Loose steering column

[simon.williams]

Good afternoon,

My steering column seems to clamp firmly, but there is a bit of play no matter how tight I clamp it, and when moved it can be heard knocking against the hole where it passes through the bulkhead.

I’ve taken off the cowling, the clamp itself (split pin was a pain but got it out eventually) and the parcel shelf, can’t see anything obvious.

In the Stag the column is fixed to the bulkhead as well as the clamp, but the PI doesn’t have this.

I expect I will work it out, but has anyone had this issue before?

Thank you in advance!

Simon

[Mike Stevens]

There should be a grommet through the bulkhead for the steering column. Chris Witor has them - 153240P. They go hard, break up and fall out!

[johnnydog]

Mike is correct in what he says about this grommet - I have a Mk2 2000 where the grommet has disintegrated, and without it in position, there is a lot of movement of the column, especially in the 'up and down' direction. As this car doesn't have PAS, the movement is particularly noticeable when manoevring at slow speed when a lot of effort on the steering wheel is required!

[simon.williams]

Thank you! One less thing to worry about for the MOT!

[simon.williams]

For once a simple job that has taken all the play out of the steering column. OK so it was the usual battle to remove the column spline from the universal joint (and get it back in) but what a difference a bit of plastic makes - thank you for the info!