Steering column valver

[16V F7R]

My steering wheel moves left to right slightly but doesn’t turn the rack. It does turn when turned further though. I have been told when I bought the valver that it is the joint that sits on the steering column halfway down to the bulkhead and I have located it behind the ducting for the heater vent on the right hand side of the dash. I need to remove this to get to it and I have been told to just get it welded up.

First question, has anyone every done this and can share some advice and second question is how can I get the ducting off the right side dash air vent as I am struggling to get it off and I don’t want to break it!

 

[RichValver]

Yeah there's a rubber bushing towards the bottom that you need to weld up. Think you'd need to remove the column to do it tho rather than in situ

Unsure with ducting

 

[Coops Mk1]

I had mine welded in situ, takes seconds

 

[16V F7R]

Thanks chaps, yes I was told it’s easy to do in situ but much heat padding /blanket required around it I will put!
This ducting drove me mad last night. It’s silly little things like this that sap ya time up, it just pulls off at the centre but at the right side of the dash it won’t pull off and I can’t feel a clip around it.

 

[16V F7R]

Removing this ducting is killing me... I can not get it off the right air vent. Anyone got there dash in bits at the minute and can assist with how this bloody thing goes on and off!

 

[16V F7R]

Here’s where my hands are squeezing and loosing there skin!

 

[RichValver]

I seem to recall just bending that stupid thing in half when Iv broken cars in the past 🤣

 

[16V F7R]

I am very tempted... sort of done that already and the air vent on the right has made a cracking noise away from the dash. Still all holding in place but the air vent wobbles a bit more now internally. I don’t like breaking parts though but it’s doing my head in massively. I might try and get some big waterpunp pliers on it this weekend and crush the tube down a bit and see if it releases.

If I get this steering sorted and my handbrake light at the back of the car working I reckon I’m ready to pass an mot. Mega chuft how good the shell is.

 

[RichValver]

You got a project thread?

 

[16V F7R]

I will do soon...

progress is slow with me and I ain’t no mechanic like most on these forums. Well novice mechanic I like to say, I’m a one spanner out of five jobber out the Haynes manual, aspiring to be a five!😁

 

[16V F7R]

Got the bloody thing off, I had to damage the end where it connects to get it to release and then it came off.

so moving back to the steering column problem. I don’t understand how or where this thing has to be welded. I am defo going to have to have this done by someone who has done this before plus the fact it is in such a tight space too.

 

[Muzza1uk]

Howdy, I had this same problem back in 2008 when my car was my daily and the mobile mechanic I had taking care of it
said he'd fixed in the past with glue, "it should hold". Those fateful words misted across my mind when it failed 3 weeks
later but thankfully after going through the MOT. Got it back on the road last year and had the column replaced which
according to Terry at TwoTechs was the last new one left at Renault, he couldn't believe they had one to be fair!

I've just joined the three Mk1 Facebook groups recently and they appear to be a friendly bunch, mine now needs some
bodywork and a respray to be mint again.

 

[RichValver]

Got the bloody thing off, I had to damage the end where it connects to get it to release and then it came off.View attachment 1523983so moving back to the steering column problem. I don’t understand how or where this thing has to be welded. I am defo going to have to have this done by someone who has done this before plus the fact it is in such a tight space too.
View attachment 1523984

Think its further down mate, may be behind the rubber boot

 

[16V F7R]

So I’ve struggled to take that ducting off for no reason! Great! I asked someone if it was where that rubber boot was at the bottom and they said no it’s further up! The rubber boot at the bottom will have to come off now then and I will have another look. I have been working on tidying up all the inner arches instead recently.

I’ve joined a Facebook group and asked for a few parts on there but nowt got answered and I don’t want to pest anyone. It would be good to see your mk1 muzza have you got a thread?

 

[RichValver]

So I’ve struggled to take that ducting off for no reason! Great! I asked someone if it was where that rubber boot was at the bottom and they said no it’s further up! The rubber boot at the bottom will have to come off now then and I will have another look. I have been working on tidying up all the inner arches instead recently.

I’ve joined a Facebook group and asked for a few parts on there but nowt got answered and I don’t want to pest anyone. It would be good to see your mk1 muzza have you got a thread?

I tried looking for a column on ebay to point it out but can't find anything.

Best page on Facebook is this one mate, full of advice and parts people too

 

[16V F7R]

Yes that’s the one I’ve joined. Cheers pal.

 

[Usr117063]

Is this how the 172 steering column is set up? (pic inside)

pic on left shows column into u/j, and a gap with play, pic on right shows it welded up to remove play. is this column to u/j the same for the 172 (actual pic is a '96 clio) thanks

cliosport.net

 

[16V F7R]

That’s is legendary, cheers Zach. It looks pretty straight forward to weld that up with a mig if practiced a little on a bit of scrap first a few times. I need a brave pill...