Steering column confusion!!
Discussion
Having read Kevin Tooley's excellent description of a modification/refurbishment of a 350i steering column on TVR Wedge pages and knowing I had a similar movement problem of the steering wheel I thought I would check out the column on my 350i as a precursor to carrying out the mod myself.
However, the upper part of the column on my car is of triagular section and that didn't seem to match the pictures of Kevin Tooleys column in the pictures of his report.
Is anyone familar with what I am looking at on my car? Is it still possible to carry out this mod on my car?
Help appreciated
Cheers
Adrian
However, the upper part of the column on my car is of triagular section and that didn't seem to match the pictures of Kevin Tooleys column in the pictures of his report.
Is anyone familar with what I am looking at on my car? Is it still possible to carry out this mod on my car?
Help appreciated
Cheers
Adrian
These may help...
Ford part numbers F7042536, and F6121994, F1650936, F1568136
They come as a set, but have separate part numbers. Total cost £7.00 (last year)
Its a very basic affair, but easy to fit.
Remove the carpet in the drivers footweel, see 4 bolts/nuts. Spanner inside and under wheel arch. remove front wheel, steering shaft has a couple of bolts with lock tabs - remove which lets the shaft swing free. Old bearing will slip over now. Put in new bearing etc, do up the steering bolts WITH LOCK TABS!!! - you dont want those coming loose!
About an hour - Chris
Ford part numbers F7042536, and F6121994, F1650936, F1568136
They come as a set, but have separate part numbers. Total cost £7.00 (last year)
Its a very basic affair, but easy to fit.
Remove the carpet in the drivers footweel, see 4 bolts/nuts. Spanner inside and under wheel arch. remove front wheel, steering shaft has a couple of bolts with lock tabs - remove which lets the shaft swing free. Old bearing will slip over now. Put in new bearing etc, do up the steering bolts WITH LOCK TABS!!! - you dont want those coming loose!
About an hour - Chris
That does look spot on thanks Chris.
This job is high on the list. I have just disconnected the power steering pipes because one of them was very kinked and one was quite kinked and I think that is causing some back pressure in the system and causing some excess whine.
So whilst I am waiting for pipe unions to arrive I will get on with dismantling the column so that I can get both jobs done in the shortest time.
Was the replacement bearing a standard one or an upgrade like Kevin Tolleys upgrade? I quite liked the idea of that because it was complete overkill but not expensive and did the job nicely!
For the power steering pipes I am having to source M14x1.5mm male pipe unions because the unions that were on the existing pipes had been mullered with mole grips and weren't worth re-using. It'll be nice to have decent unions in there!
Cheers
Adrian
This job is high on the list. I have just disconnected the power steering pipes because one of them was very kinked and one was quite kinked and I think that is causing some back pressure in the system and causing some excess whine.
So whilst I am waiting for pipe unions to arrive I will get on with dismantling the column so that I can get both jobs done in the shortest time.
Was the replacement bearing a standard one or an upgrade like Kevin Tolleys upgrade? I quite liked the idea of that because it was complete overkill but not expensive and did the job nicely!
For the power steering pipes I am having to source M14x1.5mm male pipe unions because the unions that were on the existing pipes had been mullered with mole grips and weren't worth re-using. It'll be nice to have decent unions in there!
Cheers
Adrian
Hi Adrian... no this is the replacement from original. I take the view that mine had lasted 20 years so like for like was probably worth doing for simplicity! Steering was transformed after doing the job.
Ok on the PAS hoses and couplings... I had to replace all mine when I did my 500 Griff engine transplant but got a local hydraulic specialist to make mine up they were cheap as chips.
Good luck with the jobs list!!!
Chris
Ok on the PAS hoses and couplings... I had to replace all mine when I did my 500 Griff engine transplant but got a local hydraulic specialist to make mine up they were cheap as chips.
Good luck with the jobs list!!!
Chris
Thanks Chris
Am I imagining it right that when the triangular section steering column passes through the circular bearing you can see three small gaps where the 3 triangle flats are?
I know I really need to dismantle my column and check out what I have. I just haven't managed to do that yet!
A.
Am I imagining it right that when the triangular section steering column passes through the circular bearing you can see three small gaps where the 3 triangle flats are?
I know I really need to dismantle my column and check out what I have. I just haven't managed to do that yet!
A.
OK, so my column bearing was different in the end anyway!!
I bought the Sierra bush kit and also sourced a 1" sealed bearing, as per Kevin Tolleys mod.
But I didn't have the interference fit triagular circlip on mine.
The biggest problem I had was getting the triagular push to slide onto the column. It just didn't want to go. So I had to ease it out a little until it was snug but could just be moved. The problem was that when I first started sliding the triagular bearing on it kept wanting to push the steering column up into the sleeve. Tooke me a while to realise it was doing it. It did come back out of the sleeve, but not easily because there's no leverage when you're leaning into the footwell!!
Still, it's all back together now and all I need to do is the test drive before I can take it to Goodwood Breakfast Club in the morning.
Wish me luck!
Adrian
I bought the Sierra bush kit and also sourced a 1" sealed bearing, as per Kevin Tolleys mod.
But I didn't have the interference fit triagular circlip on mine.
The biggest problem I had was getting the triagular push to slide onto the column. It just didn't want to go. So I had to ease it out a little until it was snug but could just be moved. The problem was that when I first started sliding the triagular bearing on it kept wanting to push the steering column up into the sleeve. Tooke me a while to realise it was doing it. It did come back out of the sleeve, but not easily because there's no leverage when you're leaning into the footwell!!
Still, it's all back together now and all I need to do is the test drive before I can take it to Goodwood Breakfast Club in the morning.
Wish me luck!
Adrian
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