walshie Posted April 10, 2016 Report Share Posted April 10, 2016 Our dog van (ols Vauxhall Combo) failed it's MOT the other day for "Steering wheel excessive movement up and down." I took it home and the steering wheel adjustment was a bit loose, so tightened it up and it sorted the up and down movement out. I took it back for its retest and the first thing he did was grab the steering wheel and pull it. He meant "in and out" not "up and down". I'd never noticed it and I'm damned if I know what is causing it. You can pull the steering wheel out about 1/2" and push it back again. I took the airbag off hoping it was the nut holding the wheel on that was loose, but it's not. The actual splined steering column moves up and down with the wheel, like it's pulling out of a joint or something. I checked the UJ under the pedals and everything seems tight. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wisdom Posted April 10, 2016 Report Share Posted April 10, 2016 Does the uj travel the same distance as the steering wheel. (Does the same 1/2 inch play happen below the uj)If so it's possibly a problem with the steering rack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted April 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2016 Does the uj travel the same distance as the steering wheel. (Does the same 1/2 inch play happen below the uj)If so it's possibly a problem with the steering rack. No. Can't see any movement anywhere above or below the UJ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveboy Posted April 10, 2016 Report Share Posted April 10, 2016 (edited) As wisdom said get someone to pull the wheel while you look at the column. If you can see where the movement stops the problem must be between there and the steering wheel. Are you sure the centre nut is tight(I think there was a recall on these)sorry overlapped post http://www.warrantyguide.co.uk/vehicle-recall-1424FE177DD9015B00256E29002885A5-vauxhall-combo-and-corsa-recall Edited April 10, 2016 by daveboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted April 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2016 The steering wheel nut is tight. I can see the splined part of the steering column that the wheel attaches to move, but nowhere further down. Doing my nut in to be honest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marki Posted April 10, 2016 Report Share Posted April 10, 2016 There is likely to be two UJ, one where it joins the rack and the other is usually under the dash or near the bulkhead. What year is the car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted April 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2016 There is likely to be two UJ, one where it joins the rack and the other is usually under the dash or near the bulkhead. What year is the car? It's an old'un. 2003. I've just been having a wiggle and look and there doesn't appear to be any movement from anywhere other than where the splined shaft attaches to the steering wheel. There is a sort of box halfway down the column with wires and stuff attached to it. I think it's fine from there down to the steering rack, so it must be between the steering wheel and this box thing. I have no idea about bearings and/or bushes but I'd guess it's one of them. Garage tomorrow I reckon. Thanks for the replies guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scutt Posted April 10, 2016 Report Share Posted April 10, 2016 pinch bolt at rack end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fse10 Posted April 11, 2016 Report Share Posted April 11, 2016 Could be steering column bushes had this on one of my old cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurchers Posted April 11, 2016 Report Share Posted April 11, 2016 Go on eBay you can but the adjustable coloum pretty cheap off thee for about £55 job sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodp Posted April 11, 2016 Report Share Posted April 11, 2016 Try this http://www.roadtestreports.co.uk/qanda/64652/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted April 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2016 Try this http://www.roadtestreports.co.uk/qanda/64652/ Cheers. That's the one that google keeps taking me to. There is no black cap on my steering column. In any case, it's booked it at Vauxhall now for them to at least tell me what's wrong with it. Thanks for everyone's help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armsid Posted April 11, 2016 Report Share Posted April 11, 2016 possibly collapsible steering column and has "collapsed" in the centre under dash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tam Posted April 12, 2016 Report Share Posted April 12, 2016 possibly collapsible steering column and has "collapsed" in the centre under dash Held by 2 nylon pins through the 2 parts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Kelly Posted April 13, 2016 Report Share Posted April 13, 2016 I've no idea, but it seems logical to me that if the steering column is adjustable for angle there must be a UJ behind the dash and before the bulkhead. I would suspect that is worn if you can't see any movement from the bulkhead onwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted April 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2016 It needs a new steering column - £994 plus fitting. Or...£40 off the auction site and fit it myself. Decisions, decisions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cannon Posted April 14, 2016 Report Share Posted April 14, 2016 What's wrong with the old column that it can't be fixed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted April 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2016 What's wrong with the old column that it can't be fixed? It's a crumple thing thats crumpled. Me and walshie jr have done half of it tonight. We got the old one out and the new one in. Just need to bolt it all up and connect the wires and stuff. In theory...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cannon Posted April 14, 2016 Report Share Posted April 14, 2016 Seems a bit strange. They normally only crumple in an accident. I'd check the security of your steering rack to make sure it's properly secured. £994 for a steering column is a bit much. Hopefully the new one works out for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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