Wedge Steering column bolts

[mailbox]

I'm trying to put my steering column back in and have run into a bit of an issue. It won't go back in the same way it came out. I tried sliding it back in the supports that hold it up to no avail. I look online and find a manual. It says to drill out the break away bolts on the support and replace them with new break away bolts when replacing the column. Neither Vicky Brits or Moss have them ( or I can't find them). Anyway, has anyone tackled this before? I don't want to start drilling out things and ruining parts before I know what's going on. Can I drill out the break away bolts and replace with standard bolts?

 

[tr8todd]

You only remove out those bolts if you want to remove the ignition switch. The switch has a lock mechanism. If the column won't slide back thru, you will need to turn the key as you slide the column back it. There is a piece of flat steel that pops up and goes into a keyway cut in the shaft to lock the wheel. Turning the key will retract the flat piece, and hopefully you will be able to slide the column past it. If it doesn't go past, then you will have to cut slots in the bolt heads in order to back them off. Its easy. They are shear bolts, so the head is nice and soft. Drop the plastic cover and then use a new hacksaw blade. Pull it back a couple of dozen times until you have made a groove in the head that a flat bladed screwdriver can engage in, and remove the screw. You will also cut a groove in the aluminum that surounds the bolt. Don't worry about it. If you don't want to reuse the old bolts, allen head cap screws work great.

 

[Darrell_Walker]

There is a set of the bolts listed on eBay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-NOS-Brit...Parts_Accessories&hash=item43d0a5e354&vxp=mtr

While you could use standard bolts, you would be giving up the safety feature of having the steering column breaking away on impact.

 

[mailbox]

Oh, wow. Thanks dude.