Steering Column Position

[BAS]

I’ve just fitted some new seats (Cobra Imola, standard) but I now need to adjust the steering column.
Has anyone had to centralize the column in relation to the seat or do you just live with the offset wheel position? The column bracket on my chassis seems to be to near the centre of the car by a good 75mm or so.

[chris.richard]

I thought you'd sorted that last year Brent?

http://www.stratossupersite.com/forum/showthread.php?t=862&highlight=steering+column

[BAS]

Yes Chris I had, but with the new seats the ergonomics have changed and I need to get more of a gap between the seat base and the bottom of the steering wheel (“to get me legs in”). so I thought that I may as well get the wheel centralized that the same time.

[chris.richard]

Comment from Chris Savage in another thread:

I had to slightly skew my seats to get the harness slots to line up with the fixing points on the car. Only slight, but embarrassing if you don't do it. As it happens, the skew ever so slightly improved the comfort in terms of wheel & pedal offsets. YMMV
Means you can drive the car sideways and still be pointing the direction you're going! :)

[Sptwoman]

As mentioned by Brent, my steering column is not central to the seat either. Is this a known build issue? What's the answer?

[SUSIT]

As mentioned by Brent, my steering column is not central to the seat either. Is this a known build issue? What's the answer?

Check with Tryphon but I think the originals were like that, me I changed the steering colunm for a subaru item with new mounting points but mine is an Allora and for competition use only

[strat6v]

First thing i guess would be to fit the centre tunnel moulding then butt the seats up against it. You may have to move the ally reinforcement sections over a bit to pick up the seat mounts. Try angling the seat a tad too, and the column.

[Timberwolf]

Nice firewall sptwoman! :cool: , got any better piccies?

[BAS]

I moved one of the reinforcement sections and positioned the seat as far over to the centre as possible. And moved the column approx 25mm outward from the centre line of the bracket, this has implications on the dash pod which I still need to look at.

[Sptwoman]

Thanks John / Brent, I should have seen this coming :confused: I need to move the ali reinforcement mounts anyway so it's as far over as possible. I looked at moving the column over as well. Pity that I've just finished my GP4 dash, so moving the column will mess it all up :(

[strat6v]

Just twist it slightly.

[pimms]

As mentioned by Brent, my steering column is not central to the seat either. Is this a known build issue? What's the answer?

My car is a LHD i had to place the seat far to the right to get the right position towards the steering column. This is also the better position towards the seat belt mounting points.

[igosling]

Picking up on the theme of Steering Wheel position, I am assuming with a little ingenuity you can adjust the up/down position by shimming the column where it bolts to the front cross-member.

However, in terms of front/back positioning this becomes a little more critical, although some of the adjustment can be taken up by seat positioning. At 1.80m (5' 11" in old money) I am not going to have significant difficulties fitting into the car (sideways yes maybe !!) and should be able to get a reasonable amount of seat adjustment.

Having looked at a number of pictures, the majority of intermediate shafts look to be fairly similar in length and basically this is a long way around to the question of could someone provide me with the measurement of the intermediate shaft. Or is this really a measurement that should be highly tailored to the individual ?

Regards

Iain

[Chris J]

Iain

There are probably more standard Fiat intermediate shafts than you'd think. Well, there are more than I thought there was anyhow.

I've just dropped the column off my car at the moment, because I'm investigating why I couldn't keep the car straight up the M1 going home from the Silverstone Classic.

I can measure this one between the U/Js if you like? It's the 124 Sport type.

[Patriq Backlund]

Iain


I've just dropped the column off my car at the moment, because I'm investigating why I couldn't keep the car straight up the M1 going home from the Silverstone Classic.


Your car was wandering between the lanes, because it couldn't keep going straight?

You could move the steering wheel a bit back and forth without anything happening to the wheels ? (since you took out the column)

[igosling]

Chris, Thanks. I am using a X1/9 steering column. But assume if you could measure the intermediate shaft between the UJs and make a rough measurement of the length of 124 column you have, I should be able to come up with an overall measurement.

Alternatively I am looking for a measurement from some datum point to the steering wheel end of the steering column.

