Gap under Steering Wheel

A bit of a head scratcher. I've got the later type 75 onwards column. I took the whole steering column assembly out by disconnecting it at the flexible coupling, which was shot and needed to be changed. I didn't dismantle the column, just took the steering wheel and two stalk switches off, but left the ignition switch and housing fixed.
Now with the new coupling and everything back together, there's a 9 or 10mm gap between the steering wheel and the column. It's not a taper fit steering wheel so no issue there. Do I have to do this hole drilling thing in the sheer bolt after changing the coupling? Doesn't sound right to me?
Help please.

 

I just knocked a slightly larger than the hole splined bit into the bolt head to wind it out.

 

Do I have to do that to solve this do you think?

 

Was the coupler the same as the old one? Bolts etc done as before? That will set the height of the inner steering column.

 

Loosen the clamp half way up and slide the gubbins up to meet the wheel?

 

Yes

 

Don't think there is a clamp, save the one clamping the ign housing with the sheer bolt?

 

I think that @iblaze had this problem a few months ago.

 

That’s the one. It holds everything.

Doesn’t explain why your inner column’s suddenly raised up, tho’...

 

I'm puzzled as to why I need to go the drastic "drill-a-bolt-out" route when the only thing that's changed is the rubber coupling.....or is it?
Have I put the thick washers in the right place? (Red arrow)
If I have, then I'm tempted to leave them out as they're 4mm thick.
If I slacken the pinch bolt, can I nick back that couple of mm on the splines, or does the pinch bolt stop it sliding? (Green arrow)



The gap is 8.4mm at the moment but if I lean on it I can feel the coupling flexing.

 

Have you loosened/moved the pinch bolt at all? Was it ok before?

 

The pinch bolt on the steering box? Yes as it's all been off. Yes steering wheel gap was fine before - probably the only thing that was. Going to try that anyway. Just not sure about the washers.

 

You mean before you took it all apart? Pinch bolt position may be different?

If you’re sure everything’s sound, you’ll need to adjust the ignition switch casting thing up the column a bit. Had to do the same on mine. They either slip over the years, or the column bracket gets bent, or somesuch.

 

Sorry did an edit you may not have seen. Any idea on those two fat washers?

 

You have about the same gap as mine has
I did undo the sheer bolt and slide everything up a bit but i still have a gap and indicators self cancel now they've never done that.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

 

About 3mm is what you’re aiming for.

 

If you've got the fat washers on the same bolts as the upper steering column, that's what I've done and I think it's wrong. Maybe.

 

Which is about what I'd have if it's correct to move these pesky fat washers.

 

I'm sure they're meant to go somewhere else. Aren't they spacers for something?

My coupler's just got plain washers on.

 

I'm sure I've read about them doing a specific job to do with the flexing of the coupling. But in any case I think I've put them in the opposite place to where they're supposed to go.