Just replaced the steering rack in my early 1970s mehari. The universal joint in the bottom of the steering sort of came apart in my hand when putting it all back together. It is a very odd looking joint and I wondered if anyone has come across one before?

The bottom of the steering column has a U-shape as does the top of the short part which goes through the floor onto the pinion. There is then a ball with grooves into which the U-shaped pieces fit

We discovered that if the shorter piece which goes through the floor to the pinion is put onto the joint at a right angle, when the joint is straightened, the two pieces lock together. When taking the photos today, I actually discovered that the ‘ball’ making the joint is loose, as it fell off!

I not long finished a semi-rebuild on my dad's 1970 mehari for him to take to the french national.

While I can't say for sure as I don't have a picture handy, I'm sure it was just a bog standard universal joint on his steering column.

Yeh, likewise - I'm sure the UJ on mine's a perfectly normal one. I'd definitely have noticed something that wierd!

Trevor,
out of interest, how much backlash/free play is there in that joint when it's installed?
Mole grips on the bottom end and another pair above the joint should work as pointers.

Heard recently of a 2CV based kit car which about 20 degrees free play at the steering wheel, which turned out to be the result of a 'non A series UJ' being bodged onto the pinion.

At least yours has the correct spline at the pinion end, it's the part in between which worries me, especially as Citroen would already have had Ami steering column UJs lying around when the Mehari was being designed...

ken

Will have a check and get back to you!

Finally had some time today. Have checked play as you suggested and virtually none!

ive seen that kind of joint before - but cant remember where Fords and BLMC from my formative years, Renault 5?

All Méharis had this type of column UJ up until April '72 when the Ami 8-type was then fitted.

Hmm,
light begins to dawn on the subject...

All we need to do now is find out what happened to the cautchouc étanchéité which is an essentail part of this assembly, as it fits over the joint, both holding it together and retaining grease for lubrication.

@ Trevor.
A thick-walled rubber sleeve would also prevent the joint from being disassembled, whether accidentally or on purpose, which was why I asked about that at the weekend.

ken

I am thinking a piece of neoprene rubber wrapped around the joint,cable tied top and bottom and glued down the join....?