Steering Column

[SimonBrown]

Just removed my upper steering column to sort excess play in bearings. The wave washer is missing, so that explains the play, hopefully.
Would anyone know if the collapsible lattice section should have some sort of cover over it as it does seem quite exposed and vulnerable?
Thank you

[Gfhug]

Simon, I’ve seen a loose plastic sleeve over the lattice, would seem to be a good idea to keep it clean. Though I’ve got another one without that sleeve, guessing it has been cut away.

Geoff

[Monkeyfinger]

My car has a rudimentary plastic sleeve around the lattice. looks nothing special and secured with tape if I remember rightly. To my certain knowledge it has been on there since at least 1977, so is probably factory.

[mgcjag]

Hi Simon I think the vover over the lattice is shown hete from the service manual....Steve

[44DHR]

Just my two pennyworth regarding the “collapsible lattice section should have some sort of cover over it as it does seem quite exposed and vulnerable”, is that to cover a safety device which presumably needs to expand rapidly outward in a crash situation would not be a good idea ? I can see the driver being potentially be exposed and vulnerable.
Perhaps a bit like when young saplings are planted in plastic protective tubes which are cut spirally and as the tree grows it easily pushes the tube away.
I don’t have this later safety device on my Series 1 column, but consideration should be given to any form of cosmetic covering to still allow this safety critical device to work effectively?
Regards,
Dave

[mgcjag]

I have a couple of xj6 very similar columns with the collapsible latic...they have a soft rubber cover with a slit down its length.....so easily fitted or removed or expandable..Steve..

[Gfhug]

As Steve says, mine is like a roll of plastic so nothing to hold it tight, only the fact that it is off a roll not a flat sheet.

Geoff

[Bob.]

Same upper column was used on later S2s and S3s. This is S3, a thin plastic split sleeve held on with two thin plastic bands.

[SimonBrown]

Thanks all, I have covered it in thin polythene, held in place by insulation tape.Incidentally, a new wave washer has taken out play in the column, so a successful job!
Simon