Thanks

Iain

[strat6v]

Iain,

Mount the column so you are sat correctly in the car. mount the rack and fit the coupler and adaptor shaft then make up a intermediate shaft to suit. Fiat welded the ujs on originally so i would think it would be ok to shorten one. only thing is you need a second one to rob the bearings and seals from.

john.

[Chris J]

Iain

Here's the measurements from my steering column.

[Chris J]

I do know that the shaft can also be 380mm long (and various other lengths).

The one on mine is 15mm outside diameter on the shaft, but usually it's 18mm. That'll be why it has the nylon bush inside the ali block.

I've noticed that some rust has built up on the shaft where it runs in the bush on mine. That might be my problem, or part of it? I'm planning to get rid of it in the long term, but I'll see if I can make an improvement in the short term.

Here's a photo that shows some of the various types of column available.

[Chris J]

Thread on a similar subject:

http://www.stratossupersite.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3074&highlight=upgrade+steering

[BAS]

Picking up on the theme of Steering Wheel position, I am assuming with a little ingenuity you can adjust the up/down position by shimming the column where it bolts to the front cross-member.

However, in terms of front/back positioning this becomes a little more critical, although some of the adjustment can be taken up by seat positioning. At 1.80m (5' 11" in old money) I am not going to have significant difficulties fitting into the car (sideways yes maybe !!) and should be able to get a reasonable amount of seat adjustment.

Having looked at a number of pictures, the majority of intermediate shafts look to be fairly similar in length and basically this is a long way around to the question of could someone provide me with the measurement of the intermediate shaft. Or is this really a measurement that should be highly tailored to the individual ?

Regards

Iain


Iain

I'm 6' & had to spend quite a lot of time get the setting / column possition right for me. Have a look at the photo I attached to this thread earlier. The last part to modify is the intermediate shaft. Fit the seat then the column to suit. I cut sleeved pinned & welded the intermediate shaft to avoid getting to much heat in the uj's. Your welcome to come over & have look if you like.

Cheers
Brent.

[strat6v]

If you can get hold of another shaft then butcher it for a good set of bearings and seals ;) then you can weld the end of the uj on nice and easy.

Seems quite a few people are doing this modification. Had no choice with mine.

[Chris J]

I'm not having a bearing at all in the long run.

[strat6v]

Meant the tiny needle rollers in the uj's

[Chris J]

Meant the tiny needle rollers in the uj's

I see.

I thought you meant remove and reweld the U/J back on to fit a bearing to replace the split ali block, but you mean in order to alter the intermediate shaft to a desired length?

[strat6v]

Thats what i meant but yeah stick a big rod end bearing on the shaft at the same time.

If you cut the shaft next to the uj then carefully gring the weld off, then the tiny shaft stub just taps out of the uj, ready for welding on again.

If you look at the uj neecle rollers you will see that the metal part of the uj is punched, locking the bearing in. if you can carefully remove the deformrd bit of metal then the bearings come out. Just re insert after welding and use a centre punch to deform the end of the metal over again carefully. quite easy to do but have the uj tig welded by a coded welder, no mig spatter!!

John

[Chris J]

Thats what i meant but yeah stick a big rod end bearing on the shaft at the same time.

It would be daft not to, wouldn't it?

This 15mm section shaft (that I have) is a new one on me. I thought they were all a similar thickness? The ali block is designed around the thicker (18mm) shaft, so that would be the norm?

[strat6v]

think i have a 15mm job somewhere, may have chucked it even? Rod end is certainly better than the ally block which i find can bind up easily.

[Patriq Backlund]

Iain

Here's the measurements from my steering column.

If I understand this image correctly - I should remove the one crossed out in the image below, and replace it with one of the two shown from the Beta ?

EDIT: With the first 'this image' I off course meant the one in the post I replied to.
In the image It says 'From 124 Sport' at top, and 'From Beta' at bottom.

[Chris J]

All I can say is that a 350mm long inter. shaft works with my 124 column using the standard Hawk split alloy bush.

You shouldn't have a problem fitting the above with the Triumph Herald/Spitfire type flexi joint. Replacing the the flexi joint with a proper universal joint does change things a little though (well, it did on mine!)

This all refers to a right hand drive car, I don't know if LHD is different?