Steering Column Hole

[V8 Vum]

I remeber quite a while back someone telling us they had found a fairly good way of sealing the hole where the steering coumn passes through the front bulk-head. I believe it was some sort of rubber bellow with bearings but can no longer find any reference to it.

I for one, would rather not leave the hole as it is.

OK so ruggedness and trouser-blowing might be the name of the game, but I am not sure I need such ventilation up my......and to me this seems a tad unfinished.

Unfortunately I have failed to locate a suitable seal or a suitable method.

What do the production boys use?
Has anyone successfully found a neat and professional solution?

cheers

Keith

[spatz]

i personally do not care but have not been driving the car too much (still waiting for the plates) but I would say the easiest would be to find a rubber below that can be fixed to the column with a hose clamp and is large enough to be bended to sit plain on the alloy (best use the silicon stuff from the bushing to allow for easy movement). In my car there is not much space around the hole (and the hole is a little bigger then it should, (f....cking nightmare to find the right shape and location....) so the bellow could not be too large in diameter but that could be different in another build

[V8 Vum]

Actually come to think of it, there is a plastic bearing near the dash-end of the shaft. If we could find a source of these, I suppose the next thing wiould be to find a bellow that the bearing could be pipe-clipped in with the larrg end fixed to the ally bulkhead. Allm this could be done on the battery-side!

so where can I get one those bearings, and who does the appropriate bellows?
I feel a good solution coming on!

cheers

Keith

[ezakimak]

CV boot and a small plastic bushing.

i think there is a photo on hear somewhere.
http://www.ultimabuild.com/

[ezakimak]

http://www.ultimabuild.com/august_2004/000688.htm

[V8 Vum]

ezakimak said:

http://www.ultimabuild.com/august_2004/000688.htm

Ryan, thats the one - thanks for finding for me. What I need now is to source the bush...

cheers

keith

[GTR-P]

This product works very well.

http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productselection....

I used a short length of clear PTFE hose (3/4" Dia.) to act as a bearing between the seal and the steering shaft.
The PTFE hose is rigid enough to be held by the rubber seal and the inside Dia. is large enough to provide clearance for steering shaft rotation without any binding.

Edited by GTR-P on Monday 10th May 18:57

[spatz]

very good solution thanks

[V8 Vum]

GTR-P said:

I used a short length of clear PTFE hose (3/4" Dia.)

Was that the internal or external dia? ie if internal then I presume 4336-001-750
is the one to use. If external, then next one down 4336-001-625????


cheers

Keith

Edited by V8 Vum on Tuesday 11th May 09:23

[cliveg]

That looks a neat solution. Does anyone know where to get small quantities of PTFE hose, ideally in UK, or can anyone suggest a suitable alternative? Thanks

Edited by cliveg on Tuesday 11th May 10:14

[V8 Vum]

I was wondering if the factory could supply the bush that is pressed into the chassis support for the column?
That would be ideal.

cheers

keith

[V8 Vum]

Shaft at this point is 5/8" (16mm) so the factory says, which is smaller than the head bush unfortunately. So now we have to find a source of ID 5/8" bushes!!! ...and then press it into the Sales-it bellows - 'Job-Done!'

Anyone?

cheers

keith

Edited by V8 Vum on Tuesday 11th May 10:49

[ezakimak]

http://cgi.ebay.com/3-4-DIA-PTFE-TEFLON-ROD-3-7-8-...

run a drill through that and you would be just about there.

[GTR-P]

The PTFE hose used was 3/4" Outside Dia. The lower Steering shaft is 9/16" Dia.
I used Seals-It Gromet p/n 4336-001-750 (3/4" hole)

[s6otty]

Hi,

First post, but have been reading for ages, investigating for when I build mine!

PTFE - If a few people want them, finalize the sizes and Ill machine some up, possibly better with a ring on aka a coolant hose to stop the gater slippng off!

Open to suggestions.

(I just happen to have a machine shop at my disposal! :-).........)

Scott