Lower steering coumn

[KennyW]

Hi all,

Just a quick update re the excessive play in my steering rack.

The cause is the UJ which goes onto the steering pinion, it would appear to have lost something but the joint moves in more directions than intended.

Robert_e_smart has sent me a replacement which is in excellent condition with NO play.

I will update the thread with a How to for anyone esles information. I had a practice run this morning and its only 2 hour job from start to finish.

I will put up some photo's of the old and new UJ's for reference.

Kenny

[KennyW]

Here are photos of the old UJ and new UJ

OLD UJ



NEW UJ



If you look closely you see the space in the old one compared to the new UJ

Kenny

[KennyW]

Hi All,

Here is my guide to changing the lower steerin column:

First loosen the wheel nuts on the F/O/S wheel and jack up the front of the car and place on Axle stands. I put mine under the front subframe.

Remove the Hex screw on the steering pinion size 6mm.

Now, disconnect the battery for safety.

Inside the car turn the steering wheel 90 degrees and undo the 2 torx screws T30 I think

Remove the airbag by unpluging the airbag plug (orange) and the 2 black plugs which fit onto the radio controls/paddles on the steering wheel..

There is no need to remove the 2 spade terminals on the airbag.

Uncscrew the torx screw T45 holding the steering wheel to the column and remove the steering wheel some gentle persuasion.

There is no requirement to remove both stalks from the steering column just unplug the wiring connectors from them.

Unplug the black, grey and red connectors for the ignition.

Disconnect the plug for the dimmer switch and depending if its a S2 disconnect the plug for the Immob ariel.

Follow the wiring for the airbag and horn until you see the airbag orange plug and the adjacent black plug disconnect them.

On the steering column there are 4 13mm nuts which hold the column to the frame loosen these nuts but not all the way. The BOL has some good photos of these.

Remove the 13mm bolt holding the UJ to the lower column then unscrew the 4 nuts mentioned above and withdraw the upper column.

On the foot well there is a rubber protector with 3 arrows on it. Lift this up and underneath there is black plastic frame with a rubber insert.
There are 3 clips which hold the plastic into the bulkhead gently lever one of them out and the frame will come out.

If you pull gently on the lower steering column it will release itself from the steering pinion.

As they say in the BOL fitting is the reverse of removal

It only took me about 2 hours to take the column off and replace.

Kenny

[robert_e_smart]

Wow there was some difference between them.

[KennyW]

My thoughts about the differences are, the vehicle was on west coast of scotland on the sea front where there would be alot of salt spray which may have eaten away the metal spacers leaving the rubber behind.

Kenny