11 replies to this topic

[LESTA MINI]

hey guys,
i had a mot today and failed because my steering rack was loose and a few other things, i started work on the steering rack tighenting up the bolt that hold it to the dash one was fien the other broke off so im left with the bolt stuck in the rail.

i drilled through and bought a extractor set, but my problem is that just as i saw about to stop drilling the bloody drill bit broke off inside the bolt.

what can i do as i need to get this bolt out

[LESTA MINI]

BUMP

[Ethel]

The bolts are designed to break, you should be able to tap it undone by knocking it around with a centre punch on the edge of the head. you could also try cutting a slot for a screw driver.

Did the tester explain where the excessive play is? It's more likely to be worn bushes inside the column.

[LESTA MINI]

they had worn loose, he just said they needed doing back up

[SolarB]

Have you tried to see how tight the column is now?
The heads break off the bolts at a certain torque and are a security device. If they have broken they should be tight enough.

[Ethel]

Well I guess it's tight enough now

Just leave it as added security and bother about it when you need to.

[LESTA MINI]

ok, but ive drilled into it so its got a hole a few mm in?

wont that make a difference

[LESTA MINI]

BUMP

[bmcecosse]

You say the 'steering rack' was loose - but you are tightening the bolts holding the steering column ??

[LESTA MINI]

yer, cant find the right words, the bolt that hold it to the dash rail where loose so u could move the steering wheel, but what i want to know is ive srilled a part of the bolt out to try and remove it, is it alright to leave it or do i need to drill it out as im having problems doing that

[Ethel]

The column is the long bit with the steering wheel on the end, the rack is the bit under the floor that connects the road wheels. Now the terminology is out of the way, I expect it will be fine. Try and visualise the amount of area in a cross section of the bolt's shaft if there's still as much left connecting the top of the shaft to the bolt head it should be ok.
if o has as much solid area as .it'll be as strong.

square full stops?

[LESTA MINI]

kk cheers