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Steering Column Wedge

Started by _smiley_ , Aug 08 2006 10:43 PM

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29 replies to this topic

#1 _smiley_

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Posted 08 August 2006 - 10:43 PM

Does a 73 lj have the wedge fitted to the left side of the column or not at all.My 5/72 had one but this 4/73 hasn`t and I`m wondering if he hasn`t replaced it after the resto. :<_<:

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#2 _73LJWhiteSL_

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Posted 08 August 2006 - 10:48 PM

Are you talking about the break away thing, light silver coloured that slides between the column mount and the dash? My 5/73 LJ SL and 9/73 LJ S both have them.

Steve

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#3 _smiley_

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Posted 08 August 2006 - 11:21 PM

Steve that sounds like the one,
it has an elongated hole and is made of alloy and is obviously wedge shaped with a little tab on the end of it so you can slide it in or out on the bolt.

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#4 _73LJWhiteSL_

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Posted 09 August 2006 - 09:51 AM

Yeah the thing that keeps falling out when you try and put the bolts back in.... :fool:

Yeah both my cars definately have it. I know cause i swaped the columns around when i did my auto to manual conversion (column shift auto to floor shift manual)

Steve

Edited by 73LJWhiteSL, 09 August 2006 - 09:53 AM.

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#5 _smiley_

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Posted 09 August 2006 - 09:59 AM

Thanks Steve

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#6 _gtr-xu1_

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Posted 09 August 2006 - 11:04 AM

smiley ill give you 10k for your car as these wedges are really expensive :tease:

lol

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#7 _smiley_

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Posted 09 August 2006 - 11:09 AM

I`d be tempted Jamie if I didn`t already have a spare wedge sitting around :tease:

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#8 _gtr-xu1_

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Posted 10 August 2006 - 08:58 PM

yes but now we all know your car hasnt got the original wedge and wrong caps! make it 5k rofl

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#9 _smiley_

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Posted 10 August 2006 - 09:05 PM

Your XU-1 and 40k and I`ll get the right caps before you pick it up

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#10 _gtr-xu1_

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Posted 10 August 2006 - 09:15 PM

now you made me laugh real hard lol do you want my dog too

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#11 _rorym_

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Posted 15 August 2006 - 06:16 PM

I am told it's a good looking dog!!!! :spoton:

R

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#12 FastEHHolden

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Posted 15 August 2006 - 11:45 PM

Red paper clip anyone?

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#13 jd lj

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Posted 03 December 2022 - 06:35 AM

What is the purpose of the steering column wedge? How is it meant to be adjusted?

My car has never had this since I bought it. I'm currently reassembling my car and when trying to fit the steering coupling with it fitted to the steering rack the bottom of the steering column seems to be too high to bolt the coupling together. The bottom of the steering column shaft pretty much lines up with the top edge of the rubber coupling.

I replaced the rubber coupling many years ago but don't recall having any problems fitting it.

Since there's no adjustment anywhere else would the lack of the wedge make a difference to the problem?

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#14 S pack

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Posted 03 December 2022 - 07:21 AM

The purpose of the wedge is to prevent bending or misalignment of the steering column and possible breakage of the breakaway capsule.

The wedge is used to fill the gap at the 3rd mounting stud.

Tighten the other two bolts to the specified torque and then push the wedge into place, install the bolt and torque up.

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#15 jd lj

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Posted 03 December 2022 - 08:28 AM

Thanks Dave.
I'll track one down and fit it.
Why didn't GMH just make the mounting bracket to fit without the wedge?

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#16 S pack

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Posted 03 December 2022 - 09:26 AM

Thanks Dave.
I'll track one down and fit it.
Why didn't GMH just make the mounting bracket to fit without the wedge?

I suspect it is all to do with the way the collapsible steering column is designed to collapse.

The other two bolt holes in the mounting bracket house the breakable alloy capsules that allow the column and bracket to move down if your body impacts hard enough against the steering wheel.

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#17 Ice

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Posted 03 December 2022 - 10:01 AM

Thanks Dave.
I'll track one down and fit it.
Why didn't GMH just make the mounting bracket to fit without the wedge?

I will see if i still have one James frOck knows where it is but i will try and find it fo you

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#18 S pack

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Posted 03 December 2022 - 10:20 AM

AFAIK HQ,J,X,Z, WB, LH,X & UC all use the same alloy wedge.

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#19 jd lj

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Posted 03 December 2022 - 11:09 AM

I suspect it is all to do with the way the collapsible steering column is designed to collapse.
The other two bolt holes in the mounting bracket house the breakable alloy capsules that allow the column and bracket to move down if your body impacts hard enough against the steering wheel.

I'm sure that all 3 bracket bolts holes have the alloy capsule.

Thanks Gene.

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#20 S pack

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Posted 03 December 2022 - 11:25 AM

I'm sure that all 3 bracket bolts holes have the alloy capsule.

You are probably right James. I haven't seen the bracket for quite a while.

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#21 S pack

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Posted 03 December 2022 - 11:57 AM

I have a spare wedge but the thin end is broken off. It will do the job if you can't find a good one.

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#22 Ice

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Posted 03 December 2022 - 01:18 PM

AFAIK HQ,J,X,Z, WB, LH,X & UC all use the same alloy wedge.

Didn’t know that

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#23 S pack

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Posted 03 December 2022 - 01:37 PM

Didn’t know that

Check your van.

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#24 S pack

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Posted 03 December 2022 - 01:53 PM

OK, I am wrong about the big Holdens having the alloy wedge. I could swear our WB had one however, I just checked the HQ shop manual and although the column bracket is similar design to the LC/LJ the HQ does not require the alloy wedge. Apologies for any bum steer.