Shear bolts on steering - why?

[jamesc76]

Not removed mine, but on normal cars its so you cant just undo the lock and drive off!

[dansimpson]

Not removed mine, but on normal cars its so you cant just undo the lock and drive off!

So ther would be no issues other than security if I replace them with ordinary bolts?
If I "ever"!! have to remove the steering again wouldnt like to pratt around with shear bolts so would rather just replace with standard bolts
Dan

[CycloneMike]

It's just a primative secuity feature. It would be pointless having an ignition/steering lock if it could be quickly and easily overcome by removing two normal bolts allowing the complete steering column to be rotated.

[jamesc76]

yeah can replace with normal bolts, dunno what insurance would say if ya van was stolen/recovered but then they rarely find um!

[dansimpson]

Its a bit of b- rollocks then as most people seem to have one flat side left, which would give mole grips a purchase (mine was rounded/cone shape hence hassle) so they would be easy to remove anyway.

New bolts methinks, anyway, stupid engineering, if theyd put nylock nuts on you'd need to remove the dash and console to get to them
Dan

[New Kentish Campers]

They dont fit nylock nuts due to the cost, if a sheerbolt does the job just as well plus there's the security issue too; all cars of that era had them fitted to stop thieves removing the steering lock/ign barrel. A sheer-bolt is just one item to fit on the line whereas if nuts were to be fitted too, then thats more work and cost, both in time and materials.

I can remember going to the FoMoCO plant in Daventry once and staff members could put cost saving suggestions into a box so the management could check the idea out. If it was a runner, that employee would receive a decent bonus for the idea. So, if you are building thousands of vehicles and say 2 nuts could be saved per vehicle in the process, that saves the company many thousand of pounds in material costs plus the labour too.

[ben50]

I ordered new ones from VW when I refitted my dash after welding up the corners of the windscreen. For some reason I had it in my head that it was part of the safety system and helped the steering collapse in a crash.

I had to wait a week and they were about £5 for two bolts (

Sounds like I could have just used normal bolts and saved myself a few quid and a bit of waiting time!

[dansimpson]

I ordered new ones from VW when I refitted my dash after welding up the corners of the windscreen. For some reason I had it in my head that it was part of the safety system and helped the steering collapse in a crash.

I had to wait a week and they were about £5 for two bolts (

Sounds like I could have just used normal bolts and saved myself a few quid and a bit of waiting time!

Pleased I didnt order any at that price - the extra fiver can go toward a new speedo cable as broke it when replacing the dash

[Cruz]

£2.20 each plus vat to be exact

[grumfuttock]

i drilled out my shear bolts and replaced with cap screws.

they wont come loose, and unless you have the right hex key you cannot remove them.