Question about borgeson joint

[65 drop top]

I just bought a 3/4-36 borgeson joint to install on the DSE rack on my AME chassis. The borgeson joint seems to fit the rack kind of loose, you can feel it wiggle around just a bit. I know when I tighten down the set screw it will feel tight, but seems like I don’t want to rely on a set screw for good spline engagement. Any one else experience this, or is this just normal? On my other car with stock steering box, that borgeson joint fits snugly.

[65 drop top]

Heres a quick video of how the parts fit

https://youtube.com/shorts/FhVwHqGo9L0?feature=share

[dhutton]

That doesn’t look quite right. Is there a flat spot or groove for the screw?

Don

[65 drop top]

That doesn’t look quite right. Is there a flat spot or groove for the screw?

Don
Hi Don, thanks for the reply. Yes there is a flat spot on the rack. Here is a picture of the shaft. The borgeson joint itself has splines all the way around the inside of it.

[dhutton]

I have a DSE rack here. Can you measure the diameter across the splines and I’ll do the same tomorrow.

Don

[65 drop top]

I have a DSE rack here. Can you measure the diameter across the splines and I’ll do the same tomorrow.

Don
I’m looking at .720 at the widest points. Not at the flat spot. Thanks again.

[65 drop top]

And the widest point inside of the borgeson u joint is .745. That was measured from down in the grooves of the female splines

[dhutton]

I also got .72 on the DSE rack. It is several years old. Maybe the Borgeson joint is out of spec?

Don

[65 drop top]

I also got .72 on the DSE rack. It is several years old. Maybe the Borgeson joint is out of spec?

Don
Thanks a lot Don, I appreciate that. My rack is also several years old. I guess what I’ll do is order a new Borgeson joint from Summit and try that one, where I live they usually deliver next day. If that doesn’t solve the problem I’ll have to dig deeper. Thanks again.

[dhutton]

Thanks a lot Don, I appreciate that. My rack is also several years old. I guess what I’ll do is order a new Borgeson joint from Summit and try that one, where I live they usually deliver next day. If that doesn’t solve the problem I’ll have to dig deeper. Thanks again.

Maybe try a differenT manufacturer than Borgeson.

[65 drop top]

I just called DSE, AME and Borgeson. Each one said this is pretty normal. They all said to tighten down the set screw and I’ll be ok.

[65 drop top]

I just called DSE, AME and Borgeson. Each one said this is pretty normal. They all said to tighten down the set screw and I’ll be ok.
To be clear, I’m not exactly happy with their responses. If a small set screw backs out, it could potentially skip splines and lose steering. Maybe I’m just overly cautious, but at the same time I don’t think I’m wrong.

[dhutton]

If you are unhappy I would try one from a different manufacturer. I’ve used several DSE racks and don’t recall that level of looseness.

Don

[dontlifttoshift]

It won't skip splines, there isn't enough slop there for that. Jam nut or loctite or both, I have never had an issue and Borgeson is my go to for U joints.

If you are really, really worried about it, the UniSteer U joints use a pinch bolt.