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Car Forum / MINI / March 2004Steering Column to Dashboard attachment
Hi, I am unsure what the item is called, but my steering column to dash attachment clip is broken. I have circled two items. One is the actual break and the other is the bolt holding it on. The bolt is 'rounded', as is the nut. I am unsure how to remove this other than force. Here is the picture: http://www.aouh43.dsl.pipex.com/mini.jpg Secondly, anybody know where to obtain a replacement. I could make the piece, but I'm sure it wouldn't cost very much to buy. Any help appreciated! Cheers, Dave > The bolt is 'rounded', as is the nut. I am unsure how to > remove this other than force. I am pretty sure that these are designed to shear off when you fit them. I think it is supposed to be like that. > Here is the picture: http://www.aouh43.dsl.pipex.com/mini.jpg > > Secondly, anybody know where to obtain a replacement. The best place is a scrap yard. A million to one says that noone has ever taken/bought one of these from a scrap mini so I almost guarantee it will still be there. How did you snap it? My money is on one of the four elephants trying to get out of the back ;) The Muffin Man > The best place is a scrap yard. A million to one says that noone has ever > taken/bought one of these from a scrap mini so I almost guarantee it will > still be there. Good idea! Do you know how to remove one without damaging it? Umm, it just sorta snapped... Uhh. Okay it was the elephants! If memory serves, I didn't pay that much attention the last time I took one to pieces... It's held on my bolts to the underside of the dashboard. If you have a wooden dash or three clocks or whatever they will need to be moved. If you have a centre clock you should be able to move the padding on the dash rail and get to it. Hope this helps The Muffin Man > > The best place is a scrap yard. A million to one says that noone has ever > > taken/bought one of these from a scrap mini so I almost guarantee it will [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Umm, it just sorta snapped... Uhh. Okay it was the elephants! My wife taught my daughter the elephant joke. Glad to hear it is universal. I did not think she could have come up with it herself. Any more? >> The bolt is 'rounded', as is the nut. I am unsure how to >> remove this other than force. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > The Muffin Man Works better in the spoken form but.... "how do you get two whales in a mini?" ? "On the m6 and over the severn bridge" You see why it works better when spoken? ;) The Muffin Man PS if you don't live in the UK, get a map of the UK ;) > My wife taught my daughter the elephant joke. Glad to hear it is universal. > I did not think she could have come up with it herself. Any more? [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > > > The Muffin Man > Works better in the spoken form but.... > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > ;) But the M6 doesn't go over the Severn bridge! The M4 does, though. Keith > The Muffin Man > PS if you don't live in the UK, get a map of the UK ;) [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > > > > > The Muffin Man being from the north explains that ;) The Muffin Man > > Works better in the spoken form but.... > > [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > > > > > > > > The Muffin Man > being from the north explains that ;) > > The Muffin Man Ahh that does explain it. A foreigner! Keith > > "The Muffin Man" <muffin.man@mad.SPAMRATANDSPAMWITHBEANSscientist.com> > wrote [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] > > > > > > > > > > The Muffin Man Am I not French enough for you ;) The Muffin Man > > being from the north explains that ;) > > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Keith > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > holding it on. The bolt is 'rounded', as is the nut. I am unsure how to > remove this other than force. Easy to replace, but those anti-theft bolts are terrible. To get them off, cut off the heads with an angle-grinder. Alternatively, you might be able to square them off enough with a Dremel tool to remove them with prise grip. They'll be even more of a pain the remove in the breaker's yard! > They'll be even more of a pain the remove in the breaker's yard! Umm, does this mean i have to buy new ones from Rover? Anybody know of generic versions? Cheers, Dave > Umm, does this mean i have to buy new ones from Rover? Anybody know of > generic versions? Yep, they're called bolts ;) You should be able to get one from any motor factor. The Muffin Man > Yep, they're called bolts ;) > > You should be able to get one from any motor factor. > > The Muffin Man Uggh!! At least then you will be able to take it off whenever you want without having to use brute force and ignorance. If you haven't got an angle grinder you may be able to get hold of it with a pair of maul grips (vice grips). Hope it all goes well. The Muffin Man > > Yep, they're called bolts ;) > > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Uggh!! The Mini used shear bolts. Why? Haven't seen shear bolts but you can buy a generic shear nut from screwfix in m6, m8 and m10 sizes. The hex end shears of when tightened. Minis seam to come out of production still with the hex attached (the 4 I have owned have) and it is only sheared when a garaged or owner tightens it. I sheared my first one when fitting a column lowering bracket in the 70s. Had to remove the column and cut the bolt off with a hacksaw. I had not seen an angle grinders back then. Is it to stop someone stealing your stealing your stearing column without taking the dash trim and clocks out? Save your money and use a normal bolt and nylock nut. Spend the money on a column lowering bracket. Peter > > They'll be even more of a pain the remove in the breaker's yard! > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Cheers, > Dave Hi, The shear bolt is an extra security device. The steering lock stops the column turning, but if the bolt is taken out, the whole column inner and outer can be turned to steer the car, enabling the car thief to drive your car away. keith > The Mini used shear bolts. Why? > [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > Cheers, > > Dave > > Hi, > > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > They'll be even more of a pain the remove in the breaker's yard! You can usually use a centre punch to drive them round. Earlier cars tend not to have the heads sheared off.... then someone at Rover realised they had to turn up the torque wrench a little higher and all the later cars were sheared! If not, we have collected some used ones from earlier cars. Well, at least I think there are some somewhere around here!  SignatureRgds Steve steve@dsnclassics.co.uk www.dsnclassics.co.uk |
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