Column bush

[richardthestag]

Proper first time out this year, yeah I know

Anyway spirited drive, all is well except for lots of movement in steering column, identified problem being lower bush.

While looking at it I found these bits in the footwell.

20150509_165826.jpg

Damn and blast

MOT due soon also

[DJT]

Richard,

These are for the plastic bushes that sit part way up the column between the two sections. New bushes are now available, but a b***** to fit. Those springs don't come with the new ones, so don't lose them.

[richardthestag]

you mean these

http://www.ldparts.co.uk/shop/shop.php?c=viewproduct&pid=945&cat=48&sid=sid1c3eb84ffc2641e683fd102536c46c05

eek, and to fit? any useful tips or tricks?

[wilf]

Did that job a while back. My answer was lots of grease so the new rubber bits did not get moved out of position as you reassemble the column tubes.

[jleyton]

Did mine a couple of weeks ago, fairly easily.

only on phone now but will try and explain more fully tomorrow

cheers

julian

[Nambo]

If you want to have a completely solid feel to your steering wheel, you might want to try what I did to mine http://socforum.com/forum/showthread...position/page2 namely carefully measuring the gap between you bolted up steering wheel, and the top of your upper bush, and filling the gap with the precise amount of spacers etc, so that the bushes are held tight together, but without being tight enough to cause brinelling.

Pete Charlton

[jleyton]

I'm up ready to go off on a rally but have now got some time to spare so here goes with an explanation of how to fit those two expensive bushes.

Having read some horror stories on here I was a little apprehensive but I needn't have been as it all went very smoothly and quickly.

As has been suggested, you should hold them in place with (grease) Actually, I used Vaseline as I believe it is less likely to cause problems with the bush later (oooh err...)

Once they are in place in the outer column tube, I found the trick was to take the inner tube and put a small chamfer on the end - I did it on a grinding wheel. Make sure the chamfer is very smooth then lubricate with more vaseline and start feeding it into he outer tube. As soon as you can feel it touching the first bush, start rotating the inner tube and this action, together with the chamfer, will help to centralise it and allow it to go through the bush smoothly. If you watch the little tabs you can tell whether it is going in properly.

Once it's through the first bush, repeat the action for the second bush, which should be a little easier as the inner tube is already centralised by the first bush.

Good luck, but remember that chamfer on the leading edge of the inner tube is the key to an easy operation.

Cheers

Julian

[DJT]

Morning J.

Recent discussion on these remanufactured bushes was that they needed some fettling as there was a lot of moulding flash to remove. The picture on the LD website shows a bush that doesn't appear to need trimming Is that the case? And did you refit the thin spring shims?

[Knockwurst]

^^ I agree with Julian. I used exactly the same method, including Vaseline and as long as you are patient, it is not too bad. I got rid of all the column play, but I do now have an annoying squeak from the new upper bearings.

[malc4d]

Are the springs a separate item, or in the rubber bush ?

[richardthestag]

separate I think, The bush has two lugs that would fit through holes in the spring.

I have a spare column but it is in bits

Just about to remove mine from the car. will report back on findings

[jleyton]

Morning J.
Recent discussion on these remanufactured bushes was that they needed some fettling as there was a lot of moulding flash to remove. The picture on the LD website shows a bush that doesn't appear to need trimming Is that the case? And did you refit the thin spring shims?

Hi Dave,

My bushes needed only a little bit of fettling - I got them fromLD.

I had lost one of the thin spring shims so I reused three of the four.

Malc: I would describe the items more as shims than springs and they simply fit as Richard has described. The bush is more like nylon than rubber btw.

Cheers

Julian

[DJT]

Thanks J. A job for the winter.......

[richardthestag]

been productive today

Ordered bushes from LD part

Removed column, note lower hole on outer column

20150510_133950.jpg

Dash mount was a bit bent! eek, have another which I will use

20150510_134635.jpg

stripped and ready for the blast cabinet

20150510_142120.jpg

painted and ready for new bushes, I only have three of the metal shim springs also. Will see what I can do

20150510_161447.jpg

20150510_161502.jpg

[richardthestag]

brief update

The two halfs of the outer column are back together again. I must say that assembling with new bushes and old springs proved to be impossible, even with top advise given here!!

getting the bushes into place on their own was straighforward enough. smear of lube, folded them in half (think a letter c rather that a letter O, I made sure the lugs were in the middle of the c if you get my drift) and for the middle bush I teased it into position slowly using a long flat blade screwdriver then popped it back into an o shape. the end bush was a load easier because I could use fingers.

I dressed the end of the inner shaft with a file so it had the slightest chamfer then used a twist action and firm hand to push together.

Even when assembled the inner shaft in very tight and has no play. Maybe the newer items are designed for use without the springs

Rest of it goes together later