Car safe to drive? Need quick answer

[Bobbycharlton]

Hi

Previously had a clunk in steering had it looked at and it was a loose pinch bolt on the steering column to rack connection.

Issue is back after a couple hundred miles could bolt be loose again? All suspension was checked and cleared.

Car booked back in next week

However need to make a motorway trip tomorrow roughly 100 mile. Is it safe? what would happen of the bolt came out? Would I lose all steering? Surely it's a fail safe design?

What would causr the bolt to keep coming loose some other problem at play could the Bolt itself be damaged.

Car is 2010 E class carbrio.
Cheers

 

[XJ600]

Strange that it has "come loose" again.
Would suggest that coupling is U/S, if the bolt was loose there is a good chance the coupling has opened slightly and worn the splines.

 

[Bobbycharlton]

Strange that it has "come loose" again.
Would suggest that coupling is U/S, if the bolt was loose there is a good chance the coupling has opened slightly and worn the splines.

Ok thanks

What does U/S mean? so you think the coupling the bolt attaches to is duff. Can the coupling be replaced? Without replacing the whole rack
, column or other major assemblies?

Is it safe to drive before repair?

 

[alexanderfoti]

U/S Unservicable

I agree, its possible the splines are worn, or that the bold or pinch section is damaged.

You would need to lookup the column and see if the section that is damaged, is replaceable on its own.

Its very unlikely that the column will come off with the bolt loose, but it is a possibility! I wouldn't drive it like that.

 

[daveenty]

U/S= unserviceable

I personally would not be driving it for any distance until it's been checked over by a competent person.

It may not even be the same fault but it's potentially dangerous

 

[Pullman]

Definitely a no-no. I would recommend you not to drive it. as mentioned if the pinch bolt is loose could cause splines to wear and then finally strip out of the coupling. Think the pinch bolt sits in a groove on the column shaft so whilst the bolt is there it will hold the column in but the splines could strip the casting. all the best

 

[Bobbycharlton]

Ok thanks guys looks like I'm staying put then. This coupling anyone know how much this would cost? I assume is a separate part from both the column and the rack.

The coupling must have cracked in the aera around the bolt. Or the bolt itself must be damaged. Hopefully the coupling is cheaper than a new steering column.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Looking on a E class Saloon, the coupling is separate, and is roughly £160 + bolts etc, so shouldnt be too bad to sort.

 

[Bobbycharlton]

Looking on a E class Saloon, the coupling is separate, and is roughly £160 + bolts etc, so shouldnt be too bad to sort.

Ok thanks so perhaps they should have checked the coupling after finding the lose bolt.

If it's the coupling then that's not too expansive I just want my car back in service.

 

[ajlsl600]

can you see check the bolt yourself, maybe the bolts broke? maybe it was stretched previously .as above you want to KNOW 1, the bolt is there.2, the bolt is tight.3, the splines in the coupling are good, when the bolt is just nipped up there should be NO radial play in the coupling to shaft, if there is remove the coupling inspect and replace as,if required . dont go off anywhere until you know all above is checked .by the way ,also look other joints, ball joints , bushes, ect in the steering related areas in case the issue is not rack,pinch bolt related

 

[Bobbycharlton]

can you see check the bolt yourself, maybe the bolts broke? maybe it was stretched previously .as above you want to KNOW 1, the bolt is there.2, the bolt is tight.3, the splines in the coupling are good, when the bolt is just nipped up there should be NO radial play in the coupling to shaft, if there is remove the coupling inspect and replace as,if required . dont go off anywhere until you know all above is checked .by the way ,also look other joints, ball joints , bushes, ect in the steering related areas in case the issue is not rack,pinch bolt related

Thanks for the info. Where is the pinch bolt located? Is it accessible from the driver's foot well or bonnet? If its underneath I have no way to check myself will have to just park until my appointment.

I took it to a garage to have the suspension checked when the problem first appeared the suspension, tie rods, ball joints, strut bearings ect were all checked all reportedly in excellent condition with no play.

Could the coupling have been damaged by impact? Or is it a part that can simply fail with age/wear

 

[ajlsl600]

would say slim chance of any impact other than a major obvious shunt doing that. if it turns out to be splines U/S in coupling its most likely a loose bolt or crap QC when the coupling was made under normal circumstances with a good coupling ,good shaft and a tight pinch bolt there would be nothing going on in the coupling , its also possible that the wear,if any, has taken place on the shaft that the coupling slides onto,only a visual inspection would reveal that.. is the bolt correct, if not maybe the bolt nut comes up against the bolt shoulder before it has actually pulled the coupling tight enough to lock it on the shaft splines .. whats yr vin ,i may get time to look later

 

[Bobbycharlton]

Garage confirmed the bolt is still in place and tight now say the problem is either with the coupling, the rack or the column.

Car is safe apparently so I'll carry on see if it gets worse than it may become easier to diagnose.

If it turns out (worse case) to be the rack how much would a genuine replacement cost Fitted by indie vs dealer? The garage recomend a recon at 600-700 if I decide to replace the rack but I don't like the sound of a recon unit to be honest.

I have concerns the car would feel different and the rack could go again in 6-12 months as I've heard of this type of thing

Any experience of recon racks?
Is it.even likely to be the rack? No leaks just a noise.

 

[Pullman]

Garage confirmed the bolt is still in place and tight now say the problem is either with the coupling, the rack or the column.

Car is safe apparently so I'll carry on see if it gets worse than it may become easier to diagnose.

If it turns out (worse case) to be the rack how much would a genuine replacement cost Fitted by indie vs dealer? The garage recomend a recon at 600-700 if I decide to replace the rack but I don't like the sound of a recon unit to be honest.

I have concerns the car would feel different and the rack could go again in 6-12 months as I've heard of this type of thing

Any experience of recon racks?
Is it.even likely to be the rack? No leaks just a noise.

nothing wrong with a recondition part provided it's done by a reputable company ...

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Bobbycharlton]

Ok Thanks I'd have to make sure it was coming from a reputable rebuilder first.

I know there's nothing wrong with a recon part that was done properly I just get the feeling there probably are lots of cowboys in this market doing half arsed jobs.

The mechanic didn't want to do anything yet he says it's safe and dosnt think the issue is bad enough yet to warrant replacing any expensive bits.

 

[John Laidlaw]

I’d be surprised if an Indy would be any more than the 6-700 mentioned, straight swop would be a bit less labour than scavenging amongst what’s there already in some ways. Did we already find your nearest reputable indy?