Lowering steering column

daveski · Apr 11, 2011

I have recently fitted some new seats and lowered my driving position which is great but now feels like the steering wheel is too high.

I know people like burpspeed and Chrispy have lowered thiers and understand the basic process involved thanks to their project logs however both of them did the process with the dash removed, is it possible to do it with the dash still in place?

Tony Hunter · Apr 11, 2011

I think so yes,just take the surround off from just behind the steering wheel.

Matt W · Apr 11, 2011

Pictures of the new seats?

JackJack · Apr 11, 2011

How do you lower the column?

Tony Hunter · Apr 12, 2011

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daveski · Apr 12, 2011

Tony Hunter said:
I think so yes,just take the surround off from just behind the steering wheel.

Thanks Tony, will have a look over the weekend.

Matt W said:
Pictures of the new seats?

They're only Cobra Monacos Matt, nothing special and only one of them is fitted at the moment.

daveski · Apr 17, 2011

In case anyone was wondering, it is possible to do this with the dash in place. With the dash top and dials removed you can easily get to where the original bolts go in and go exactly what Tony has done before.

JackJack · Apr 18, 2011

So what do you actually do? Fit longer bolts? I'm a bit confused by the pictures.

Tony Hunter · Apr 18, 2011

Pic's should be Middle, Bottom,Top.It is simple.

daveski · Apr 18, 2011

Process is simple

Remove steering column surround, dash top and clocks
Undo 4 bolts from underneath
Use 4 new bolts and screw in from the top.
add nuts to secure then use a nut either side of the steering column mount (I also used washers) to tighten up.
Make sure its all straight.

Tony Hunter · Apr 18, 2011

daveski said:
Process is simple

Remove steering column surround, dash top and clocks
Undo 4 bolts from underneath
Use 4 new bolts and screw in from the top.
add nuts to secure then use a nut either side of the steering column mount (I also used washers) to tighten up.
Make sure its all straight.

I couldn't be bothered to explain it all again,well done.
I take it you managed aright then,is it better now?

daveski · Apr 18, 2011

Yes thanks Tony, cheers for the advice. Extra pair of hands was a god send so glad I attempted it when someone else was in to give me a hand.

Its lovely now though, well worth doing.

Nick172Cup · Jul 21, 2013

Bit of a thread bump, looking to lower the column by about 15mm. Rear two points are fine but the fronts you can't seem to accommodate the same spacer. Any tips please?

Nick

Tony Hunter · Jul 21, 2013

I don't understand what you are after Nick, you should be able to lower it as much as you want.

Aaronk · Nov 13, 2013

Sorry for the bump new to this clio forum was wondering could someone explain how to remove the steering column from a mk2 ph2 clio as my steering wheel sits upside down when wheels are straight and have mot soon and with a upside down steering wheel am sure it would be a fail my last mechanic had the subframe off chancing clutch and gearbox and he put it back on without putting the steering the right way and I don't fancy letting him near my car again tbh so I figure easiest way would be removing the column spinning the bar so the steering wheel will go in the right way it would be great if someone could explain or give me a like to a guide and sorry again for jumping on here

mad in general · Nov 14, 2013

Aaronk said:
Sorry for the bump new to this clio forum was wondering could someone explain how to remove the steering column from a mk2 ph2 clio as my steering wheel sits upside down when wheels are straight and have mot soon and with a upside down steering wheel am sure it would be a fail my last mechanic had the subframe off chancing clutch and gearbox and he put it back on without putting the steering the right way and I don't fancy letting him near my car again tbh so I figure easiest way would be removing the column spinning the bar so the steering wheel will go in the right way it would be great if someone could explain or give me a like to a guide and sorry again for jumping on here

Id guess that removing the wheel and then refitting correctly would be the easiest.

Matt@codered · Nov 14, 2013

That won't work as the column and wheel have an alignment spline that won't allow this....you need to undo the rack to column universal joint and turn the steering wheel to the tight position.
Also need to remove and realign the airbag clock spring , otherwise there is the risk of damaging it and the airbag light can come on.

alistairolsen · Feb 2, 2016

Original guide with pics here: http://www.cliosport.net/threads/burpspeed-from-the-beginning.296190/page-4#post-3763621

@daveski @Tony Hunter @Jay Payne Can any of you gents or anyone else advise roughly what length of bolts I'll need and what size? From memory they're M8 and the flanges arent thick so the OE bolts are quote short and tapped into the dash bracket, but this new way I need the standard length, room for a nylock and then whatever I need to space it down (40mm seems typical) so I assume something like a 70mm M8 set screw?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M3-4-5-6-...hash=item2a3795e5ea:m:mCAWgUROohO-H9u_jLun5iA

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M4-M5-M6-...hash=item33a8a3139a:m:mLMjVZ0-Ye4Z9p1mAv3SmIA

alistairolsen · Feb 5, 2016

So having got the bits I gave this a go tonight but it won't sit comfortably as the column is too long once it's been dropped down. There doesn't appear to be a free sliding section on the column and only one in is bolted, hopefully slackening that will give me enough room. Did you guys encounter similar?

