How should they be synchroed (sp) or does it matter? i only have two joints in my set up and just want to make sure i put them on the right way.
they should be set up so the joints on the middle shaft are in line...probably not a big deal, but why not do it right?
thanks it seemed to work smoothest with it like that any way. now i can go back to the garage and finish this damn project!
I just looked at one I have from an early 80s fwd car...it's about 60 degrees out of line. Ok, I give up!
I go along with Squirrel's original post. Besides, how do we know some ace meckanik didn't put the steering column back together incorrectly?
It all depends on your shaft angles are set... The bigger the angle change the higher the velocity variation. You use joint phasing to cancel out the velocity variations of multiple joints. When using 3 or more joints you have to compromise. So whats yer angles?
Just pondering something here... Phasing the joints is done in driveshafts to allow for the constant speed variation of the shaft due to the mounting angles and HIGH ROTATIONAL speed of the shaft. A harmonic (or worse!) vibration is set up "in use" but the shaft doesn't vibrate when it isn't turning...soooo.... If your getting a harmonic vibration from turning your steering wheel so fast you got problems other than the joints!!! In a steering system I can't see phasing being a huge issue...other than just in looks. I'd set them IN phase myself just because... but I can't see it hurting either way...just set the angles of the joints within the recommended limits to prevent actual binding.
You will notice a difference as you get farther away from being "in phase." Speed has nothing to do with it. It's a matter of leverage and the nature of the U joint. I have 3 joints in my steering. 2 are in phase, the other one I adjusted as best I could but there is some noticeable resistance at 12oclock and 6 oclock because of the "phase."
I beg to differ on this. You take a two piece driveshaft and put it back together out of phase and go drive it about 70mph and tell me what happened! You think Harleys vibrate!
No no...he's talking about steering joints for sure...no question on the driveshaft importance of being in proper phase! So you CAN feel a little...pop over center kinda feeling without having them in phase? NOT just the joints binding from excess angle? Like I said, I've always had them in phase just for the cleaner look, but I didn't think it would matter at all in such a slow turning setup as a column shaft. I gotta check out some factory setups I have kicking around...never did really check for phasing on them. This is interesting... (And I'm NOT saying your wrong either! I've just never tried it myself but really didn't see an issue...its all a learning experience! LoL)
There was an interesting article about steering on page 90 in the Feb. 2005 issue of Street Rodder. Also read this thread from another board: http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/problem-steering-rack-61635.html?highlight=phase
Excatly Mark.... We are talking about 2 different systems here. The velocity variation in a steering system results in a different in turning speeds across a u-joint. The higher the angle change the greater the speed change. The overall result of an improperly phased steering system is a fluctuation in torque-to-turn of the steering wheel as it is turned or lumpy steering wheel feel. The worst of this an uncontrollable steering system where you will experience certain points in the turn of the steering wheel which causes the wheels to turn quicker than expected. In a properly phased system you should feel the same resistance at the wheel throughout the turn lock-to-lock. BTW: Steering system engineering is part of my job.
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