Steering Column Blues

[taffstalini]

Help!

My S2 has developed an anoying rattle in the steering column around the seal to the bulkhead (pedle area).

This does not inspire spirited driving as feedback is accompanied by general shaking. This presents a bit of a problem as i'm going to Cadwell on friday (yes i know its a bit late now).

Does anyone have similar experience of this problem?

If so how were you able to resolve it, what parts do i need and how do i fit them?

Any advice would be welcomed.

Cheers in advance,

MW

[spnracing]

This must be the old S2 problem of a worn UJ? I think the S2 ones were nylon stuff, the S3 onwards had a metal version and they're inter-changable.

[mhibbins]

There is a bearing in the bulkhead that used to be nylon and is now a metal ball bearing roller bearing if you see what I mean. There could be play in this which would cause up and down movement in the steering column.

If this bearing was good and the top UJ was worn then you wouldn't get up and down movement of the actual wheel but you would probably either get stiffness when turning the wheel or play when turning the wheel.

The bulkhead bearing is pretty easy to change and very cheap. If you do a search through the s forum you'll find the thread where I did it last time and hopefully I'll have put who I bought it from as I can't remember.

the bearing is held in with a number of small bolts where the nuts are supposed to be held captive inside the car with glue. Mine weren't captive and just spun around so I needed an assistant, if your's are still captive then you'll be able to do it yourself. Basically you disconnect the column from the UJ (marking its position), undo the two nuts holding the top of the column, withdraw the column from the bearing, undo the bearing holder nuts, remove bearing and assembly is the opposite of disassembly.

Regards,

Mark

[chin up]

Sounds familiar!!! My car had a new ball bearing bush fitted before I got it, so I don't think it's that. I looked at the steering column a while ago, and if I remember rightly, there is a triangular section of tube into which slides a rod, presumably it is a collapsable column. Play between these two, NOT ENOUGH to cause a danger I might add, seems to be the cause of my rattle. In fact, I'm almost definate there is some play there as I can feel it when I place my hand on the meeting point of tube and inner rod, if you get me.

shpub - help - sort us out will you???

Cheers, chin up.

[shpub]

Sell the car will solve the problem.

Chcek the obvious things like steering column and rack mounts as the problem could be caused bt these bits moving more than anything else. The bulkhead bearing could be at fault but chcek the obvious first. Also it could be a ball joint or some other suspension fault that is creating vibration. Chcek that lot out first before going more esoteric...

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk