steering column bush

[johns3]

Hi,

Just failed the MOT due to excessive blay in the steering column due to a worn bush. What steering column was put in the S3C?

[steve j]

johns3 said:

Hi,

Just failed the MOT due to excessive blay in the steering column due to a worn bush. What steering column was put in the S3C?

Is that the bush on the bulkhead behind the pedals, I believe TVR car parts sell a bearing kit to replace the bush, hope this helps.

[johns3]

Thats great thanks. Its £3.60 which is a good price. Im guessing its off a sierra (the alternative parts list mentions some sierra parts associated with the steering). If i knew what car it was from I wouldnt have to wait for shipping I could buy it from the main dealer the same day.

Am I right in saying Ford sierra?

[tvrgit]

johns3 said:

Thats great thanks. Its £3.60 which is a good price. Im guessing its off a sierra (the alternative parts list mentions some sierra parts associated with the steering). If i knew what car it was from I wouldnt have to wait for shipping I could buy it from the main dealer the same day.

Am I right in saying Ford sierra?

Yes the plastic bush is Sierra.

Are you sure it's not the bearing that's worn? (That's sierra too, but with the right part number you can buy them on ebay for a couple of quid.)

[harry1972m]

The plastic ones just keep on wearing out very quickly - tvrcarparts do a metal mod one which should last forever - quite an easy job really I did mine last year

[tvrgit]

harry1972m said:

The plastic ones just keep on wearing out very quickly - tvrcarparts do a metal mod one which should last forever - quite an easy job really I did mine last year

There are two types, as I understand it:

(a) standard Ford setup - a plastic bush fits on the column, and runs inside another plastic bush fitted in the bulkhead. Yes they wear out very quickly.

(b) improved setup fitted to later S's - plastic bush in steering column runs in metal ball bearing which in turn is fitted into a housing on the bulkhead.

The OP says his car is an S3 so this is probably the existing setup - it is on mine. On mine it is the bearing that's shot, as well as the plastic bush. I got both bits on ebay for a fiver but haven't fitted them yet.

[harry1972m]

Mines an S3 which had an all plastic arrangement - it basically fell to bits in my hand when I took the column out !!!

The new set up along with 2 new UJ's transformed the steering.

[spludge]

Having just bought the parts for mine I had a mild panic attack when I read the comments about the bulkhead bush also being plastic. I checked and can see I have the bearing arrangement. What I noted is that the bearing looks to be ok and that all the play is in that column bush with the triangular hole. I'll change them both anyway, I doubt you can just get the bush out without taking the whole lot apart.

[nawarne]

Gents - if you do a search on this in the S forum you may come across a previous post from me.

I contacted tvrcarparts.com and got a new bearing, a lovely turned ally bearing carrier and after a bit of messing about by me - the lower UJ.

The bearing carrier fitted beautifully in lieu of the crappy plastic housing and looks nice & shiny in the footwell!! The job that took the most time was lining up the wheels/steering in the straight ahead position when I changed the UJ. Otherwise, it was a very simple job, and getting all the bits from one source meant that they all fitted!!

Nick