Up - Down Movement at base of steering column

[Bumpa]

I'm not familiar with how the bottom end of the steering column is constructed on my 1850HL. I have found that there is quite a lot of movement up and down in the plane shown by the arrow in my picture. It must be 1/4 to 1/2 inch play. I can demonstrate the movement by lifting the steering wheel, or from under the bonnet by lifting the UJ. Can someone please explain to me how the lower end of the column is held in the bulkhead. I see there is a fitting held by four bolts. I guess it's to do with that but Haynes doesn't mention it, and the parts manual isn't clear either.

[Toledo Man]

Either the bush or the hole in the plate for the bush could be worn. If you fit a SuperFlex bush you won't ever need to change it again. Is the bush fitted correctly? If it isn't all the way in the plate then you'll have the movement you've described. Something else to check is if the plate is moving.

[Flyfisherman]

Mike

The hole within the bulk head plate is probably oval thus giving horizontal movement. The only way to check this is undo the knuckle joint, remove the steering column, pop that bulkhead plate off, remove the bush and check the hole.

Paul

[Toledo Man]

It shouldn't be too difficult to do. The steering column is an adjustable one so the bottom part should just slide out once the top pinch bolt has been removed from the coupling and the adjuster has been loosened. Once the column is out of the way it should be easy enough to take the bush out to check if the hole has indeed ovalled.

[Bumpa]

I take it this is bush CRC360? If I need a new one, where can I buy a Superflex one?

EDIT:
Answering my own question, I see you can buy direct from Superflex. In fact their web site is most useful in showing all the different bushes. I have used their products before on MGs and they are excellent.

[tinweevil]

Those two dark colour blobs by the lower left bolt holding the bulkhead plate look awfully like bits of the bush to me.

[Bumpa]

Those two dark colour blobs by the lower left bolt holding the bulkhead plate look awfully like bits of the bush to me.

You may be right. The car has been in storage for 25 years so anything is possible! I have a whole host of jobs to do to get her roadworthy again.

[soe8m]

Those two dark colour blobs by the lower left bolt holding the bulkhead plate look awfully like bits of the bush to me.

You may be right. The car has been in storage for 25 years so anything is possible! I have a whole host of jobs to do to get her roadworthy again.

So it could be the orginal bush then........fitted the correct factory way from the inside out....

Jeroen

[GTS290N]

Those two dark colour blobs by the lower left bolt holding the bulkhead plate look awfully like bits of the bush to me.

You may be right. The car has been in storage for 25 years so anything is possible! I have a whole host of jobs to do to get her roadworthy again.

So it could be the orginal bush then........fitted the correct factory way from the inside out....

Jeroen

We need a "can open, worms everywhere" emoticon.

[olr159w]

I thought the steering bush was normally fitted from the inside out ie pushed through from the inside.

I have a superflex one; that's how I did it

And Bumpa your's looks a lot like mine did - I'd agree those look like bits of the old bushing

rgds
m

[Bumpa]

The parts diagram makes it look as though the bush is inserted from inside the car.

[Flyfisherman]

The parts diagram makes it look as though the bush is inserted from inside the car.

Correct - less chance of pushing the bush out when refitting the steering column, even BL got this one thing right.

Paul

[olr159w]

I would characterise one side of this steering bush as flatter and wider (as FlyFman says "less chance of pushing the bush out when refitting the steering column") and the other side as pointier and deeper - lending itself to pushing through the hole in the bulkhead.

So the only thing I would say about this is that once pushed through the bush presents visibly inside the engine compartment and the net result is that the upper UJ shaft assy ends up snug against the face of the steering bush - leading to consequent squeaky noises when turning the steering

[Jon Tilson]

You need a new bush. My thoughts on which way round it goes are well known....

Jonners

[soe8m]

There's a civilised correct way to fit this part and a way how the bush people would push it in.

Jeroen