failing.

[GrahamFountain]

I had one of the replacement FAM1718s fail catastrophically while driving - shared the skit out of me is all I can say.

That one was exactly like the ones from Rimmer's. Though I must admit it was not actually bought from Rimmer's. But I've looked at the ones they do sell and it is exactly the same - much smaller diameter setscrews than the original FAM1718s, which is what sheared through. And even with the originals, all the steering effort going through a pair of setscrews (twice), where if one goes the other of the pair nearly must fail too, gives me the willies. The only concern I have about the UJs over the rubber cushioned originals is whether they might reduce the life of the bulkhead bush.

I've had both the pressed and cast type UJ's since. And while I'm sure the pressed ones are up to the job if fitted right and everything else is okay, for the extra cost, I really like the cast ones. I bought the cast one to replace the pressed UJ because I thought there was a problem with it working loose on the shaft, but it turned out to be higher up the column that was the problem. But since it was out, and because I had a replacement, and because that was much more substantial, I put the cast one into the re-built column. The pressed one is going in the Herald when I have access to the column next time.

Graham

[sprint95m]

I have never ever seen a cast steering UJ .


If you don't have a rebuildable OE coupling the only sensible alternative is a T2000 manual steering UJ.
These are forged. Chris Witor sells these for somewhat less than the Ford specialists (who market the same
item as Escort group four spec. ).
The downside is that the upper UJ shaft needs to be shortened.



Ian.

[GrahamFountain]

I've got the group 4 escort forged one, and it didn't need the upper shaft modifying. It does need the lower part of the column pulling into the car, to be fitted and removed though.

Graham.

[AlanH]

I wonder if this would do the job
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Escort-m ... SwB09YIukF

[Carledo]

Proper NOS Triumph one here for £20, Ebay item number 172436289999

Steve