MOT instant pass! Steering column question.

[GabrielKnight]

MOT went by with flying colours. Only cost £35 booking online with Kwikfit. The guy said is was a pleasure to work on a decent car for a change!

He pointed out what I knew already. You can turn the steering wheel 5 degrees to the left or right before anything happens i.e. there is a bit (lot) of give. It has made steering a bit hairy when accelerating fast or cornering recently.

He mentioned getting a new 'steering column'. This presumably is the rod and gubbins that connects the wheel to the steering apparatus. He said I could get a 'performance' column for less than an official Renault one, but I guess I have to go with Renault to keep the Williams 'original spec'?

1. How much would a new Renault column cost, if they're still available?
2. For a 'performance' column'?
3. How much for a garage to fit?

Is one of these be any good?:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Renault-Clio-Mk1-Williams-1.8-16V-Power-Steering-Rack!-_W0QQitemZ110432099945QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ2009090 7?IMSfp=TL090907167001r3856

I think its designed for a valver so it's not 'authentic' Williams which we're aparently attaining to? And I don't understand the stuff about 'swapping out your outer rods' etc. Maybe a mechanic would?

[Coops]

its the universal joint in the column mate more than likely

new columns are a few quid from renault, not cheap i wouldnt expect

i will have a mint genuine williams column with no play in it for sale as of this sunday if all goes well with my manual conversion so i can sell you that if you need

you can also have the column in there welded to get rid of the play

not sure how much a garage would charge to swap a column, its not that hard really but as it a job that looks like it could be difficult no doubt book time will be hours and hours so they'll charge a fortune, you'd need to ring round a few

[16v_paddy]

Sounds like he's talkin bollocks about a performance column, more than likely he's getting confused with a quicker steering rack

that link doesn't work but it looks like it's a rack & you need a column buy the column off coops and ring round for some prices to fit it, but I'd say do it yourself, it's only 5 bolts

[GabrielKnight]

I'd say do it yourself, it's only 5 bolts

Lol, just 5 bolts away from sudden death.

[GabrielKnight]

I'll try to repost the link I mentioned earlier:


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Renault-Clio-Mk1-Williams-1.8-16V-Power-Steering-Rack!-_W0QQitemZ110432099945QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ2009090 7?IMSfp=TL090907167001r3856

[GabrielKnight]

No, doesn't work. Just copy and paste both halves of the web address into the address bar if interested.

[16v_paddy]

That's not what you need mate

[drsmith1979]

linking fail there i think.... however, cut and paste this and put it in your web browser and it will give you all the information you need to know.

[Chris H]

sound sliek your average kwik fit fitter.

not knowing his arse from elbow.

Performance column, broom pole cut to fit, rustic looking and lightweight

just weld the fecker

[Slam]

sound sliek your average kwik fit fitter.

not knowing his arse from elbow.

Performance column, broom pole cut to fit, rustic looking and lightweight

just weld the fecker

And driveby the kwik-fit-mart.