Steering column - removal and refitting

Suspension and steering / Steering column - removal and refitting

Removal
1 Disconnect the battery negative lead.

2 Remove the steering wheel as described in Section 13.

3 Remove the screws and withdraw the steering column lower then upper shrouds (see illustrations).

14.3a Remove the screws. . .

14.3b . . . and withdraw the lower shroud . . .

14.3c . . . and upper shroud

4 Remove the three screws and withdraw the combination switch. Disconnect the wiring plug.

5 Remove the screws and withdraw the lower facia trim panel.

6 Mark the position of the clamp on the bottom of the inner column in relation to the steering gear pinion, then unscrew and remove the bolt (see illustration).

14.6 Steering column lower clamp

7 Remove the column mounting bolts (see illustration). An Allen key is required to unscrew one bolt, but the remaining bolt is a shear bolt and therefore its head must be drilled out using an 8.5 mm diameter drill.

14.7 Steering column mounting bolts

8 Lift the steering column and disconnect the inner column from the steering gear pinion splines, then withdraw the column from the car. Disconnect the ignition switch wiring plug, and unscrew the old shear bolt.

Refitting
9 Refitting is a reversal of removal, but make sure that the column is correctly positioned before tightening the shear bolt until its head is broken off. On models manufactured from late 1991, make sure that there is a clearance of 1 .0 mm between the end of the steering gear pinion and the adjacent part of the universal joint (see illustration).

14.9 On later models make sure that the clearance shown is maintained between the end of the steering gear pinion and the universal joint