Steering column thru bulkhead - help please

Hi

I noticed a weird clanging whilst driving today and noticed steering wheel had a lot of play. Then when I stopped and looked down I saw that the steering column was flapping about in the bulkhead hole. Inspecting the other side in the engine bay, I saw what looked like a plastic bush that had slid down the steering column to the UJ.

Looking in bible I couldn't figure out whether this was a bush type or a bearing and this plastic insert was the bearing centre. Anyway I managed to hammer this plastic insert back into the bulkhead and it has held the column back in place for now. Can I just ask if on V8S's if they use a bearing or bush and also if what I've described is just that this plastic inset has worked loose or whether it sounds like it's broken and I've just temporarily fixed it by hammering it back in?

Hope that makes sense. Probably easier with some pictures which I can post tomorrow if need be.

Thanks for any pointers on this one

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&amp...

This might help if the bearing is ok you can put a clip on it to stop it from sliding out again

Assuming you still have the original plastic bush, I would get the whole lot replaced. It has transformed the steering on my car. I recently replaced mine on an S3 V6, using the kit from ML Performance Parts. I know I could have got the bits cheaper by shopping around and getting the essential items from engineering suppliers, but getting the complete kit is just easier.

Very easy to do. I followed the guide referenced above. Some words of advice though from my experience.

The finishing on the fibreglass of the bulkhead was very un-even, making it difficult to correctly line up the metal bearing housing. The old plastic one had just deformed to match the profile of the fibreglass.
The blots supplied by MLP stripped the treads with very little force while.
The holes on the bulkhead did not line up perfectly, and needed to be enlarged very slightly to get the housing to fit.
Get yourself some bigger penny / panel washers to use against the fibreglass.
Make a note of the position of the steering wheel, and universal joints if you do not want to have to take everything apart and do it again.
I had to rewire the ignition as a few of the wires decided that they did not like being moved and detached themselves from the ignition barrel and from the spade connectors.

Hi everyone. Cheers for the replies. Clicking those links to see that other people have experienced the exact same thing has put my mind at ease now that the plastic insert just slipped out and bearing is not broken. Seems to me it's just a case of the 'special washer' being missing as indicated on the exploded parts diagram on that linked thread. This holds the plastic insert in place as could a spring clip or as someone even said, so could a cable tie. Seems I've got the plastic insert fed in from engine bay side rather than cabin side but reading what was being said it seemed they came out of the factory both way round?!

Looking at those ML parts bearing kits, I would say that's what I've already got rather than the older style nylon bush and steel bearing type.

So answer is just order a clip to hold the insert in place. Its lasted 1000s of miles without it though so must have been pretty well solid jammed In there. Thanks again. This forum is class!

I'm not in a hurry for this so how would I go about getting the parts individually? Has anyone got a scrap bearing and assembly so I can see how it all gows together?

I have a number of similar bearings in the garage. Can someone tell me the number so I can cross check please? I'll need the manufacturer as well please. It's etched on the edge of the outter face.

It's £50+vat on the website was less when I replaced mine. No issues fitting and the alloy piece is very nice

Cheers Damian

Any good Joe if you enlarge it you should get the number

Thank you.

Quite probably.

Does anyone know different?