Date:         Fri, 25 Feb 2000 13:05:37 -0500
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@IBM.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@IBM.NET>
Subject:      Re: Shear bolts on steering column
Comments: To: "Elkavitch, Michael and Diana" <elks@TOP.MONAD.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <200002251312.IAA19334@smtp.mcttelecom.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

First off, before you drill out those bolts, try a visegrips.  Helps if
it's not all munged up.  Usually you can grab at the very bottom and loosen
them, then remove with fingers.

Second, you can get replacements at the dealer, about $8 each five years
ago.  However IMHO this is not necessary as these bolts are apparently (and
according to my dealer) there to make it more difficult for thieves to drop
the column and take out the ignition switch.  Around here I don't think
that would even occur to a thief, they use a slam-hammer to yank out the
switch.  And since you can almost always remove them with visegrips, the
security isn't that much better anyway.  So I'd grind flats on the
originals and put them back, or use regular M8 (I think) bolts.

NB:  There is an opinion extant that these bolts are actually part of a
safety system that allows the steering column to move in a collision, and
that the shearing feature is to make sure that they're installed to the
right torque.  My dealer does not believe this and neither do I.  The
straps that these bolts attach to are flimsy -- the only way that the bolts
could affect the issue would be by shearing off completely, and IMO the
strap would fold up long before this happened.  But you pays your money and
you takes your choice.  If you want the official bolts I have a pair that I
paid the $16 for, then looked at the arrangement and talked to the dealer
and didn't use them.  They could be had for say $8 the pair+ship.

david

At 08:31 AM 2/25/2000 , Elkavitch, Michael and Diana wrote:
>Hi all,
>         First thanks to those who eased my fears about the muffler strap. I
>think I will be okay and get in gear. Now, in doing the heater blower
>repair, Bentley says to drill out the shear bolts on the steering wheel
>column. That I can handle, I think! Question - what goes back in? The size,
>any particular type? Thanks again for the collective knowledge!
>         Mike - '86 Westy syncro


David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"