Steering colum bush replacement

[Jack]

I've got a diesel without power steering and hence when you turn, there is a tendency to pull quite hard on the wheel. Perhaps as a result of this the bush at the steering wheel end of the column is worn to the point that the steering wheel moves up and down about 2mm or so. It's quite annoying on the tickover as the whole steering wheel vibrates very noisily unless you hang onto it tightly.

My question - in the absence of any Haynes "spanner rating" for the job, how easy is it to replace this bush? I think it's a column out job. Any advice / hints to make life easy? Oh, and where can I get the bush (assuming my local factor does not sell them).

[E_T_V]

You'll be pleased to know ti is a relatively strightforward job. Much easier if you are a contortionist(sp?) but easy all the same.

Simply remove the linkage from the bottom of the column (a bit fiddly to do) then withdraw the steering wheel and inner shaft of the column as a complete unit (it saves fighting to get the steering wheel off of the shaft.)
If you then remove the steering cowl plasitcs (taking care not to break them - remember the screw behind the hazard light switch).
You might then be able to replace the bush with the coumn in place. If not remove the 4 bolts that retain it to the dash (two top and two bottom) and there you have it.

I have heard of people fabricating their own bushes (out of all sorts of unsuitable things) but I think it might still be available from rover if you give them the part number.

[E_T_V]

Oh and if you get it done sucessfully would you like to take a few pictures along the way and make a How to....article for the website or a FAQ for the forum?

The same goes for anyone else out there preparing to do a job on their car. If you think others could benefit from your experiences then please put fingers to keyboard.

[e692wtt]

And as you reassemble it all, don't forget to grease the top and bottom bushes, to avoid having to do it all again too soon as well as make the steering that bit lighter ;) .

You may possibly have to put the 'Ignition Key' in position 'I' to allow the inner column to move though, but make sure the steering wheel lines up afterwards anyway :laugh: .

I think it's pretty easy, certainly a lot easier than reading about it, anyway! :)

[Simon]

The bushes are available readily from dealers. Did mine 6 months ago and it was as easy as described, using the same process. Mark you, the design has changed a little so what you remove might not be identical to the new one going in but it will restore that new feeling once more. Original bushes can be a bit tight to remove, I had to melt mine out with a soldering iron!

[Jack]

Just ordered the bushes today from the Rover dealer. They had to do some phoning around as they come in packs of 5 and he didn't want 4 spare ones cluttering up his shelves. He eventually found another dealer with one on their shelf.

Total cost for 2 bushes - £7.36 inc. VAT.

I'll do it in a fortnight (can't this weekend) and take photos. I will then be back to ask how to put the photos on the site! ;)

[Beaker]

I'll do it in a fortnight (can't this weekend) and take photos. I will then be back to ask how to put the photos on the site! ;)

Will be good for our FAQ section :)

[E_T_V]

Good news!

If you write up a "How to...." article with photos mail it to me (if you can't figure ot how to post it up on here) and I'll put it up in the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) part of the forum.

Ta and good luck

Dan

[Jack]

Done it! Except, erm, now the indicators don't cancel. Doh!

Anyway, no problems with it at all except Rover must have updated the column at some point 'cos mine didn't taper down until it got to the bottom splines. The bottom bush supplied was therefore too small. It was the top bush that was worn so I just changed that one and re-greased the lower one.

Spent ages :banghead: trying to find somewhere that sells graphite grease - as recommended by Haynes. Did not find any so used Molybdenum Disulphide grease instead - did I do wrong?

Anyway, it all feels very nice and smooth now. Just need to whip it out again to see what I did wrong with the indicator cancel thingy.

I've taken loads of piccies and will post them up when done.

[E_T_V]

The indicator self cancel is easy to fix don't worry you don't need to take it all apart again just the column housing I think.

The moly grease will do, graphite grease is just a lot less sticky so dust and dirt don't get trapped in it that is all. Considering the little (if any) grease that was put in there in the factory, then anything will be better than it was before!

[tailgate]

Hi - glad to have found this club.

Sorry for making my first post a request. I've jumped on the end of this thread as it saves explaining too much (hopefully)

I have a Montego Estate L (1989), which i have had for three years - its in good nick - but failed its MOT yesterday on just ONE thing - movement in the steering column.

