E85/E86 Steering Problems (Solved)

Just as an FYI for anyone is interested i tried this today with the halfords star / torx spanner (E12 i think i used) and no joy - you really need a flexible headed ratchet spanner to get at these. so a wasted hour or two for me I'm afraid. Currently looking on ebay / amazon if anyone wants to fire a link for something known to do the job. :x
 
PeteWard said:
rooha said:
Just as an FYI for anyone is interested i tried this today with the halfords star / torx spanner (E12 i think i used) and no joy - you really need a flexible headed ratchet spanner to get at these. so a wasted hour or two for me I'm afraid. Currently looking on ebay / amazon if anyone wants to fire a link for something known to do the job. :x

This did the job for me


Look at this on eBay
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F183420748741

I used the ratchet end on the front bolt and the normal end on the bolt nearest the steering wheel (the ratchet housing was to bulky the get onto the back bolt).

hmm - not available in 8mm currently. i was looking at https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PFC08-8mm-Extra-Long-Flexible-Double-Head-Ring-Spanner-With-Ratchet-285mm-36Nm/323520949781 but suspect it might be too bulky
 
How about this one from Amazon?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-Hi-Torq-Pattern-Ratcheting-Spanners/dp/B007ZQ7VEU/ref=sr_1_4?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1549731906&sr=8-4&keywords=long+8mm+ratchet+spanner&refinements=p_76%3A419158031
 
bladeowner said:
How about this one from Amazon?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-Hi-Torq-Pattern-Ratcheting-Spanners/dp/B007ZQ7VEU/ref=sr_1_4?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1549731906&sr=8-4&keywords=long+8mm+ratchet+spanner&refinements=p_76%3A419158031
bladeowner said:
How about this one from Amazon?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-Hi-Torq-Pattern-Ratcheting-Spanners/dp/B007ZQ7VEU/ref=sr_1_4?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1549731906&sr=8-4&keywords=long+8mm+ratchet+spanner&refinements=p_76%3A419158031
that might be a winner .. I'll purchase and might even report back :o I'll leave it until tomorrow to pull the trigger and see if anyone pops up with a better suggestion :lol:
 
rooha said:
you really need a flexible headed ratchet spanner to get at these.
I've done a few cars now and have never needed anything but a straight spanner. Are you adjusting the steering wheel as required by releasing the reach/rake adjust lever on the column? If you don't, access will be almost impossible.
 
wonkydonkey said:
rooha said:
you really need a flexible headed ratchet spanner to get at these.
I've done a few cars now and have never needed anything but a straight spanner. Are you adjusting the steering wheel as required by releasing the reach/rake adjust lever on the column? If you don't, access will be almost impossible.
wonkydonkey said:
rooha said:
you really need a flexible headed ratchet spanner to get at these.
I've done a few cars now and have never needed anything but a straight spanner. Are you adjusting the steering wheel as required by releasing the reach/rake adjust lever on the column? If you don't, access will be almost impossible.
yup dropping and pulling it - guess with the star / torx i just cant get the leverage required to crack it as i can just get the spanner on. i think i wasnt very clear in my inital post - i can just about get the star head on the bolt itself but without the ratcheting action i just have nowhere to go with trying to loosen it off ( hope that makes sense). i think a combination of longer spanner and ratcheting action will do the trick
 
bladeowner said:
How about this one from Amazon?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-Hi-Torq-Pattern-Ratcheting-Spanners/dp/B007ZQ7VEU/ref=sr_1_4?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1549731906&sr=8-4&keywords=long+8mm+ratchet+spanner&refinements=p_76%3A419158031
sigh - order cancelled by seller ! :headbang:

might wait until sunday and pop to aldi for these ...

https://www.aldi.co.uk/workzone-5-piece-ratchet-spanner-set/p/096217259708700
 
rooha said:
bladeowner said:
How about this one from Amazon?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-Hi-Torq-Pattern-Ratcheting-Spanners/dp/B007ZQ7VEU/ref=sr_1_4?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1549731906&sr=8-4&keywords=long+8mm+ratchet+spanner&refinements=p_76%3A419158031
sigh - order cancelled by seller ! :headbang:


You need a 8mm ratchet spanner and another ring spanner to use for leaverdge,

Where are you based?
 
PeteWard said:
synthedup said:
rooha said:
sigh - order cancelled by seller ! :headbang:


You need a 8mm ratchet spanner and another ring spanner to use for leaverdge,

Where are you based?

One spanner is enough, providing it's extra long, that's how I did it...

But if he doesn't have one then the above is a solution to get move leverage.
 
PeteWard said:
synthedup said:
PeteWard said:
One spanner is enough, providing it's extra long, that's how I did it...

But if he doesn't have one then the above is a solution to get move leverage.

Fair enough! I'm happy to help anyone who can travel to Leicester, I have an extra long shaft ;)

hello sailor !
Well I've purchased a couple of cheap offset spanners from ebay that might just do the trick - Saturday or Sunday I'll get to it I reckon (im in manchester by the way.
 
just an update for anyone interested - Aldi are currently ( 18/2/19) selling a set of flex-head ratchet spanners that did the trick for me (£10). 8mm fits just right with another on the end for a bit of leverage. I know some people have said a flat spanner is enough and It would be IF the bolt is lined up just right to get started, other wise ratchet & flex-head spanner is 100% necessary for the one nearest the steering wheel. The other (nearest the pedals) is just about do-able with a flat spanner ( i managed it but actually found it much easier with the flex head.).

then its anticlockwise (as you are looking at the unit) a few MM to tighten up the steering. Once you've done this once and cracked the best way to fit yourself and your spannners in place if you need to get back in you will be able to do the job in 10 minutes.
 
it certainly seemed that way for me - i copied this from earlier in the thread

Edit: After further investigation I have found that my original adjustments were in the wrong direction after reading conflicting instructions. I have yet to test drive the car but please note: ACW adjustment = tighter, CW adjustment = looser (RHD car).
 
[ref]rooha[/ref] those are my words you've quoted above. I originally followed the directions that were written when viewing the column from the opposite side, when the whole assembly was removed from the car. I contacted the OP and he swapped the wording in line with the text of mine that you quoted on this page :)
 
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