Hi All

Noticed yesterday that my Steering Wheel / Column has a lot of free play from left to right, by that I mean when holding the steering wheel I can move it a good inch or so either way and in doing so it moves the Instrument Binnacle.

I cant say I noticed it before but it didn't feel right, I'm wondering if there's a Steering column racket that may either be broken or become detached?

Anyone know what I should be looking for here - It's a 1993 ex mod

The bearing on top of the column has failed. They rarely fail but like any bearing it can wear out and fail, if someone has battered a steering wheel off with a hammer for example it can damage them.

You have two options, buy a new steering column, or replace the bearings. I did this about 5-6 years ago, I traced the bearings down and got them from Brammer Engineering.

If I remember correctly the top bearing is a needle roller bearing, and the bottom bearing is a bigger ball bearing. At the time I found the exact bearing that LR use and was told by the manufacturer that I could not buy it as it was made under licence for LR - pigs! I managed to spec one myself that was the same dimensions, but I think rated for a higher max RPM - so now I can safely steer really really quickly without worrying, as we all do, about the column bearings failing!

Jeez...it's been ages since I looked at my column but it's worth looking at where it bolts to the bulkhead, bolts might just be loose?
From poor memory....2 bolts engine side? And maybe a thick plate bracket thing inside somewhere?

This is the brackets at the top of the bulkhead, behind the brake servo.


This is the retaining bar inside the instrument binnacle.


There is another bracket/bearing at the bottom of the bulkhead, just above the first UJ.
It's just three or four screws to be able to pull the instrument binnacle forward.

Memory jogged!
I wasn't far wrong.

Flossie said:

Memory jogged!
I wasn't far wrong.

Click to expand...

Absolutely, mate. By tomorrow I'll have forgotten I made that post!

There's also two.bolts onto at the end of the column onto a bracket on the footwell

I just read your post - not again, for the first time, even although I replied I did that thing where I read what I think I need to then stop and answer. The next few words would have given it away that it was not a bearing issue, as you said it moved an inch from side to side... the bearing would not have failed, it would have disappeared and the column outer tube rotten away!

Note to self: Read peoples posts!