Steering column movement

[AlanH]

Even though it is clamped tight, the inner shaft of my steering column moves about an inch backwards and forwards.

From the manual it looks as though it may be that a spire washer has come loose.

Since this looks like quite a job I would like to check if there may be any other reason before I take the thing apart.

The photos below show the movement.

steering.JPG (15.56 KiB) Viewed 684 times

[Richard the old one]

I would not take it apart first with the steering column pushed fully down try hitting the washer back, if you are lucky it will grip once again.

[AlanH]

As usual things have gone from bad to worse.

I found that the inner shaft was bent at the end. I have another shaft so I decided to take the thing apart and make one good one possibly with renewed bearings.

Haynes manual says - remove the nut washer and steering wheel (managed to knacker the thread doing that) then remove the circlip and withdraw the shaft.

Well the shaft won't budge so before I hit with my biggest hammer, is there anything else to remove?

Also, what is the thread at the top of the shaft? I thought it was 5/8 UNF but it looks very fine and since there is some bloke on Ebay offering the nut for over £12.00 I assume that it something else.

[Carledo]

Have you removed or disengaged the steering lock?
The tang of the engaged lock will stop the column coming out!

If you are stuck, I have at least 1 complete column assembly spare and the odd pre-owned nut.

Steve

[GTS290N]

Sprint95M has a column for sale with new bearings:
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=31905

[AlanH]

Have you removed or disengaged the steering lock?
The tang of the engaged lock will stop the column coming out!

Yes, I have taken the lock off.