400SE steering column

[Lesliehedley]

I have noticed that there is only about 1/4" between the steering column and the offside top wishbone. When I jack up the front offside of the car and the suspension drops to full droop, the wishbone contacts the steering column. Does anyone have the same problem on their wedge? Am I worrying about this too much because that much droop on the suspension doesn't happen in practice or do I have something out of alignment? TIA

[rev-erend]

They are all a bit close but should not touch.

It should be an MOT failure point so does need fixing.

If you loosen the bulkhead nuts and column mounts you should be able to apply some force to push the rod away from the suspension while tightening the nuts again.

[Lesliehedley]

Thanks Rev. It only contacts with the suspension on full droop sp has never failed an MOT for this. But I'll give your solution a try as I don't like the idea that it can theoretically contact the column even if it's unlikely in practice.

[adam quantrill]

In my experience the only time this will happen while driving, is if you get air for a good few metres, such as a hump-back bridge.

[njhucker]

I had this in mine and cut 1/4" off the corner of the wishbone.

[KKson]

I would have thought chopping into a wishbone would be an MOT failure? The steering column all have the sliding inner. Having changed bottom bearings on both of mine, there's always some wriggle room in both steering UJS so I'd have thought with a bit of careful manipulating with a rubber hammer whilse the UJ bolts are slack you would get enough clearnace.

[Lesliehedley]

The problem I have is that there isn't any wriggle room. The top uj is up against the bearing so I can't move it any higher which would give clearance near the wishbone. I suspect my top uj is not the original and is longer than it ought to be.

[KKson]

Here's a picture of the 390's steering UJ, after I fitted a new bearing. is it similar?

[Lesliehedley]

I have the triangular steering column. I can't make out from your photo if you have or not, but the UJ looks very different to the one in my photo

[KKson]

My SEAC has the later column. I'll take a photo of it tomorrow to see how it compares.

[SEvans]

I don't know if that bearing is standard (mine just has a plastic bush) but it looks quite thick. If it's something that's been modified could you move the bearing on the inside of the car. This would then give you more room to move the UJ up. Alternatively find a thinner bearing?
Personally I wouldn't go chopping into wishbones. It shouldn't be necessary. I'd want to get to the root cause of the issue.
Cheers Steve

[adam quantrill]

This might sound radical but if the touching only happens on full stretch, then maybe adjust the shock absorber top mount a little so that it doesn't drop down quite so much - as it forms the "stop" for the suspension travel.

Maybe if the lower rubber were a little thinner it would do the trick?

It might be as simple as doing up the top mount nuts a lot harder to squash the mounting rubbers.

[KKson]

Photo of the steering UJ and shaft on the SEAC which uses the later 400SE column. The routing is exactly the same as on my 350i and 390SE. The shaft tucks behind the top suspension arm so cannot foul the wishbone whether it is loaded or dropped low. I'm a little confused as to which way your steering shaft runs??

[Lesliehedley]

Keith, my steering column runs along the same route as yours, and the uj looks the same as yours. The gap between the column and the upper wishbone is about 1/4" and yours looks that close too. When the suspension drops, the upper wishbone pivots downwards and the lip on the lower edge pivots up touching the column. I've arrowed it in your photo. By the way, your chassis looks in really good condition.

[KKson]

Okay thanks. The photo as shown has the suspension hanging low but still no fouling. I reckon there's about 15mm between the shaft and wishbone as is. I still think a bit of fiddling with the UJ joints might improve things. Leave you to it. Cheers.