Stripped Steering Column

[e30nub]

When I was unbolting my steering wheel to replace my turn signal stock, it was harder to crank than usual, but not much. I unbolted the fucker and took the wheel off, only to find the column threads to be stripped. Has anyone re-threaded these, or is it even possible? Is a steering column swap easy? I know of a lot of columns at the yard that I can snag if it's pretty easy with regular tools.

Pictures will be up as soon as my camera charges, but you get the idea.

[E30_fiend]

I had the same problem mang. I just bought a used column and swapped it out. Its not a bad job at all but to make things easier at the junk yard, find a car with no dash. It makes it much easier to figure out how to remove it so when you removed the damaged one, you will have some idea of how to do it.

Also I dont think re-threading it would be a good idea because the metal is fairly weak and could possibly make the whole situation worse for you.



Good Luck!!!





Taylor

[E30 Cabrio]

JB Weld

[e30nub]

JB Weld

Lather on some JB and thrown a bolt down? Is that what you're trying to say? Please elaborate.

[e30nub]

I had the same problem mang. I just bought a used column and swapped it out. Its not a bad job at all but to make things easier at the junk yard, find a car with no dash. It makes it much easier to figure out how to remove it so when you removed the damaged one, you will have some idea of how to do it.

Also I dont think re-threading it would be a good idea because the metal is fairly weak and could possibly make the whole situation worse for you.



Good Luck!!!


Thanks mang. Any way I can get some sort of schematic of the steering column?




Taylor

[E30 Cabrio]

Lather on some JB and thrown a bolt down? Is that what you're trying to say? Please elaborate.

Dude, I was j/k

If you do that, you'll never be able to get the wheel off again.

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

[stevofthahill]

Did the same shit when I was swapping my airbag wheel. I just had my mechanic rethread it and it's been fine ever since. Going on a 1+ years. I've even taken my wheel off multiple times and still haven't had an issue.

[DCColegrove]

Possible tap and an OS bolt...

That shit is pretty hard though and not much margin... difficult to get a clean thread I'd imagine.

[e30nub]

Anyone know how to remove steering columns? Going to the PnP tomorrow.

[e30nub]

Anybody?

[Justin B]

Good luck with that man. Apparently the columns are at least partially held in with some bolts, in which part of their heads break off when the proper certain torque is reached. Makes it a little harder to tamper with them, especially in a pick n pull yard where there isn't any power to grind or drill the heads off one way or another. Its too bad you need to get that done right away too, because I need to go up to the PnP soon myself, but I don't really NEED the parts I want (no $ either :D)...
Doesn't help ya, but this is one of the threads where someone gets confused about them-

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=65559

[e30nub]

OK, so I got a rethreading kit, and rethreaded the column. The only way it works is if I use the re-threading nut as the new nut for the column. It works perfectly.