Steering Column Contacting Firewall

[Maver1ck]

When I purchased my car it had a suicide knob on the wheel and felt like you were arm wrestling the car to turn, even while underway.

I ditched the knob and loosened the overtightened adjustment screw on the box. Since then, it has been drivable but not perfect. Today I found what may be a cause, the column rubbing the firewall.

What could have possibly gone wrong to have the column misaligned so poorly? You can see the ring around the column where the firewall has scored it.

Could it be the joint bushings failing?

[grantbennett2]

it does look like it has been moving around. I will take a look at mine in the morning to compare.

[davidw6092]

There is usually a degree of leeway in the steering box mounting bolts,try loosening them off and re-aligning the shaft a little.retighten!Also try the same at the top end under the dash.

[Derek UK]

Not unknown for the chassis member behind the steering box to rust due to trapped water/salt. This can cause the box to move around a bit if it gets bad. The rust showing around the bulkhead would warrant a good inspection of the box mount area IMO. If it's really bad you can see the box move if you chock the wheels against sideways movement and try and try and turn the wheel. Needs two people. Not an easy repair if there is a problem.

[Maver1ck]

Originally Posted by davidw6092

There is usually a degree of leeway in the steering box mounting bolts,try loosening them off and re-aligning the shaft a little.retighten!Also try the same at the top end under the dash.

Thanks David! I loosened the box and it realigned itself - I couldn't believe it was that easy. It clearly "wanted" to be aligned correctly.

Derek, thank you for the comment about rust. Not an issue down by the box, luckily. The rust on the firewall is from a steady stream of brake fluid dripping from the master cylinder (1968 U.S. version with dried up rubber seals between the reservoir and MC body...on my to-do list to remedy).

[simonvolvo]

Is there anything inside the box section of the chassis at this point to strengthen it against being crushed if you over-tighten the bolts used to fix the steering box?

See the pics which I pinched from:

http://www.volvokv.nl/forum/body-ext...e?limitstart=0

[mocambique-amazone]

yes, peaces of metal and tubes made of metal. The bolts are running through the tubes.
The construction is stiff in front of the rust.

Maver1ck: there should be a peace of felt around the steering coulumn. Ad it and block the nnoise from the engine bay.
the joint bushings don't look in right position to me

good luck, and thank you davidw6092, I forgot this totally, Kay

[Maver1ck]

Originally Posted by mocambique-amazone

Maver1ck: there should be a peace of felt around the steering coulumn. Ad it and block the nnoise from the engine bay.
the joint bushings don't look in right position to me

Yes, the foam pad courtesy of vp-autoparts will be installed next week along with the Heatblok firewall insulation courtesy of http://www.heatblok.com/product.html .

I agree about the joints. They will eventually be replaced with IPD's polyurethane bushings, here: https://www.ipdusa.com/products/5917...ler-122-models