Steering column UJ - where from?

[shaunw]

Can anyone tell me where I can get a new steering column UJ for my 1990 SE? I've done a search but I'm still none the wiser.

Also has anyone done this as a DIY job? I'm hoping this is the cause of my stiff steering, seems like the best place to start anyway.

Regards

Shaun

[amarshall]

To see if it's the cause of stiff steering, remove the bung in the wheelarch (not the one for the headlamps) and spray some white grease onto the UJ. It should free up pretty quickly during driving after that.

As for sourcing them - Mike was getting some made up at LotusBits, FAIK he has them available. If not, try Paul Matty.

[Lotus-e-Clan]

...and PNM Engineering....details in the Club Lotus News.

[shaunw]

Thanks guys I think I've got some spray grease somewhere, I'll give that a go.

I'm presuming this part is fitted to certain other cars and is not just a Lotus part?

Regards

Shaun

[amarshall]

There are two different types of UJ, depending on year (pre and post '86). I don't think we've ever managed to identify them as donated parts. Not everything on a Lotus is borrowed from somewhere else.

[Lotus-e-Clan]

It's bespoke, to my best knowledge. PMN engineering made me a replacement when I converted to manual steering.

[shaunw]

Thanks for that. You've both saved me hours of futile trawling about on the internet if it comes to replacing it.

[MrCoolA]

Thanks for that. You've both saved me hours of futile trawling about on the internet if it comes to replacing it.

don't trawl..............ask here first, then one of the Lotus suppliers i.e. Mike Taylor, Paul Matty, SJ's etc............

[ttedj]

Got mine from SJ's on exchange. The old one was a slight pain to remove as was corroded on. Ended dropping the column. The book reckons you can loosen both joints and slide the middle up and out on later cars.

Ted