Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: fiend61 on 01 December 2011, 10:04:51

Title: steering column
Post by: fiend61 on 01 December 2011, 10:04:51
hi folks

after reading haynes  :-[ i have noticed that the steering column has a shearbolt on it, on removing this bolt does it need a new shearbolt or will a normal bolt do torqued to correct Nm
tia

edit-- one more thing does the coloumn have bearings in it or nylon bushes??
Title: Re: steering column
Post by: Nick W on 01 December 2011, 11:49:35
No point in messing about, just use a normal one.
Title: Re: steering column
Post by: fiend61 on 01 December 2011, 14:58:16
ok but why then was a shearbolt put there in the first place ???
Title: Re: steering column
Post by: albitz on 01 December 2011, 15:09:06
Afaik its an anti theft device. :y
Title: Re: steering column
Post by: fiend61 on 01 December 2011, 15:09:50
ahh that sort of makes sense  :y
Title: Re: steering column
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 01 December 2011, 15:11:29
The column has nylon bushes
Title: Re: steering column
Post by: Auto Addict on 01 December 2011, 15:45:49
ok but why then was a shearbolt put there in the first place ???

If someone tries to break the steering lock, levering the steering wheel, the bolt shears, rendering the steering useless.
Title: Re: steering column
Post by: fiend61 on 01 December 2011, 15:57:28
Quote
The column has nylon bushes
 

can these creak ???
i have a severe creaking when turning steering wheel in either direction  :(  the thing is that it doesnt do it from cold only when warm ??? any ideas ???

Quote
If someone tries to break the steering lock, levering the steering wheel, the bolt shears, rendering the steering useless
  thanks yup all has become clear  :y
Title: Re: steering column
Post by: feeutfo on 01 December 2011, 18:19:38
Some still have the nut still fixed from the factory.

I'd just use a normal bolt tbh, as said.
Title: Re: steering column
Post by: Pete Elite on 01 December 2011, 18:28:29
When I changed my column for an adjustable type I put the proper shear bolt back as it was only a few pence from a dealer :y

HTH,
      Pete :).
Title: Re: steering column
Post by: fiend61 on 01 December 2011, 19:05:08
anybody with a clue to the creaking???
or anyway of checking the joints ???  there seems to be a few of them  :(
Title: Re: steering column
Post by: Brikhead on 01 December 2011, 22:26:41
If someone tries to break the steering lock, levering the steering wheel, the bolt shears, rendering the steering useless.
I thought they 'sheared' off when fitted at the factory?
It just makes it harder to remove the steering lock or column, thus slowing down any would be thieves (or causing them to do more damage to the vehicle).

Some times the shearbolts can be undone with mole grips, if not then a hammer and chisel makes short work of them...
Title: Re: steering column
Post by: Brikhead on 01 December 2011, 22:33:34
The column has nylon bushes

I'm fairly sure I remember seeing a metal roller bearing at the top of the column, just behind the steering wheel...




(edited to add:- )
...that might of been on my pre f/l with a nonadjustable column though.
http://www.vauxhall-car-parts.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh001234.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2evauxhall-car-parts%2eco%2euk%2facatalog%2fOmega_Steering%2ehtml&WD=90334860&PN=VAUXHALL_STEERING_COLUMN_TOP_BUSH_-_90334860%2ehtml%23a90334860#a90334860
Title: Re: steering column
Post by: mrgreen on 01 December 2011, 22:52:40
I sort of went down this road, as in asking about it as i had lateral play, they are nylon bushes but from what i gathered are not really replaceable, to get the play out of the steering would really meant a steering column so if you've got a squeack  try a few oils & wd40 e.t.c, are you saying it is definately in the cabin though?
Title: Re: steering column
Post by: mrgreen on 01 December 2011, 22:57:45
If someone tries to break the steering lock, levering the steering wheel, the bolt shears, rendering the steering useless.
I thought they 'sheared' off when fitted at the factory?It just makes it harder to remove the steering lock or column, thus slowing down any would be thieves (or causing them to do more damage to the vehicle).

Some times the shearbolts can be undone with mole grips, if not then a hammer and chisel makes short work of them...
exactly that shear bolts are bolts that the head shears off under certain pressure so the next mac the lad has no way of undoing them, purely security
Title: Re: steering column
Post by: fiend61 on 01 December 2011, 22:59:29
Quote
you saying it is definately in the cabin though?

that is the question i cant really pinpoint the creaking (not squeak) it is loud and havent had the chance to get it to temperature and have someone play with steering wheel while i am under car but does seem louder in cabin than it does outside  :-\
oh and brikhead its an adjustable column on a mfl
Quote
I thought they 'sheared' off when fitted at the factory
yup thats what i thought sheared off at correct torque  :y
Title: Re: steering column
Post by: albitz on 01 December 2011, 23:01:36
If someone tries to break the steering lock, levering the steering wheel, the bolt shears, rendering the steering useless.
I thought they 'sheared' off when fitted at the factory?
It just makes it harder to remove the steering lock or column, thus slowing down any would be thieves (or causing them to do more damage to the vehicle).

Some times the shearbolts can be undone with mole grips, if not then a hammer and chisel makes short work of them...

Correct. there is a thin section under the head of the bolt and when its tightened beyond a certain point the head shears off. :y