Sierra Steering Column.

[markieboy]

I like one or two others appear to have little or no clearance between the insitu dash and the switches on the steering column.

I have read the previous forums and gleamed some good advice but need to ask these questions.

If the column has been pushed in can it be pulled out again, and if so whats the best method of doing it.

If you can pull it out of the shaft can you damage it?

I have the shiney bulkhead covers too, so out of the front mounted steering adaptor I have left about an inch for the uj. I suppose these panels will reduce the length of the shaft but not by the inch I am short.

Any other pointers to help??

Thank you

Markieboy

[paolo]

There shouldn't be any problem re-extending it, gripping the lower end of the column with the molegrips then standing on the steering wheel whilst giving the grips a tap with a rubber mallet seemed the easiest way when I extended mine (for a Pilgrim Sumo).

[markieboy]

Thanks for that, I had that in mind I must admit but didnt dare do it just in case. I cant afford any more calamities this year!!

Will try it tomorrow

Cheers

Mrkieboy

[markieboy]

Well just to add an update, you can actually lengthen the stem of the column by pulling the sleeve out.

I have done this by soaking the triangular section with wd40 overnight, attached a pair of mole grips to the triangular section after scribing the original position as a guide, standing on the steering wheel and tapping down on the column to begin with.

This freed up the rusty old shaft and I could then tap up on the bottom of the mole grips to extend the shaft.

If you tap too much the triangular section will come right out. I have managed to get the inch extra that I needed (no pun intended ) to fit the column and wheel.

Hope this helps .

Regards

Markieboy.

On the negative side if anybody knows of any problems caused by doing this please advise.

Ta

[gareth08]

Originally Posted by markieboy

Well just to add an update, you can actually lengthen the stem of the column by pulling the sleeve out.

I have done this by soaking the triangular section with wd40 overnight, attached a pair of mole grips to the triangular section after scribing the original position as a guide, standing on the steering wheel and tapping down on the column to begin with.

This freed up the rusty old shaft and I could then tap up on the bottom of the mole grips to extend the shaft.

If you tap too much the triangular section will come right out. I have managed to get the inch extra that I needed (no pun intended ) to fit the column and wheel.

Hope this helps .

Regards

Markieboy.

On the negative side if anybody knows of any problems caused by doing this please advise.

Ta

One small , well no actually very large problem is that depending on how far you pull the inner piece out leaves very little inside.When doing the one on mine I found that to get everything where I wanted it only left about an inch inside the upper section so I made a sleeve up and then welded the whole lot together:thumb:

[markieboy]

Gareth,

Thanks for the message. I actually marked mine whilst the inner tube was out as to where I needed the column to finish and had the majority of the tube still insitu in the column. Did you by any chance have an extended footwell model as I thought there ought to be more than an inch inside of the outer tube. If that makes sense?

Regards

Mark