correct u-joint shaft for '91 golf with no p/s?

Hello,

I've just installed a manual rack into my '91, and I must've bought the wrong rack (or UJ?) as it doesn't want to get onto the coloumn. The UJ was "missing" a few splines, while my coloumn's got splines all over - minus where the pinch bolt goes through.

What's the most efficient way to fix lol! Perhaps the rack I bought was for an earlier model golf, but can I get away with just buying a new UJ, and dropping the subframe a bit to squeeze it in?

Thanks!

 

I see. The rack was from an 86 golf. Do you think if I got a later model UJ it would fit? Currently The part where it goes onto the rack has splines all over, and so does the coloumn. Right now my UJ can slide onto the rack, but not the coloumn.

Thanks a bunch for your reply!

 

Car already had manual steering but long story short since the steering started giving me a hard time I wanted to install another rack and UJ. So my UJ fits lengthwise it’s just the splines on the end of it that don’t align with the coloumn.

Is a UJ that has splines all over on both ends (40 splines?) an early or late model production?

 

Course spline is late fitment, sounds like you have bought an early rack. However, I don’t think late racks are available.
What did you decide to change the rack rather than refurbish your original?

 

My UJ shaft was put on upside down I believe, and got welded into the rack when I first got the car. They also must’ve realized they bought a p/s shaft so they cut and welded the UJ itself so it’s always been bent making the car much harder to turn haha.

So I can’t buy a late model UJ to fix this? The rack fits perfect, I just need something with full splines on both ends to connect to the coloumn.

 

You need an early UJ I believe. Try MK2 spares.

 

Ah I see. I’ll see if I can get one and double check to make sure it fits this time. Thx!