Steering column bushes, HELP

[John E]

I'm trying to change the two steering bushes on my 1990 LC. I've taken off the collapsable clamp but how does the inner column come out. Does it come into the car or into the engine bay. Once its out how the hell do you replace the bottom bush. The top one should be easy as its just in the dash area but I'm not sure about the bottom one once the column is out.

[Chelspeed]

The easiest way is into the car because you can leave the steering wheel on and also use it to pull on. Don't forget to put the ignition key in and turn it to disengage the steering lock otherwise it'll stop the column coming out. Once thats done and the clamp removed the top half of the column should simply pull up into the car.

 

The bushes fit just inside each end of the column. Theres a small round lump on the top and bottom of the rubber rubber which locates it, fitting into holes in the top and bottom of the column, you should see this on the new bush. Slide something down the coloumn from the other end to tap the bush out, to make it easier you could try and squash the lump downs with something like a large screwdriver from the outside. The holes for the bottom bush are just inside the cockpit area just before it protrudes into the engine bay.

[John E]

Many thanks, had visions of totally mucking it up and having to remove big lumps of bodywork to remove.

[John E]

Still having a problem with this. The inner column comes out about 4 inches and then comes to a dead stop. Any further ideas

[Chelspeed]

Not really. Some thoughts.

 

The outer column slides over the inner by about 5 inches. Could be that the last half inch of the inner (which is back to full diameter after the flattened section) is catching in the slot in the outer. Try wiggling it around, turning the outer while the inner stays still should let you get the flat on the inner away from the slot in the outer.

 

The outer column also sticks out of the supporting tube by about 5 inches. Is the slot in the outer catching in the lower bush?

 

If that doesn't help then a loads of WD40, wiggling around and sliding in and out then a loud swear and stamping of feet. Go and have a cup of coffee. Then go back and it'll work first time.

[Chelspeed]

Did that work then?

[John E]

Sort of. I concluded that the slot into which the steering lock slots is in effect a raised part of the inner column and that it was this that was stopping the column from coming out. I pushed the inner column down into the dash and then removed the bush and from inside the engine bay managed to tap the now telescoped outer column back into a new bush. It seems to me that the only way to remove the bottom bush on my chassis is to pull out the inner column once the upper bush is removed. This will give a large enough hole to pull it through. I have to admit that I got pretty hacked off and have left it with just the top bush having been renewed. All of the lateral play has gone however and the steering feels much more positive.

Thanks for your help, between us we got there in the end. Cheers

[Chelspeed]

Could be I guess. What I neglected to mention is that I have the QR steering wheel which has no steering lock facility. From my old escort days I imagined the steering lock bit in the upper column to be nothing more than a hole. Perhaps on the Caterham this is reinforced around the edges to make it stronger.