The bolts are round on the outside of the head, and have a T-40 star recess in the middle of them, basically female versions of the bolts use in the RH vehicles... I'll send you some pics on WhatsApp when I get them out, I had to go get a pack of allen wrenches with torx heads, that's about the only thing i can get into the space I think...
04 E85 3.0i - EPS light on and stiff steering
- Thread starter james078
- Start date
Hey everyone, thought I'd come back and finish this saga... I ended up having to remove the column to get the EPS motor detached from the column, there was just not a way to get those T-40 torx head bolts out, believe me I tried with a lot of different tools. You just cannot get a straight enough alignment that allows you to break loose those bolts...I fixed that problem for the future, it now has hex head bolts in it 
... I did send the motor off to ECS in Heanor/Derbyshire, that was $350 ticket for shipping via UPS from DFW, 13 days to get there...I re-installed everything yesterday , and thankfully I now have power steering again!!! Below are some pics I snapped along the way to augment what's already been provided by enuff_zed, also I found this youtube video insightful as well... some other notes you might need to know for anyone in the USA contemplating this:
1. There's an airbag deployer at knee level underneath the column - 4 T-30 torx bolts and 3 pop in clips, and a wire that has same connector type as the airbag on the steering wheel - handle with care of course!
2. I replaced those T-40 torx bolts holding the EPS motor to the column with M8 - 1.25 X 30MM bolts, they have a 13MM hex head (picture included)
3. There's a cable running from the ignition switch on the column into the center console to the gearshifter (mines an automatic) that controls the locking mechanism for both steering wheel and gearshift... it's a 13MM head on the end you can get an open end wrench on, but the fitting and cable are one piece, so you have to twist the cable while you are removing it, and likewise, pre-twist the cable about 7 full turns prior to re-attaching so its not twisted when tight...
here's the video link I referenced - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K00JRcr7Ivk
Many many thanks to enuff_zed for his help and consultations, could not have done it with his coaching!!!
... I did send the motor off to ECS in Heanor/Derbyshire, that was $350 ticket for shipping via UPS from DFW, 13 days to get there...I re-installed everything yesterday , and thankfully I now have power steering again!!! Below are some pics I snapped along the way to augment what's already been provided by enuff_zed, also I found this youtube video insightful as well... some other notes you might need to know for anyone in the USA contemplating this:1. There's an airbag deployer at knee level underneath the column - 4 T-30 torx bolts and 3 pop in clips, and a wire that has same connector type as the airbag on the steering wheel - handle with care of course!
2. I replaced those T-40 torx bolts holding the EPS motor to the column with M8 - 1.25 X 30MM bolts, they have a 13MM hex head (picture included)
3. There's a cable running from the ignition switch on the column into the center console to the gearshifter (mines an automatic) that controls the locking mechanism for both steering wheel and gearshift... it's a 13MM head on the end you can get an open end wrench on, but the fitting and cable are one piece, so you have to twist the cable while you are removing it, and likewise, pre-twist the cable about 7 full turns prior to re-attaching so its not twisted when tight...
here's the video link I referenced - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K00JRcr7Ivk
Many many thanks to enuff_zed for his help and consultations, could not have done it with his coaching!!!
Thanks!!!! Trial by fire as they say :wink: ... I failed to mention I also buffed all that rust off on the frame and lower end of the shaft with my Dremel and a wire brush attachment, and coated it all lightly with some di-electric grease I had to hopefully slow down that oxidation process for the future...
