Hey guys, I have a BJ 75 and need to know what maintenance is required on the steering shaft and joints. I’ve heard that you need to periodically grease the male and female ends of the shaft. Would like to know how best this can be done
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Thanks Ralph, that’s mighty useful. I have a clanking noise on full extended turn. Now I’m thinking the damper may be shot. Also was told the male and female parts of the steering shaft needs to be removed and periodically greased. Have you done this?On my BJ73 there are greasing nipples on some of the joints. Give it a few pumps with the grease gun until etc squeezes out from the boot.
The actually tie rod ends are sealed. As long the boot is intact, those just need a regular check for wear. Important: Jack up the wheels from the ground to check in order to allow the knuckle to move.
The threads in the tie rods are prone to rust. The ends actually have a slit, where the rod / thread is clamped tight. Water gets into the rods trough those slots, causing the rust. Eventually the thread seize und you loose the ability to do proper wheel alignment. I applied some anti corrosion wax into the rod ( same as used for body cavities preservation) and will bandage the slit from outside using wax and a strip of cloth. I also put some wax between the clamp and the rod. These of course can only be done when removing the linkage joints anyway. Remember to do wheel alignment after having tempered with the tie rod ends.
This is not a regular maintenance step. Other than that: Check / tighten the bolts to spec regularly.
(Notes to the pics: 1. On the new joint, the greasing nipple is not installed yet. It goes in the hole in the boot. 2. On the in situ pic you see the boot of the tier rod end is torn. It's due for replacement).
Cheers
Ralf
View attachment 2612744note: oView attachment 2612745
Apart from the greasing of outside nipples like you mentionedThanks Ralph, that’s mighty useful. I have a clanking noise on full extended turn. Now I’m thinking the damper may be shot. Also was told the male and female parts of the steering shaft needs to be removed and periodically greased. Have you done this?
Thanks roscoYou might want to check the freeplay and tighten the steering box if necessary. I think it should be 25mm at 12 oclock and make sure beforehand there is no slop in the tir rod ends etc.
Hi. Welcome.Thanks Ralph, that’s mighty useful. I have a clanking noise on full extended turn. Now I’m thinking the damper may be shot. Also was told the male and female parts of the steering shaft needs to be removed and periodically greased. Have you done this?
Hi. Welcome.
Not sure wether your steering shaft is similar to mine. Mine is a single piece. Male and female thread are at the ends, with the slit and the clamps on. That is what I refer to: Prone to rust, thus take apart, treat with rust protection (wax or grease, threads and entire tube) and somewhat close those slits with a greasy or waxy bandage. That's what I did as I had to replace the tierod ends anyway. One was shot, giving a significant clong noise.
Remember wheel alignment. Should last a while then.
If there is a clong on full tilt, this might well be any of the ball joints in the linking. There are plenty.
Good luck
On my BJ73 there are greasing nipples on some of the joints. Give it a few pumps with the grease gun until etc squeezes out from the boot.
The actually tie rod ends are sealed. As long the boot is intact, those just need a regular check for wear. Important: Jack up the wheels from the ground to check in order to allow the knuckle to move.
The threads in the tie rods are prone to rust. The ends actually have a slit, where the rod / thread is clamped tight. Water gets into the rods trough those slots, causing the rust. Eventually the thread seize und you loose the ability to do proper wheel alignment. I applied some anti corrosion wax into the rod ( same as used for body cavities preservation) and will bandage the slit from outside using wax and a strip of cloth. I also put some wax between the clamp and the rod. These of course can only be done when removing the linkage joints anyway. Remember to do wheel alignment after having tempered with the tie rod ends.
This is not a regular maintenance step. Other than that: Check / tighten the bolts to spec regularly.
(Notes to the pics: 1. On the new joint, the greasing nipple is not installed yet. It goes in the hole in the boot. 2. On the in situ pic you see the boot of the tier rod end is torn. It's due for replacement).
Cheers
Ralf
View attachment 2612744note: oView attachment 2612745