So i need obtain the lower bush which seems nearly impossible on phoning around my locals. Told by one 'that there are none in the 'whole of the South of England' :eek:
I'm in Brighton by the way.

So please if any of you have a spare set, or know of a supplier, or know of a solution to this problem (ie. 'bodge') - I would very much appreciate it.
I would love to keep my Monty running for another year or much longer.

[Simon]

There are 3 variations of bush for this model, all tried over the years. The best one is the one with the part number beginning QNM...(can't remember the rest of the number but it is a 5 digit one beginning with the number 1). Try contacting X Part to see if they have any, otherwise you will be having to get one turned up from nylon or oil retaining bronze. One day somebody will do the right thing and perform a conversion on the column to take a proper ball race, etc.

[SimonR]

Yeah I've got the Rover parts catalogue to hand - the part number that Simon was describing is QNM 10001

I had a look on http://www.genuinecarparts.co.uk/ and they have the part in stock - £2.04.

Their 'phone number is: 01223 377115

I hope that helps!

[G Force]

Hi to fix the indicators all you need to do is take the steering wheel off and you will notice the cancelling device in the centre of the stalk assembly and which locates onto a lug on the steering wheel. The cancelling collar will locate to the wheel two ways 180degrees apart, you will need to turn it through 180degrees if you have not damaged it. If you can not decide which way to fit the cancelling collar, look closely at it and you will see that at 90degrees to one side of the two cutouts there is a raised lug this lug faces the indicator stalk.

If you have trouble removing the steering wheel try this method as I have 100% success with it. Losen the large nut then unscrew it but do not remove completely. With the outside palm of your hands thump the wheel towards the dash at 3 & 9 O clock alternately. Then grasp the wheel in the same place and push hard with one hand whilst pulling with the other in a firm rocking action. The wheel will just come loose but wont hit you in the face as long as you remember to leave the nut on a few threads;)

[SimonR]

If you have trouble removing the steering wheel try this method as I have 100% success with it. Losen the large nut then unscrew it but do not remove completely. With the outside palm of your hands thump the wheel towards the dash at 3 & 9 O clock alternately. Then grasp the wheel in the same place and push hard with one hand whilst pulling with the other in a firm rocking action. The wheel will just come loose but wont hit you in the face as long as you remember to leave the nut on a few threads;)


Great news for John Orrell if he ever needs to change the wheel on A251. We never did manage to get it to come off.

[Simon]

Yeah I've got the Rover parts catalogue to hand - the part number that Simon was describing is QNM 10001

I had a look on http://www.genuinecarparts.co.uk/ and they have the part in stock - £2.04.

Their 'phone number is: 01223 377115

I hope that helps!

It will but be careful, because that search throws up a supersession part number of CDU3851 which is one of the nasty white nylon all-in ones that'll last you a year then fracture. Better than nothing, though!

[Chris Y]

Would a replacement steering column do? I think we have some. They're all Maestro ones though - don't know if there's a difference.

[tailgate]

Hello gentle folk,
Thanks for all your help everyone. Managed to order the bush from GCP in my lunch hour - actually i ordered 2 - as they only had 3 and paying by credit card it seemed such a small amount. So if anyone needs one give us a shout - unless its a nasty white nylon one and i have to do the job again next year :(

I'll be doing the job at the weekend and am hoping its just a simple job and that a replacement column won't be necessary. I had four yobs last year 'get in' early one morning , smashed the cowl and broke it off its steering lock but woke my neighbour, got out and legged it. (Strangely i was quite chuffed they wanted to joy ride my Monty - must have been learners. :) ).
Anyway i suspose that must have been how the original bush got broke although i don't recall finding any pieces.

So thanks again for all your help and its nice to know there are other Montegos out there :cool: and a place to come for help.

[Simon]

Its not a big job unless the original bush is being a swine. Broken replacement type plastic bushes fracture below the end of the column but can easily be removed. I'm on my 4th upper column bush in 112,000 miles now, but this one is the original spec QNM type, which comes as a 3 part kit of bush and spacer for the upper end of the column and bush for the lower end of the column which on my car the original is still intact. Therefore I have a spare bush if ever I need one. These nasty plastic nylon mouldings might have been a good idea but ultimately do not go the distance.