ALERT Steering column break

[offlinej]

I built my Caterham 1995, About a year ago while making a turn the steering wheel suddenly went free, disconnected from road wheels. Fortunately I had just made it into a parking lot so got it stopped, The yoke system for the sliding movement just inside engine compartment had cracked in the right angle "crotch." and left upper and lower column disconnected. Folks in Denver had heard of this and said there is an updated version. I bought it, installed it and all new flexible brake lines,sold the thing after checking all brake lines when one had the steel braid pull out of the fitting and line burst so all flexible lines were replaced. Sold with complete disclosure.
IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT ANGLES WHERE THE CUTS WERE MADE TO ALLOW TOP AND BOTTOM TO SLIDE UPON EACH OTHER, ANOTHER 30 SECS. SOONER AND I WOULD BE DEAD. REPLACE WITH NEW HAVING CURVED MILLINGS INSTEAD OF CUT IN YOU YOUR STEERING COLUMN. ALSO FIND A NONCATERHAM SET OF BRAKE LINES.
Jay, [e-mail]

[downsman]

Thanks for the warning
But quite a few people have experienced early De Dion tube failures, and I've heard if the early type front stub axles breaking off and loosing a front wheel, so there are several well known problems with the cars...............

[andylaight]

happy that you're ok, but 23 years of ownership/old and you didn't think to check it ???

[Eric Mc]

I've had my Caterham 22 years. Time for a quick check.

Would anybody be able to post a photo of what the failure looks like?

[Mclavert]

So glad you didn’t have an accident. Exactly the same thing happened to me about 10 years ago on my 1991 car. The issue appears to be that (a batch?) of upper steering columns were manufactured where the corners of the cut out for the clamp where the upper land lower columns join has square corners rather than being radiused. Over time, a stress fracture can build up until it fails. I don’t believe a developing crack would be easy to spot but I strongly suggest that anyone with an ‘older’ Caterham checks that the corners of their cutout is properly radiused and consider swapping it out if it’s not...

[Dave J]

Hi
Any pictures of the failure please ?.

Would be good to see the detail of the part and mode of failure .