URGENT Steering help needed

[Andrew Evers]

My wiper arm hasn't been working properly for a while now so I replaced it this morning. No problems except I didn't mark where I took my steering wheel off. So I drove the van this afternoon and the steering wheel wasn't centred. It wasn't a problem, but I decided to pop it off and place the wheel back on centre whilst the wife and kids went around Sainsbury's.

Did as I've done in the past, taken the horn off and removed the nut. I lifted the wheel out carefully, centred it and went to put it back on. It wouldn't go, I jiggled it a little and it usually slots in perfectly. Not this time. No matter what I do the wheel will not go down far enough to get the nut on. Literally only need it to go 2mm further down and the nut would just go on. The wife wasn't to impressed to find out we couldn't drive home. Has anyone got any idea what the problem might be. I've done it in the past and it's always been fine. The van is currently in sainbury's Car Park and will be there until I can get it sorted. (The bloke in Sainsburys, said it was fine to leave it.)

Any help appreciated. It's the standard original wheel.
Thanks Andrew

[big red bus]

s a really fine spline. should go on as said in any pos as its not master splined. The end of the splines on the steering wheel or top of column are not damaged? Only thing I can see would stop it going down.

[boatdog]

as above had mine off a few times usually goes onwith a bit of a giggle mine was offset when i first got the van so i did as you did just pop it off turn it a bit and then back on, all it can be is crud or a bit of damage to the top of the splines or underneath of the wheel surprising how small a burr can be to stopyou getting it back together

[Andrew Evers]

The splines all seemed fine. And it goes on mostly it's just the last 5mm.

[lhd]

Look at the bottom of the column where the saftey coupling is,its under that rubber boot right at the bottom of the column, lift it up with your foot as you slide the steering wheel over,iirc the column can slide down slightly.
Rob.

[Cruz]

While you are there check that square rubber coupling too. Mine was cracked to buggery

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 5#p7518192" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Andrew Evers]

Thanks for all the advice I'll head down tomorrow and see if I can sort it. It's pouring with rain and it's a 3 mile walk. I'll let you know how it goes.

[Andrew Evers]

So got back to the van this morning. Thanks to lhd as the column had dropped about 8mm. It wasn't the bit right at the bottom under the boot though, it was the actual steering column. Having lifted that the wheel still wouldn't go on. I used a bit of force and their was just about enough room to get the nut on the top over the steering wheel. I then tightened this down and the wheel was on fine. I hadn't however put the plastic covers back on, so had o use a load of force to get the wheel back off. It again went back on with a bit of force. The steering is now all fine, but the wheel isn't as easy to remove now. Cruz I checked the rubber coupling and it seemed fine, but I'll keep an eye on it.
Thanks for all the advice, I would have been stuffed without it.
Andrew