After viewing the video frame by frame of our accident, you can see the wheels have turned to the right on their own. There was no correcting the direction. We found the u-joint on the steering column had come apart so that the steering wheel was spinning freely. It would have had to come apart at the launch for this to have happened.
I would suggest that all you CRX guys (or anyone else with this set-up) check this u-joint under your dash before the next race.

 

yea foreal, thank god it happened at the line and not at top end

 

Earl, when you say "(or anyone else w/ this set up)" what set up are you refering too? Just the stock CRX steering set up?

 

Yeah, same stock stuff thats in all the Hondas...

 

Good info Earl, I'm just glad it happened off the launch and not anywhere further down track.

EDITED


Modified by Kataku2K3 at 8:02 PM 10/28/2004

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Kataku2K3 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Good info Earl, I'm just glad it happened off the launch and not anywhere further down track. </TD></TR></TABLE>

word!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ninesecrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yeah, same stock stuff thats in all the Hondas...</TD></TR></TABLE>

ok, thanks Mike. Glad you're ok man. Everything happens for a reason. There is probably a reason it happened where/when it did.

 

Just go kill those GM/Ecotec guys next season

 

Thanks guys, we plan to try and run with the big boys next season. We'll see. I am a big beleiver in things happen for a reason too. Just can find the reason right now, lolol...but I know its out there.

The axles did not break. I actually was able to put the steering back together at the end of the race and drive the car back on the trailer Going to find a frame shop, she wasnt too banged up and im fine, just had a sore neck the next day.
It broke the water box, piping, intercooler, jimfab bars, tb....and bent the front rail. Not too bad...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ninesecrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">and im fine, just had a sore neck the next day. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Good news. Human beings are tough to replace. Glad you are o.k. to race another day.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by earl &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">After viewing the video frame by frame of our accident, you can see the wheels have turned to the right on their own. There was no correcting the direction. We found the u-joint on the steering column had come apart so that the steering wheel was spinning freely. It would have had to come apart at the launch for this to have happened.
I would suggest that all you CRX guys (or anyone else with this set-up) check this u-joint under your dash before the next race.</TD></TR></TABLE>


all hondas have this joint!!!!!

 

Good news is I think we will have the crx back together for the idrc palmdale race.

 

damn thats crazy.....how did the u-joint fail . did it crack ? or did the pin that joins them come off or what?

 

Somehow it actually just pulled out. Pretty weird....

 

wow...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ninesecrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Somehow it actually just pulled out. Pretty weird....</TD></TR></TABLE>
Your car must launch hard!!!!

 

hey mike dont you guys use a quaife anyways? when they said axle snaped i was like should it be doing that? hmmmm well the important thing is its good to hear you came out with just a neck ache....get that checked anyways.....hope to see you back at the track with the new machine-pdang

 

this is the first time ive herd of this happening . maybe not the last . somthing might need to be done to prevent this.

 

Just get under the dash and check the tightness on the 2 bolts on the u-joint connecting the steering column to the steering box.

 

nice to see it happened at low speed and mike is cool. look forward to seeing you kick some *** at Palmdale.

 

I had this exact joint come appart on me after I got done working on a customers car and I was backing it out of the driveway with the wheels turned. The driveway was kinda steep and at the end of it there was about a 3" ledge, right when I went over this it just popped out and I had no steering..

This was on a 91 integra.

Glad you didn't get hurt Mike!

 

I just changed the rack on my 93 Civic from power to manual. We had fun installing the new rack, but once it was in I figured there was no way in hell the spline could ever pop out.
Guess I'm wrong. I'm going to check all the bolts this weekend as I was just concerned about the locking bolt.

On a side note, the manual rack is lighter than the power rack. (Sorry, forgot to get the exact weight)

Later, Marc

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by newgsr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I had this exact joint come appart on me after I got done working on a customers car and I was backing it out of the driveway with the wheels turned. The driveway was kinda steep and at the end of it there was about a 3" ledge, right when I went over this it just popped out and I had no steering..
</TD></TR></TABLE>Interesting....We are thinking about welding the u-joint to the steering box. The u-joint to the steering column will not come apart.

 

good **** mikey glad to see the car will be ready for palmdale..Your tow guy will be there sitting in the back..ahahahha