Steering Committee
As we get older we all get problems with our joints and Bob, Richards OneTen is no exception
Words and Pictures – Richard Trusson
The steering on my 110 SW had become a little ‘notchy’ of late. After checking most other things I decided maybe it was time to replace the UJs on the column. These are fairly inexpensive and it didn’t look a big job.
Below – I sourced the UJs from my local supplier. These are ‘handed’ in that there is one for the top and one for the bottom. Luckily this is written on the box and, as you can see from the pictures, the top one is slightly longer than the bottom.
So bonnet up and off to give more working room.
Bolts, nuts and where the column fits into the old UJs given a squirt of Plus Gas to help free things up, just in case.
After making a fresh cup of Yorkshire tea, to give the plus gas time to penetrate, I was ready to start work.
The other reason for taking the steering column off was it had been pointed out to me it was on ‘upside down’. I had recently had the chassis replaced but can not say for sure if it was on upside down before then or not… I wanted to turn the column around so the wide knuckle, that collapses in a crash, was higher and fitted into the scoop in the wing.
I jacked the front of the vehicle up so both front wheels were off the ground. This eased column removal. I could rotate the column by hand to get better access to the nuts and bolts and then rotate it again so the bolts could be removed.
The bolts holding the UJs on came off and out with very little fight, perhaps because they had been off during the chassis replacement? The bolts must be wholly removed; you cannot just slacken them off. The bolts fit into grooves in the splines for the steering box and upper column interfaces. If the bolts are left in the UJs then the UJs will NOT slide off.
After fully extracting the bolts the column slipped off. I was now able to remove the UJs from the column.
Fitting the replacement UJs, making sure I had them and the column the right way around should be easy right? Not quite… the holes drilled in the UJs to receive the retaining bolts had internal burrs which interfered with the column and preventing the UJs slipping on. Hard to see the burrs in the photo but just proud enough to make this an interference fit that would have required a hammer to get the UJs on. Not really wanting to bray seven bells out of anything steering related I dug out the trusty Dremel and lightly ground down the burs. A small blob of copper grease and the UJs slipped on nicely. I checked both ends of each UJ to save grief later when refitting to the vehicle.
Making sure I had the column the right way up I reconnected it to steering box at the bottom first and then the end of the shaft from the steering wheel at the top. After tightening up the bolts I was ready for a test drive. Oh and dropping it off the axel stands and putting the bonnet back on!
Much better, steering was more positive and less notchy. The knuckle fits nicely in the wing scoop, anyone might think it was designed that way!
