Thread: Steering column disconnect point for body lift?

Certainly Graeme, there are 2 points, the steering column can be undone from either BUT IIRC LR usually specify the top one, closer to he firewall, you will need a Torx socket, and it is not easy to reach you will need a few extension bars from underneath.

JC

Thanks JC. With my wife wriggling the steering wheel, grabbing the uni just above the rack indicated the looseness was further up. Looking at the workshop manual there appears to be a couple of possible points, hence the question. I'll make sure I get to inspect or feel the top point. The rattling sounds close to the steering wheel which aligns with your info.

Originally Posted by Graeme

Thanks JC. With my wife wriggling the steering wheel, grabbing the uni just above the rack indicated the looseness was further up. Looking at the workshop manual there appears to be a couple of possible points, hence the question. I'll make sure I get to inspect or feel the top point. The rattling sounds close to the steering wheel which aligns with your info.

Graeme I would check it very quickly and do NOT drive the vehicle, the issue isn't that it may rotate in the sleeve, it is keyed in, but the shaft is telescopic and IF the bolt drops out the shaft literally falls out of the top 'clamp'. The bolt IS loctited BUT don't risk it.

JC

Get the dealer to recover it fix and return it to you?

It will be investigated thismorning. I hadn't considered that one shaft might rotate in another because I expected some sort of spline but that it could come apart or at least wear the components badly. It was only whilst driving around some rough paddocks late yesterday that the bad rattle occurred. Prior to that it was only a bit of a rattle crossing ruts and pot-holes, after which I spoke to the service person with whom I had been dealing. No loose wheel nuts or suspension bolts could be seen at the earlier inspection (the lower wishbone bushes had been replaced too) but after the paddock rattles it became a steering column issue. Hopefully its only a loose bolt rather than a missing bolt.

Recovery is a last resort option as I desperately need to use the vehicle to tow my box trailer. The D4 + trailer is my farm ute and I've been without it for 3 weeks and crop sowing must get underway.

There is no movement in the top connection. The bolt is in place and in the straight ahead position the bottom of what appears to be a new bolt is visible. However the whole shaft floats about as it goes through the grommet in the firewall. The shear joint under the dash is intact and there's only a little movement as the shaft exits the steering column mount. It seems that the knocking is from grossly excessive movement in the sliding joint as though its been damaged during refitting of the body. The uni joint is OK, as is the coupling directly above it. I haven't been able to access the sliding joint.

I'm waiting for a call from the dealer's service dept but I don't expect the particular person on deck to have the knowledge to help.

Originally Posted by Graeme

There is no movement in the top connection. The bolt is in place and in the straight ahead position the bottom of what appears to be a new bolt is visible. However the whole shaft floats about as it goes through the grommet in the firewall. The shear joint under the dash is intact and there's only a little movement as the shaft exits the steering column mount. It seems that the knocking is from grossly excessive movement in the sliding joint as though its been damaged during refitting of the body. The uni joint is OK, as is the coupling directly above it. I haven't been able to access the sliding joint.

I'm waiting for a call from the dealer's service dept but I don't expect the particular person on deck to have the knowledge to help.

A relief that the bolt was in and tight, the sliding joint movement is almost undetectable IIRC when all bolted up, so yes I'd be checking another or get them to rectify ASAP.
Maybe they forgot to unbolt it when starting to lift the body?
It is in the step by step instructions quite clearly though...

JC

Originally Posted by Graeme

Recovery is a last resort option as I desperately need to use the vehicle to tow my box trailer. The D4 + trailer is my farm ute and I've been without it for 3 weeks and crop sowing must get underway.

Not good timing.

Worst case if it is them then they should provide a loaner?
Alto always give me a loaner.