Working on a 9000 series car. We have a lot of slop at the lower end of the steering column, evidently a worn or missing bushing, causing both lateral and and end play. We also have the lost motion from wear at the male and female 'D' shaped telescoping section.
The column is notably different (shorter) than what is in the two Ford era cars here that exhibit none of these problems.
Anyone have any specific experience with the later cars?
Replies sorted oldest to newest
I rebuilt mine with new bushings, the steering column was the same as a Ford era car.
Hmmm. This column is a solid two inches shorter.
Where did you source the bushings?
TY.
The 9000 series car were an iteration through around late 92XX's, transitioning handbrake location, Maserati A/C controls etc. Mine is 9178 and has a lot of Ford era parts still, with the early handbrake location and heater controls.
Are you certain it hasn't been modified? It looks pretty ugly welding and column brackets under there!
Julian,
do you have a Ford ignition switch?
or a Innocenti switch ?
Simon
Simon,
Mine is Ford.
Julian
Julian,
The later 9000 series has a Innocenti ignition switch and also an other column , the bad welding you mentioned is that DeTomaso chance this and modify the mounting bracket.
Simon
This the ignition lock from 9049 compared to a Ford era unit, and a shot of the plastic covers as modified to accommodate it's larger size and different column mounting angle. The turn signal switch is a Ford era item.
Simon, do you have an example of a later car with the Innocenti lock?
Are the plastic cover pieces modified like these were?
Interesting that 129 cars later, Julians 9178 uses all Ford era parts.
Back to the slop problem, someone tried to stuff a (presumably) Ford era bushing into the bottom of the column. It will not seat properly because of a step in the steering shaft diameter. I think a spin on the lathe to open it up to match the step will resolve the problem.
Hi Larry , the later 9000 , use different covers , not as modified like yours, it looks like somebody try to mount a Fiat ignition switch/lock .
I will send you to your Email adress some pic's from the Innocenti lock and covers .
dont know how to post pictures here.
Simon
It looks like the snap-ring, #11, has come out of its groove, circled above #15. This happened to my '74 car. When this happens, the spring pulls the steering shaft up into the outer column sleeve. Then, the outer column rubs on the U-joint. It looks like someone put the additional bushing in the bottom of the column to stop the rubbing, but this is the wrong approach to correct the issue.
The column needs to be removed from the car and that bushing needs to be removed. You may need to pull the steering shaft from the outer column by disassembling the top end. Then the snap ring can be accessed if it is still there. If the ring is there, it probably needs to be bent to tighten the fit in the groove and then pressed back into position.
TY.
I removed the steering wheel and adapter. This allowed the steering shaft to slide out far enough and everything became obvious.
Snap ring 11 was still in place, bushing 9 had disintegrated allowing the same movement as a missing snap ring.
I found the shaft cannot be removed from the bottom though, it comes out from the top, requiring removal of bearing 8. To get it out requires using the steering shaft as a drift and driving the bearing up out of the outer column. The bearing did not survive the process.
I think that unless you confident bearing 8 is bad, it and and the shaft don't necessarily have to removed from the outer column. Removing the steering wheel and adapter should allow enough movement of the shaft for installation of bushing 9 and restoration of washer 10 and snap ring 11.
