Steering column adjustment?

[Beach Bum]

I wish I could get it higher, or the seat farther back. My knees hit the wheel when trying to heel-toe properly.

A driver needs only three things in reach: Wheel, Gearshift, and Pedals.

[Vince30]

I hated the steering wheel possition when i first got my e30, after just several months of driving it every day though it feels ideal to me.

[Eric]

this is true. even if it's not a dinan s38 swap.

to the OP: are you short or something? i find that the steering wheel spot is pretty ideal, although i do still wish it were adjustable.

the wheel is in a great position when you have stock seats.

when i bolted my recaro SPG's to the floor my chin was lower than the door sill and the wheel was level with my head. My spacers brought the wheel back down in front of me, not above me.

[daniel]

Plus it's always nice to see someone go through with the work after they ask the questions, you know?

this is true. even if it's not a dinan s38 swap.

to the OP: are you short or something? i find that the steering wheel spot is pretty ideal, although i do still wish it were adjustable.

[Jand3rson]

Good thread, Driver. I've always been curious about this, myself.

[BrewCity11]

Bumping this cause i wanted to see pics, but can't at work. This will remind me to check it out when i get home.

Plus it's always nice to see someone go through with the work after they ask the questions, you know?

[The Driver]

it might be easier to adjust the seat

That's isn't the E30 way...


The point is to bring the wheel lower not raise the seat higher an thus effect the center of gravity. Trust me 2-3 makes a worlds difference. My visibility is also way better now minus the tach haha.

So 4 hours an 6 dollars later I'm finished. God what a sense of accomplishment.

As requested I snapped some pix for ya guys. I did my adjustment a tid different. No Bushings just two very long 3 inch bolts. Instead of replacing the old twin bolt holder I actually used it and it worked out even better. The stock twin bolt holder (located above steering rack) is very good because you can easily align both sides evenly.

Stock!


Everything in peices...




Column Disassembley...



Brakin the bar loose... (just hanging nothing attached, You can see where the bolt should go)



My choice... Stock Twin Bolt lock, 2 four inch Bolts, 2 washers an 4, Regular Nuts.

The order is this from bottom up just for help,

Bolt inserted face up with washer then passes through the first lock (The column lock itself, shown above /\ )

Then comes 1 nut (face down) to tighten (Do not tighten fully yet) the first lock.

As you continue to screw the bolt upward put the other nut face up before it enters the second lock.

Continue screwing through the second lock (mounting bracket above the steering column) until you have given a good amount to the stock twin lock above the 2nd lock.

As you can see these are the exact parts I used.


Close up installed...(One done in this pic)




After Assembly... (One done in that pic as well) Please note that this is Adjustable very easy which is why I bought the 4 inch so have that much more choices.


Hope this helped!

[ezed]

it might be easier to adjust the seat

[rThor432]

I cut the heads off.

[BrewCity11]

I'll snip some pix for who ever is thinking about this.

Please do!

[nando]

yes and no. they are shear bolts, but it is for anti-theft, not accident collapsing. when they install the bolts at the factory the head breaks off to prevent somebody from unbolting the column and bolting another in to drive the car off without the original key.

to remove them, I made a big slot in the heads like a screwdriver slot with a dremel tool. Then i took a punch and hammer and banged on the sides of the slot to start the rotation. Once broken loose just stick a screw driver in there and unscrew them.

I put a 50mm spacer in mine to bring my colum down. works great!

interesting, good to know. I do know the airbag column is a huge pain in the ass.. the non-airbags don't have those bolts AFAIK.

[The Driver]

Just blasted them out with a drill. Came out nice an smooth going to go pick up new bolts an bushings. I'll snip some pix for who ever is thinking about this.

[xLibelle]

Oh

[Eric]

they are shear bolts, they are meant to break in the event of an accident. I'm not sure I would mess with them just to lower the column, personally.

yes and no. they are shear bolts, but it is for anti-theft, not accident collapsing. when they install the bolts at the factory the head breaks off to prevent somebody from unbolting the column and bolting another in to drive the car off without the original key.

to remove them, I made a big slot in the heads like a screwdriver slot with a dremel tool. Then i took a punch and hammer and banged on the sides of the slot to start the rotation. Once broken loose just stick a screw driver in there and unscrew them.

I put a 50mm spacer in mine to bring my colum down. works great!

[nando]

they are shear bolts, they are meant to break in the event of an accident. I'm not sure I would mess with them just to lower the column, personally.