New Pas Lower Steering Columns

[jackherer 543]

The steering column on the right is a brand new one from Eurocarparts. It differs from the original part where I have circled it, there is a rubber bush in the larger housing.

 

I don't like the thought of that in a 205 GTI, it seems very wrong to add play (however slight) to a car which is largely characterised by its steering feel.

 

I'm considering putting some welds onto it to stop the rubber from having any effect, does anyone see any problems with doing this? Maybe the U/J isn't as strong as a genuine Peugeot part and needs the bush to absorb shocks?

[C_W 3 1 Cars]

Never realised that was a rubber joint, you may have problems fitting the rubber boot/grommet in the bulkhead over that, I remember having to modify mine to make my non-pas boot/grommet fit properly (which fitted fine with an OE column).

[jackherer 543]

I didn't notice any problems with the rubber boot particularly. It was a bugger to get in but they always are, now you mention it though I'll check the clearance in case its rubbing or something.

 

Any thoughts on the potential effect to steering feel and if welding it is a good idea?

[mos 1]

strange?

 

when i bought one from ECP back in november last year, it did not have this and was identical to the peugeot item.

must be a fairly recent change

 

hope this change isn't a sign there have been problems with the earlier ones.

 

Mark

[C_W 3 1 Cars]

I bought mine about 3 years ago, maybe longer, I definitely remember it have the bulge as I have problems with my standard grommet (I sourced one from a 309GL that fitted over it fine though).

[jackherer 543]

It turns out that the rubber in that position going slack is a big problem on clio 16vs, and its very common for the owners to crush them in a vice to clamp the rubber tightly again, or otherwise they weld them up.

 

pic

[GLPoomobile 958]

I'm just wondering, since CW mentioned the 309GL, is it possible that the lesser models had this bush to provide slightly more comfort, whereas the GTi did away with it to provide more direct feel?

 

And if this is the case, then perhaps they now only do the one type to cover all models.

[jackherer 543]

Looks like you're on to something there, although as usual Peugeot have made it very confusing. I've just done some digging around and ECP only list the PAS column for the 205, not the 309, but its the same one for all 205s with PAS including the GTI. However the Peugeot parts CD shows FOUR different columns for 309s with power steering alone! (plus another three for non-pas)

 

http://www.stuartmcguire.co.uk/pug/GB/309F/4/41D01A.HTM

 

However for the pre '91 205 they show two PAS columns (without saying what the difference is or which cars they go on) and they are the same two that are listed for non-GTI 309s!

 

http://www.stuartmcguire.co.uk/pug/GB/205F/4/41D01A.HTM

 

And for the post '91 205s they also show two columns but they say one is GTI and the other non-GTI.

 

http://www.stuartmcguire.co.uk/pug/GB/205N/4/41D01A.HTM

 

So thats a total of six PAS columns

[inferno 1]

weld it up:P

[vern 0]

I belive there are 2 different lengths, as when I ordered mine from peugeot that is all they asked, " is it short or a long one mate?"

[jackherer 543]

I belive there are 2 different lengths, as when I ordered mine from peugeot that is all they asked, " is it short or a long one mate?"

 

Thats the difference between power steering and non power steering columns.

 

The problem here is that there are six variants of "the short one" without even thinking about the non-PAS "long ones".

[vern 0]

No I am sure he said that it was 2 different lengths for pas. Could be wrong was a few years ago.

[C_W 3 1 Cars]

Would 4 of them be square or pinion for non-pas and square or pinion for PAS? (or were all PAS ones pinion fitting?).

 

Can you feel any rubberyness in the column if you twist it? or lock it in a vice and lever the end?

[jackherer 543]

I think PAS ones are all pinion but I could be wrong?

 

I could feel flex in the column off the car, not much but its definitely not solid.

 

Its on the car now but its not been driven much so I cant really say if its had an effect or not, also it turns out the upper column u/j is slightly clicky so I'm going to change that too and we may as well weld the lower one up while its apart again.

[jackherer 543]

I did weld it up in the end, and it was fine for quite a while, with a new upper column and the welds steering feel was excellent again. The car was later written off at brands hatch and I'm in the middle of reshelling it. The column still looks fine and the welds (just a tack on each side) have held up.