How much free play in your steering wheel?

http://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/adjusting-your-steering-box.55052/

 

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The moon is high over the Volga tonight. I think my aunt may visit.

 

As zed said, get an assistant to rock the wheel side to side while you are underneath with a bright torch to see whats happening.

I did this with mine, with the van on the ground and repeated with the front jacked up on the beam so you can turn the wheel fully from side to side. Straightaway I found the rubber coupling was twisting and dangerously split.

Lasty mentioned this as a possibility. Got a new genuine VW one from VW Heritage along with new bolts, washers and locking nuts. Dont buy cheap non VW coupling.

After I did that, I did the tests again and found only a small amount of play in the steering box, which I am ok with. While the van is jacked up with both front wheels off the ground you can feel any play or stiffness in the steering box.

Also I found the steering box did not have much oil in it so topped it up with correct gear oil to the brim and it is fine now.

 

Anyone know where the genuine couplings are available?
Both vwh and Schofield out of stock with no idea when they'll have them

 

C+C have 1 in stock

 

As soon as I move the steering wheel, the hubs move.

At 70mph you can let go and it runs straight.

But I cheated and bought a German steering column coupler in 2010 but only fitted it earlier this year.

 

Very important to get the genuine VW coupling. The old split one on my van when I bought it was a repro with a dolphin mark on the rubber. Who knows where that came from.

I check my new one often and so far its still perfect.

I did express my concerns on another thread about electric power steering and the extra strain that might put on the coupling.

 

With Litesteer EPAS the rubber coupling is replaced with a U/J – like your MGB.

 

Got a link cos I can't find em?

 

Sorry cant do link but is Number 47 in the interior parts steering column

 

http://www.customandcommercial.com/...enuine_vw_steering_column_coupling_68-79_673/

 

Yes I went back to the other recent thread about 'floppy steering' where the Litesteer set up was discussed and the excellent video that went with it. I can see why people go for the Litesteer replacement which does away with the old crude rubber coupling and uses a strong universal joint connected to the steering box.

 

silly me was looking in the steering section

ordered it, thanks

 

silly me was looking in the steering section

ordered it, thanks

 

Yeah it took me a while to find it

 

Thats the part I got from VWH. Well done for getting one.

 

Got all 4 ball joint rubbers and caster/camber reset for £120.00, i thought that was expensive. Tracking shouldn't change.

 

Agreed , but it has .

After years of doing my own stuff i`m now at the mercy of local `specialists` due to a total lack of ANYWHERE to work on the van . Judging the workmanship and price of said local `specialist` i won`t be troubling them again .
£96 quid for 2 rubbers .
I hate London sometimes ....

 

so i refilled my steering box with oil , and after changing the centre swivel and the damper i have minimal play , some cracks in the steering coupling rubber though so i will have to grab one of those too