Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2013 01:10:46 -0500
Reply-To: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Steering. Re: P 48.14 Measurement "a"
In-Reply-To: <CAB2Rwfhdcir-97iN0p6hN-CE1S+vnF7p+zE55onfLk_t+8qjgg@mail.g
mail.com>
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At 04:11 PM 2/1/2013, neil n wrote:
>A few years ago I replaced the ignition switch. The dash was off at
>that time. I was a much less experienced "wrench" at the time so
>didn't pay close attention to the position of the plastic spacer.
>
>I'll study the Bentley, but if the plastic spacer position is
>incorrect, would that affect the position of the upper column relative
Bentley is talking through its collective hat on that one. They tell
you to drive the plastic spacer to a particular depth; however this
dimension is actually rigidly fixed by the length of the plastic
spacer. The distance they tell you to set is the distance it's going
to end up anyway. They then tell you to set that clearance between
steering wheel and lever switch asssembly by moving the ignition lock
assembly up or down the steering column tube. This adjustment does
not do that, as that dimension is fixed by the length of the
spacer. What it does instead is change the clearance between the
steering wheel and the plastic shroud.
The reference point for the entire system is the lower surface of the
steering wheel, which itself is set by the mating tapers on the
steering wheel and steering column. This is followed by the plastic
spacer which seats on the inner race of the upper steering column
bearing. The outer race of that bearing is pressed into the ignition
switch assembly and the lever switch pack screws to legs protruding
from the ignition switch assembly.
On initial assembly of a new steering column, the spacer causes the
upper steering column bearing inner race to be pressed partway onto a
deformable plastic carrier mounted on the steering column. This sets
the clearance between switch pack and horn moving contact ring which
is then permanent. If for some reason (non-spec steering wheel, VW
change in the horn moving contact assembly) the clearance needs to be
changed, increasing it is easy -- simply shim the plastic spacer the
required amount (or make a new one) and the upper column bearing will
be driven farther down the column when you bolt the steering wheel
back down. If the clearance must be decreased you must shorten the
spacer by the proper amount, and it will probably be necessary to
replace the plastic bearing carrier on the upper steering column so
that a new seat can be obtained for the upper column bearing.
John Reynolds ran into this problem when replacing the horn ring
contact, as VW had changed a dimension causing the clearance to
decrease. He elected to deal with it by putting the new ring contact
into the old carrier assembly, rather than altering the steering
column dimensions.
Photos at
https://picasaweb.google.com/117189706757545167023/VanagonSteeringColumn?authuser=0&feat=directlink
.
Yours,
David