Big P Dog · Feb 19, 2016

Alistair, did you get this sorted? I'm thinking of doing this tomorrow morning. Did 70mm bolts work alright?
Thanks,

Big P Dog · Feb 23, 2016

@alistairolsen ?

alistairolsen · Feb 24, 2016

In the end I got these:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190809206...49&var=490136985301&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
M8x70 self colour cap head bolts
And some repair washers (penny washers)
and then these:
http://www.gwr-fasteners.co.uk/m8-x-20mm-spacer---aluminium-unanodised-38390-p.asp
Wound out the OEM bolts which are fitted from below and then fitted the spacers and bolts with a penny washer either side of the column flange as it has quite a large oval hole in it. I didnt want to have to remove my dash top and also didnt fancy the method above with the nuts and all the bending forces in the threaded section of the bolt - far from ideal.
I found that I had to loosen the UJ onto the rack (leave the bolt in place!) and it was very tight to get the new column bolts into place but it did just go.

alistairolsen · Feb 24, 2016

@Big P Dog

alistairolsen · Feb 24, 2016

@Big P Dog

Big P Dog · Feb 24, 2016

Alistair, thanks for that. I'll give that a go! You managed this without removing the dash top? That would be a benefit as my cage makes removal of the dash a little trickier.

alistairolsen · Feb 24, 2016

Big P Dog · Feb 24, 2016

Excellent thanks

Big P Dog · Mar 11, 2016

Hi @alistairolsen ,
Had a quick look at this the other day and from what I could see, the column is mounted by two vertical bolts - the ones you mentioned and two horizontal bolts (one captive as per the picture). Is this the same as yours? My car is a 172 cup. From the horizontal bolts, there's limited adjustment, I reckon 10mm might be achievable but I see you've managed to fit 20mm spacers. I could elongate the slots for the horizontal bolts but this would only give an extra 1-2mm. I'd rather not do away with the horizontal mounts.
Have I got this totally arse about face?

alistairolsen · Mar 11, 2016

There are another two bolts way back under the dash the same as the front two

$(KGrHqF,!oMFELvW!Mm9BREsFmZb+w~~60_1.jpg

You can see the second pair on there.

Big P Dog · Mar 11, 2016

I'll have another look tomorrow. Cheers

Tony Hunter · Mar 11, 2016

It will all drop down as far as you want, as long as you can bolts long enough.

Big P Dog · Mar 11, 2016

Cheers!

RobBrodie · Jan 16, 2017

Sorry to bring up an old thread!

Had a crack at this today and cant for the life of me do it, the lower the rack goes (only talking 20mm) the bolts won't line up or the rack buckles on the bolts stopping it from going lower?

There's an arm connecting the front and rear rack mounts, do it need to disconnect that?

I have bent back the tabs mentioned above

Help!

Big P Dog · Jan 16, 2017

Yes I had to bend back the tabs mentioned above. It's a fiddly job. I think I got the lower bolts in first, loosely, then put the upper ones in. I could take a pic of my one if you like but it'll probably be Wednesday before I'm back at the car.

RobBrodie · Jan 17, 2017

Big P Dog said:
Yes I had to bend back the tabs mentioned above....

Thanks for the the reply buddy, I've done some more poking around on here and think I've decided on widening the holes(don't know why I didn't do that anyway!)

Thanks for your help buddy

hsustyle · Dec 20, 2017

Revival.
Had a go at this earlier but got stuck.
The 2 front and 2 rear bolts are located and accessible but can't move it down more than 1 cm or so. It's caught on the front, see pics, left & right side.

Can someone please advise what part to bent so I can have more adjustment please?

alistairolsen · Dec 21, 2017

I had the same, pretty sure I levered it out far enough to get it over the end of the stud. JUst check what its catching on little by little until you get it down far enough.

Lowering steering column

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