Steering column Replacement

[anhamgrimmar]

Ayup folks, need to pick some brains!

Recently some w**kstain broke into my car (Subaru Justy 1.2GL 4x4 manual, if it makes a difference) and attempted to hotwire the thing

I can replace the ignition switch easy enough, but in trying to get the steering lock off, they yanked on the wheel and i guess they bent the column.

Now there's a nasty clunk a couple of times every rotation of the wheel, and it doesn't like to self center anymore (I'm NOT driving it at the mo, i don't want it to either bind up or shear off!), so i'm wondering how difficult it is to replace the column? or is it likely to be something else?

Thanks in advance

[1point7bar]

What do you mean by self centre?

[anhamgrimmar]

Every car i've had, wanted to straighten the wheels up (not under-steer/pushing wide, i know what that is) when driving in a turn. not hard enough to have to fight it, but just enough to know that the car would like to straighten the wheels up. This car used to do that, and now it doesn't.

[1point7bar]

Steering column shafts are very strong. It is unlikey to be bent.

there are notches on steering shafts that your ignition barrel lock engages.

If there is damage to the surrounding casting this could foul and cause the symptoms you describe.

A session with a round file or similar could possibly remove any unwanted burrs.

[anhamgrimmar]

Cheers 24.7PSI, just went out and had a go at it.

30mins to dissassemble, 20mins with a rat-tail (the outer case that the ign switch bolts around was bent inwards, the clunk was this hitting the lock recess in the column), 10mins to bend the indicator stalk bracket back into some sort of line and 30mins to put it back together.

now to find a new switch/barrel, cowl and rear quaterlight. ho hum