924Board.org

staticsan · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 450 Location: Sydney, Australia

Without pulling it apart, the engineer could not find evidence the steering column in my 924 is collapsible. Which means it isn't an engineering pass.

If I pull the wheel assembly off, what specifically am I looking for? He said if I could do that and show the collapsing section, he could pass it. Alternatively, there were some here who said a few month ago that they were happy to send me one. It's not hard to change over, is it?

Wade.

BionicBalls · Joined: 05 Jan 2009 Posts: 642 Location: Charlotte, NC

stock 924 steering does have collapse section in the steering wheel as far as I know. Aftermarket hubs such as MOMO do not.
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1980 924 NA
1982 931

924aussie · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 10:57 am Post subject:

Can you post a picture of what you have.

Alan
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green 924 .. 1980 rego 924PSH
1998 Mopar Neon ... sick
2003 Challenger / Montery 4WD
1995 Hyundai Scoupe ... sold
1998 Nissan Silvia ... sons back from OS he has taken it
BIG BLOODY MOTORHOME 300zx Sold
1980 Fire truck Sold

emoore924 · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 2822

Yes, 924 have a collapsible section from the factory. It looks like a perforated cylindrical tube with holes in it partway down the steering column.

staticsan · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 450 Location: Sydney, Australia

There isn't a perforated section in the column visible underneath the dash. Sorry, I should have mentioned this before. I'll pull the wheel off and have a look right up high, then.

This topic came up some months back
http://www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=35644&highlight=im240

Wade.

staticsan · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 450 Location: Sydney, Australia

Right. Okay.

This is what under the dash looks like:

Pulling the steering wheel off and removing the switches and ignition lock I find this:

It might be a little hard to see but there is no honeycomb section in this piece of column.

But in the process of removing the steering wheel, take off the pad and I see the following:

... which is a honeycomb section! It's about 5 inches long, though, which may not be long enough.

I will talk to the engineer tomorrow. It's dead easy to show him the steering wheel, whether it's in the car or not. Much simpler than replacing the column.

Wade.

Muz924 · Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2012 4:55 pm Post subject:

Wade,

if the steering wheel is the one you bought off me its collapsible
as its off my 1978 aussie spec car.

The steering shaft you have is the later type as i posted in the previous post. The later type is better as the collasping is controlled within itself.
(one pipe sliding inside the other).

Your UK spec car will have UK compliance plate on it, one of the numbers will be for "collapsible steering column".

Research which number relates "collapsible steering column" and show your road worthy guy. (I cant believe he thinks an 1982 german car dosn't have one!!!!)

Post a pic of the UK compliance plate and i'll try looking it up for you.
_________________
1978 924 RoW 5-Speed (Current Project)
1980 924 RoW 5-Speed (Donor Car)
1985 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV 2.0 (Previous Project Car)

staticsan · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 450 Location: Sydney, Australia

Muz924 · Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2012 9:02 pm Post subject:

Maybe the the UK cars don't have a compliance plate as they already comply with German standards!

What about getting a porsche garage to confirm in writing it is indeed a collapsible type?

You say he can't see evidence of it.....what does he think the small shaft going into the larger shaft is for!!!!

Or go to an engineer that knows what he is looking at, pretty soon he will be asking for evidence of curtain airbags and ESP

_________________
1978 924 RoW 5-Speed (Current Project)
1980 924 RoW 5-Speed (Donor Car)
1985 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV 2.0 (Previous Project Car)

staticsan · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 450 Location: Sydney, Australia

The larger "shaft" visible is actually part of the steering lock. Haynes calls it a "steering column casing".

I did some more research. There is a type of collapsing column that doesn't use a honeycomb structure because it uses a friction fitting between two cylinders, pretty much as you describe. If mine is of that type, then this portion is inside the casing.

Wade.

scm924s · Joined: 22 Oct 2010 Posts: 296 Location: Gloucester UK

The steering column is NOT collapsible, the steering wheel boss on the standard wheel is the collapsible element.
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1984 n/a Ruby Red Metallic
1988 924S Guards red- sold
1986 924S Guards Red - sold
1984 n/a Black - sold
1980 n/a Le Mans#1 - sold
1980 n/a Le Mans#2- sold
1977 Martini - sold

emoore924 · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 2822

Another part of the collapsable design is the steering shaft comes in a couple of pieces that are offset and connected by u-joints. If the steering rack moves towards the passenger compartment for some reason, like a frontal impact, the u-joints allow the steering shaft(s) and rack to side-step and move towards the passenger compartment without moving the steering wheel towards the driver.

Yes, that perforated thing you have in the pics is what I was talking about.

I think your "engineer" is a dolt. This design has been employed almost universally since the 1960s.

staticsan · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 450 Location: Sydney, Australia

The engineer got back to me and has been doing his own research, including locating another engineer who has done certification work for Porsche and has also been involved with sorting out problems with steering columns.

He won't pass it without a honeycomb section in the column itself. If anyone has one I can buy, then I'm interested. The honeycomb section in the steering wheel boss is good, but not enough.

Tomorrow's task is to pull the column actually out on the off-chance there is a collapsing section hiding in the steering lock tube. If there is, then he will pass it.

Wade.

Muz924 · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 7:49 pm Post subject:

I cant believe your Engineer will only approve the pre 1980 version of the steering column!!

Try contacting a fellow member Ron "unheardofinstruments" he might have older style (honeycomb) steering column available as well.

I have a spare from my 1980 however its the same as the "non compliant" version you currenty have.

They are held on by 4-bolts (and the uni joint in engine bay), the fun part is getting all the indicator/wiper stuff off, based on your photos you have already done that.

Good luck mate!
_________________
1978 924 RoW 5-Speed (Current Project)
1980 924 RoW 5-Speed (Donor Car)
1985 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV 2.0 (Previous Project Car)

john h · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 8:32 pm Post subject:

pretty sure I have a couple of old ones here in NZ so I could send one to you. Not sure how much it would cost you for postage. I won't be down to the garage till the weekend and will look then.
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Remember a Porsche is not just for Christmas,

if you take it to pieces slowly it can provide anguish all year long!