broken steering column bolt

[metsuki]

Hi every one,

please excuse me if my english is not perfect, i 'll try to do my best!

this is my first post even i read nsxcb for a long time now!

i am the proud owner of a 93' NSX for 2 month now.
i bought the car from a car collector's friend.
first problem, as a collector's car, the car hardly done 8000kms in 12-13 years...

since i bought the car, i don't drive it because i am certain that the timing belt hasn't been done for a very long time (13 years minimum).

i already done many little interventions and health check to the car, but yesterday i was about to check the well known loose steering column issue.
to my surprise (and it is far from the word i used then;)) one of the screw is just broken in half!
there is no way i can bolt anything on it:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/uPOrMA8MytXbHqbVmDDQT_wgfofRO1UjIK1WfnSWlZA=w1284-h963-no

i already saw this post on prime wich seems to be similar
http://www.nsxprime.com/forum/showthread.php/163094-Broke-steering-column-bolt
i don't know how to adverse the problem, really??!
as i don't want to drill it (drill straight seems impossible) or solder anything (i would have to take off all the dash), do you think something like this would help to elongate the screw?
http://www.hardeman-distribution.com/images/Image/Manchon-de-raccord-pour-tige-filetee-Ecrou-de-jonction-f.jpg

please help!!!!

[Kaz-kzukNA1]

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Gm-xPA36XSs/VeGliPlSlXI/AAAAAAAAbR0/mCo2gg4casg/s640-Ic42/STG_001.jpg
First, take the driver seat out and drop the steering column on the floor.
You don’t need to disconnect the steering joint or the steering wheel so just wrap it well to prevent it from being scratched.



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tOnxoKAB1Zg/VeGli6FT29I/AAAAAAAAbR8/StJeAcj5Z9w/s640-Ic42/STG_002.jpg
Once you have better view of the seared bolt, you can decide what to do.
If you have enough thread left, you may be able to use the nut extender like in your photo.
Please note that the bolt is not necessarily acting as the major role but it’s kind of part of the steering column crushable structure for the impact safety reason so please take this into consideration if you are using non-OEM method.

This is from early model NSX so it will look different from yours. Also, the dashboard was already taken out but it will give you some idea on what you are dealing with.
I think on yours, the bolt will come out at the edge of the panel and even there is a slit/recess on the panel to allow the bolt to be slide in/out horizontally rather than lifting up the metal tube hanger when replacing the front bulk head or the tube hanger itself.

By the way, you only need small torque for the fixing nut holding that V recessed square washer.
Only 16Nm required.


Kaz

[metsuki]

I think on yours, the bolt will come out at the edge of the panel and even there is a slit/recess on the panel to allow the bolt to be slide in/out horizontally rather than lifting up the metal tube hanger when replacing the front bulk head or the tube hanger itself.

Kaz


thank you Kaz!

i don't undersatnd very well your sentence.
on my car, yout think that this bolt can be taken of the hanger to be change?!
from nsx prime's post, i was thinking the bolt was solder on the holder?!

putting the column down doesn't seem too hard and if the bolt is swappable , of course i will make it this way to stick to the original

can you confirm it to me?

[Kaz-kzukNA1]

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tOnxoKAB1Zg/VeGli6FT29I/AAAAAAAAbR8/StJeAcj5Z9w/s640-Ic42/STG_002.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-idFtuEBHv5g/VeHBT6bLejI/AAAAAAAAbSM/LQjm2SFkHpM/s640-Ic42/STG_002-001.jpg
Hope the photos explain what I meant.

While the 1st photo shows the bolt position on the early model, on your 93 model, the edge of the panel (indicated in red) will be at the blue line with the cut out/recess/slit around the bolt.
You will understand what I meant once you start working on your NSX to drop the steering column.



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OuZXCjKDauA/VeHF2eIXJFI/AAAAAAAAbSY/J3WOH4bH6T0/s640-Ic42/STG_003.jpg
You won’t be able to see the other end of the bolt because it’s hidden at the U shaped tube that is welded to the steering hanger.
Again, please note that this photo is from the early model NSX and your bolt finish will look different where it meets the U shaped tube.
I think the bolt is welded to this U shaped tube on your year model and thus, you can’t replace it without taking the hanger out of the car.

