Wobbly steering column

[King Fisher]

Nick's noticed his steering column has a bit of play in it, and he recalls something about a fibre washer being a common problem on the S. Can anyone point us in the right direction of where to get one, and also is it a DIY job?

Also, is it dangerous at all?

[GadgeS3C]

Check the column mounts under the dash but probably the steering column bush (in the bulkhead). Bit of a faff but not a difficult job. Quite a few posts on here on how to do it if you search.

Only tricky bit might be getting the bush and bearing as mine came from TVRcarparts. Guessing others have them too though.

Mine came from a dealer with a shiny MOT and lots of play in the bush so it can't be dangerous...

[Griffinr]

Mine developed play in the plastic bush that fits in the bulkhead bearing and takes the triangular part of the steering column. It was the triangular hole that went sloppy for some reason. Could be that the bearing starts to seize and the bush gets subjected to excess torque from the triangular part of the column. The bearing did seize some months later and was replaced. Hadn’t got a new bush so I packed the old one with some steel strip and its been ok since.

Rob.

[King Fisher]

GadgeS3C said:

Check the column mounts under the dash but probably the steering column bush (in the bulkhead). Bit of a faff but not a difficult job. Quite a few posts on here on how to do it if you search.

Only tricky bit might be getting the bush and bearing as mine came from TVRcarparts. Guessing others have them too though.

Mine came from a dealer with a shiny MOT and lots of play in the bush so it can't be dangerous...

Ok, I shall have a search. I'm sure someone will have one knocking around somewhere!

[GadgeS3C]

The definitive guide - helped me anyway!

http://www.tvrsseries.com/steering/steering_bush.p...

[techbotics]

if its play in steering and not rack moving check the uj's also.. Just done mine and the one I removed was shocking.. Would not want that to let go at any speed so imho dangerous.. Pretty easy to change though.

also you and nick going to chatsworth..? I think you are up my way.. I'm in harrogate..

cheers D S3

[King Fisher]

techbotics said:

if its play in steering and not rack moving check the uj's also.. Just done mine and the one I removed was shocking.. Would not want that to let go at any speed so imho dangerous.. Pretty easy to change though.

also you and nick going to chatsworth..? I think you are up my way.. I'm in harrogate..

cheers D S3

He's had a butchers and it looks like the column is moving at the bulkhead, suggesting the bearing. As far as I know, there is only one UJ on the steering column itself isn't there? It's like a triangular shape, with two bolts to clamp onto the other half?

And I think Nick will be going, he's missed it the last few years. As for me, not sure, depends what day it is!

[techbotics]

sounds like the bush.. Re uj's there are 2 one up top and one down by the rack..

[King Fisher]

techbotics said:

sounds like the bush.. Re uj's there are 2 one up top and one down by the rack..

I see on that guide there are five bolts to remove.....what's the betting they're all rusted solid?!

[Griffinr]

GadgeS3C said:

The definitive guide - helped me anyway!

http://www.tvrsseries.com/steering/steering_bush.p...

One thing it doesn't mention is the bearing is a 6005RS readily available from bearing stockists or ebay (30 pence wholesale from China the stockist told me). The plastic holder is usually alright unless someone's been a bit over enthusiastic with the bolt tightening. The bush is easy to pack as I mentioned before if you can't get one.

Rob.

[Andy Lynch]

I have been reading this with interest as mine is also a bit wobbly,

I have had a look and there appears to be play in the bulkhead bush, but is there another bush at the top end of the steering column? As my steering wheel will move several millimeters from side to side / up and down, and I assume that replacing the bush in the bulkhead won't completly cure this movement.

Thanks

Andy

[v8s4me]

Check the two bolts which hold the column support bracket to the dash/tub. The bolts are smaller than the holes in the bracket so there could be a bit of play there if the bolts are a bit loose.

[Griffinr]

Andy Lynch said:

I have had a look and there appears to be play in the bulkhead bush, but is there another bush at the top end of the steering column?
Thanks

Andy

Top bearing is a needle roller, the play will almost certainly be in the plastic bush at the bottom assuming the afore mentioned top bolts are tight. I was sure the play was at the top on mine but it was wear in the trianglular hole in the bush.

Rob.

[King Fisher]

Has anybody got any pictures of the mounting bolts for the column? I think it's looking like a roof off, upside down in the footwell job...

[Gerald-TVR]

Nah easy peasy







The cross bar in the third pic has the two oversize mounting holes anf the other bit is clear in the other pics

Easily accessed from outside with driver door open and you on your knees!!

HTH

[King Fisher]

Gerald-TVR said:

Nah easy peasy







The cross bar in the third pic has the two oversize mounting holes anf the other bit is clear in the other pics

Easily accessed from outside with driver door open and you on your knees!!

HTH

Cheers Norman!

[Andy Lynch]

Hellfire, judging by those pics, you have to strip a lot out to get to those bolts.

LOL

Andy

[tvrgit]

Andy Lynch said:

Hellfire, judging by those pics, you have to strip a lot out to get to those bolts.

LOL

Andy

No, you can remove those two bolts easily without removing anything else (although removing the lower steering cowl (two self-tappers) and disconnecting the wiring to the lighting / wiper switches helps a lot.

[greymrj]

So do we all have those two bolts going through a much larger hole in the column casting? I thought something had been left out of mine! On mine one of the bolts was slightly loose and it had appeared as rather strange small movements of the column from time to time. Also the threads of the bolt had started to 'fret' against the casting. I intend to make a couple of rubber bushes, probably out of heater hose, to go between the bolts and the casting. Anybody see any reason why not?

[v8s4me]

Rubber bushes should be OK. I tried metal bushes. These didn’t work because you do need some “slop” to get the bolts to line up with the threaded bracket on the tub. The centres of the large holes in the bracket on the column don’t match the centres of the threaded holes on the mounting point. Now there’s a surprise Let us know what happens.