R34 Gtt - Steering Column/rod/rack Spacing Issue

[MrFijiGold]

Hi all,

Firstly, please excuse me if I dont know the correct terminology but today I was doing an oil/filter change when this caught my eye. (I recently bought the car)

Does the picture look right to you? Particularly the spline - shouldn't it be more inside the bracket (red arrow)?

Currently the rod is sitting at the level of green arrow. Can anyone post up a pic of their car as a comparison?

Thanks.

[Victory]

From the angle in the picture it looks as though the shaft could go further onto the spline, how far does the shaft extend into the spline?.

Have you tried loosening the lock bolt, applying WD40 or something similar on the spline and then seeing if it can slide in further.

[MrFijiGold]

It definitely does look like the shaft could go in further..

I have tried anything yet, as I was worried I might do more harm then good. Isnt their tension on the shaft? Will this affect steering and steering rack?

I'll try and give it a go tomorrow.

Thanks

Again, if anyone can take a pic of their car (you can see clearly under the BMC) it would be appreciated.

[Daleo]

The spline is cut quite a long way back on column shafts normally; and there is no evidence on that shaft that the coupling was ever further along the spline.

Also, as a safety mechanism, the area where the pinchbolt goes through the universal, the shaft underneath has a machined groove. The pinchbolt actually sits in the groove. The bolt usually has to be completely removed before the shaft will slide free.

I reckon you're worrying for nothing.

[MrFijiGold]

The spline is cut quite a long way back on column shafts normally; and there is no evidence on that shaft that the coupling was ever further along the spline.

Also, as a safety mechanism, the area where the pinchbolt goes through the universal, the shaft underneath has a machined groove. The pinchbolt actually sits in the groove. The bolt usually has to be completely removed before the shaft will slide free.

I reckon you're worrying for nothing.

Thanks a lot mate. Yeah I had a chance to look more into this today and found the grove in the spline where the bolt sits.

I was starting to get really worried there.. Hehe

Appreciate your help. Cheers.

[Daleo]

No worries, glad it's all good.

[jhjones]

I think its normal because steering column should slide down and go under the dash if you hit it in a accident.