Chim steering column

[Christhurlow61]

Hi can any of you help I have a 93 chim with really stiff steering ,at first I thought it was the ujs took them off fine ,next was ball joints there all fine ,drivers side tie rod end was a little stiff but now lubed is ok ,with nothing conected to steering column it is still really hard to turn so question is how does the column come out and what's making it stiff

[phillpot]

Sounds like knackered bearing............... clicky?


No doubt a bit of Googling will find some old posts with further advice

[Steve_D]

After disconnecting the electrics there are two bolts holding the column in place at the top. Once free at the top the shaft should just pull out of the bottom bearing.
If you are lucky the problem is that bottom bearing. Remove it and get the part number off it and buy one on ebay for less than a fiver.
But....
You may find it is one of the bearings in the top of the shaft. They have plastic cages that space the bearing balls. This cage breaks up allowing the balls to move out of the correct spacing and jamb. These bearings are not replaceable so you would have to find a replacement column.
Ask me how I know.

Steve

[Christhurlow61]

Thanks are you sure you don't undo the 5 bolts at the base of steering column I have hitthe splined end ,that has moved up toward the steering wheel

[Steve_D]

Christhurlow61 said:

Thanks are you sure you don't undo the 5 bolts at the base of steering column I have hitthe splined end ,that has moved up toward the steering wheel

Either the shaft will come out of the bearing or the bearing will come out of the housing.
The original housing (with the five or is it 6 bolts) was plastic and most are distorted and a mess by now so you may want to invest in one of the alloy ones now available.

Steve

[Christhurlow61]

In the wheel arch is a round plastic disc with the shaft sticking through centre I have tried to remove it but doesn't move , outside of the plastic disc are 5 rivet heads ,do you now what rivets do can you drill them out