steering column fasteners question

[dbsharp]

I was planning on using a press fit pin to attach a u joint to a shaft on the steering column. Does anyone else do this? Is this considered a fastener?

[dbsharp]

I was planning on using a press fit pin to attach a u joint to a shaft on the steering column. Does anyone else do this? Is this considered a fastener?

[Drew Price]

Firstly, this is definitely a rules clarification question.

Secondly, I personally would shy away from doing it this way unless you have something to retain the pin in case it loosens. As you cycle the steering back & forth, it's conceivable that the holes in your steering shaft will elongate and open up some - you do NOT want it to be possible that the pin will come out.

It's very common to just use a shouldered bolt here, or if you want the really positive location of a pin, use something like a taper pin that has a retaining nut so there's no way that it can come out even if the hole loosens up.

There are also dowel pins with 'locking' features, like groove pins, but this does not meet the intent of the 'all locking features must be visible' rule, and wouldn't work if your steering shaft were hollow anyway.

Something like this:



http://www.bonaero.com/images/Taper%20Pin.JPG

http://bestnutsbolts.com/pins4.jpg

[Dr Tron]

I just went to desertkarts.com and got splined male and female shafts with a pinch bolt on the female for under 30 bucks. Very positive conection with zero play when tightened up. one male will be attached to the end of the universial joints, one will be the input shaft into the custom steering rack with the females attached to either end of the I-shaft.

[dbsharp]

Thank you for the responses.