Steering Column problem

[Louey]

My steering wheel rocks about a fair bit - ever since I changed from a standard wheel to one from an Audi

I refitted the standard wheel and it still rocks about, so something has happened elsewhere. Can I get replacement bits for the steering column or is it a case of complete new/used one??

[R0B]

does this help [img][img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v211/ ... eering.jpg[/img][/img]

[Louey]

I thinkit might - I've seen the diagram in Haynes & Bentley but this gives me part numbers to check the price and availability of -

cheers rob, I must work out how to get my etka working

[stevewright76]

From a dif thread - I don't suppose you had to do this when you removed orig wheeel?

I've succeeded in disconnecting horn and wires, undoing lock nut and following full haynes manual steps to get it off - except for the bit where you 'use the palm of your hand to hit the spokes until it comes away from steering column'

I've palmed, bashed, hit, yanked etc and have only got half an inch movement (and radio nearly falling out!) before giving up in fustration and fear of breaking indicator stalks or damaging steering mechanism from using that much force may.

Can I cuase any damage to steering column by kicking/bashing harder and more if I try again?

[Louey]

I got Guz to wack my wheel off (ooerrr missus ) ask him, should come off without too much fuss though

[stevewright76]

and you've had a wobbly wheel since it was whaked off? kinda my concern....

[Aidan]

To fit the new steering wheel properly you should remove the shear bolts and reset the column length and fit new bolts to lock it up nicely, but if it is lateral wobble then the top bearing/bush is likely to be worn imho.

[Simon Baxter]

Take the Audi wheel off and put the standard one back on and your play will magickly disappear.
If you want to use that wheel you'll have to make a spacer to pre-load the top bearing, about 7mm ish.

[Louey]

Si? Does the spacer fit under the black sleeve thing that is on top of the coulmn - sorry crap description

[blu trukkie]

I'm watching this with interest......I have the same problem....oh, and so does the van... altho my wheel is not Audi, its not VW either...

[lukegillbilly]

in your picture infrontof 30a is a coupling with studs with bushes may not have out to do with your problem got bushes from corkhills in lpool could not get them from jk i found that i have no play in steering wheel at all now regards billy lpool

[Tex Ritter]

The top bush rides up onto the tapering part of the column when a non-standard wheel is fitted you have to make a spacer to take up this gap.

Make up a spacer about 3 to 5mm thick making sure it fits inside the column and on top of the original bush(looks like a finger ring) and you'll find the slackness will disappear, obviously if you refit the original wheel you'll have to remove your spacer.

Tex R

[Louey]

WHere abouts in the Haynes diagram does that go - or on the Ekta one above.

I'm overloaded with Uni stuff for exam tomorrow so can't get my head around it - thanks for help

[Horza]

I saw Louey's wobbly column last year and he seemed to have a spacer and the position of the top bush made no diference to the wobblyness at all.

Could the replaced wheel be a red herring? What else commonly causes wobbly columns? How can you tell by looking?

[Tex Ritter]

Page 174 in your Haynes manual, the part described as a spacer sleeve is a nylon type bush, this is the bush that rides up onto the taper, you have to fit a spacer the same diameter as the top of the bush and about 3 to 5mm thick. I made one from a piece of aluminium piping.

It is possible that a HARD rubber 'O' ring may suffice, as long as it stops the bush riding up, I had an 'O' ring fitted at one stage and it worked OK, but it must be HARD.

Tex R