Will someone measure their shaft? Steering shaft that is.

[Flying Squirrel]

*Edit*

im curious if I have the wrong steering shaft after a recent repair. Would anybody be willing to measure their steering shaft length between the two U joints? I have a 98 Legacy Outback but would be interested to find the length of a regular Legacy as well.  Mine measured out just shy of 3” about  2-3/4”.

TIA

Hi all,

New to the forum, recently got a 98 Outback. My first Subaru and although it came with a lot of problems I like the vehicle. 

The engine crossmember had been damaged when I got it.  It still drove straight but needed replacement. I found a used one at a local junkyard. I replaced it today in an “oh my god what did I get myself into” experience. That being said it was pretty straightforward except for one problem   

when everything was back together I couldn’t get the steering shaft to reach the rack. The shaft has two small  “u-joints” with splines on its ends. To remove the rack I loosened the lower pinch bolt only. When reinstalling I had to loosen the upper pinch bolt and pull it further out on the splines , but now it’s barely on the the upper splines it was the only way it could reach. 

I really don’t like that there is so little purchase on the upper splines  am I missing something? Is there a slip yolk in the steering shaft I’m missing? Any advice would be appreciated I don’t feel comfortable driving the car like this.

thanks!

 

Edited October 11, 2018 by Flying Squirrel

[el_freddo]

Has the lower Uni joint mount slipped down the shaft?

Was the steering extension replaced with the engine crossmember? If so, try using your old unit. 

If the engine crossmember came from a legacy the steering extension is shorter than that of the Outback's. This could be the difference. 

Cheers

Bennie

[Flying Squirrel]

Wow thanks for the response. I did not replace the the steering shaft, with the u joints. Is that is what you referred to as the steering extension? I was able to slip the lower Ujoint over the the bottom shaft but at the expense of leaving little purchase on the upper shaft. 

Thanks again

[el_freddo]

The steering column is sitting properly as it should?

Same year crossmember used from an outback?

I'm 99% sure all EJ racks are the same dimensions etc.

being an outback, the steering extension/joint between rack and column should have a block looking section in it. The liberty/legacy unit doesn't have this block section. 

The only other thing I can think of is that the joint has been pushed on to the rack shaft too far, leaving little to grip on the column's shaft. 

Cheers

Bennie