Kaz

[metsuki]

thank you for all those pics
i think the hanger is the number 7
http://www.lingshondaparts.com/HPL/Images_car/17SL001/imge/B__4930.jpg


it is discontinued, and i will not be able to make an original design recovry obviously....
i will start to adverse the probleme the easy way first, with the extension screw.
i think this is a 8 mm screw?
if i can't, i will then drill the bolt and tapper the hole ( but i hope i will not have to)

thank's again for your help, i will come back to give you the end of the story!

ps: you were right about the recess edge of the panel
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/metwTClkmVyOTSQsJjSez0SqLQjjmcAjGtdaSL0EhWI=w1284-h963-no

[metsuki]

it was abvious(but i had hope), the hole is too tight for the nut extender. not by too much, 1mm circumference maybe
i need to drill the baseball base shape thing and the golden u shape to make room.
i am i little bit afraid of the alloy of the baseball base shape thing. it seems kind of weak... will it endure the drill without craking?

[Hagasan]

I don't think it's part no.7 in the diagram. The diagram is rhd and the part with the two "bolts" is on the right side. A friend and I had a spare front bar but I can't remember if it was sold with a front cut. Where are you located?

[metsuki]

i am in france!

[Kaz-kzukNA1]

it was abvious(but i had hope), the hole is too tight for the nut extender. not by too much, 1mm circumference maybe
i need to drill the baseball base shape thing and the golden u shape to make room.
i am i little bit afraid of the alloy of the baseball base shape thing. it seems kind of weak... will it endure the drill without craking?
I have never tried but can you not file down the nut extender to make it smaller diameter without exposing the inner thread?
From structure point of view, if you have enough thread left on the seared stud bolt, you should be able to hold the ‘baseball base shape’ metal/plastic washer at 16Nm.

I have never tried so can’t comment from my own experience but as you suspected, I think you need to be very careful handling this ‘baseball base shape’ washer.

It’s very soft material and that is one of the reason why some owners experience the side way movement at the steering wheel.
The most common cause of this side way movement is that the driver tends to grab on the steering wheel when getting in as well as out to/from the cabin and the driver is doing it spontaneously like an unconscious habit.

If you are going to enlarge the hole diameter, please be extremely careful and keep the modification to the minimum as this is part of the crashable mechanism for the steering column under heavy G impact.



I don't think it's part no.7 in the diagram. The diagram is rhd and the part with the two "bolts" is on the right side. A friend and I had a spare front bar but I can't remember if it was sold with a front cut. Where are you located?
The steering hanger is indeed part no.7 in the above diagram and it is showing the LHD model.
Honda Europe parts system doesn’t show the RHD drawing for this area so even if you select KE spec (UK model), it will show the same diagram from the LHD model.
You can see part of the U-shaped welded tube with one of the two bolt pointing the floor in the above diagram.

Although the OP states that he/she is French, not sure the NSX in question is LHD model or not.
However, from the photo in post #1, the focus is not great but I can just about see the code ‘KF’ so I presume it’s the LHD model.

Kaz

[metsuki]

Hi,

it is a LHD indeed, an all original yellow french nsx (i think there was only two or three sold in the country)

I am trying to make the minimum change, to those pieces. i already drill a little bit in, but i will not enlarge it more. there is another little hole too near from the main hole, a crack can occure swiftly in this area if i am not careful enough

so, as you mension, i am trying to file down the nut extender, and it is not an easy task at all.
it is hard to stay even on all the thread and i am not sure for now if i will expose the inner thread

to be continued

ps: i am a man and i am 33 years old, :D

[metsuki]

here is the end of the story!

here you can see the thread left on the bolt (not much left, but enough)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/EWPxz4FGEeTvCPiZH5FgljpSEJ8Ba_sPzqTAUucvWDg=w723-h963-no

here is the nut extender, i had to fill it down for it to pass through the hole (original on the right, fill down on the left)


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/twchn1Z8pPJHkOe1YumhcdGKs-XJEq8qLAwa0_e-9Ls=w1284-h963-no

here is the finish bolt cut at the right lenght

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/1FEICRfSWReCTb71lSQ3r6ee1NvnJBaMnUjIm8eGGdQ=w1284-h963-no


in place
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_4qyWLJIJUGOtsYMMv9gie_eFKbc0_DZ0xo2NuKPpxo=w723-h963-no


done!


the problem is solved at 90%!
there is still a little movement (maybe 1-2mm) but as i don't want to break the bolts, i did not torque it too much.

as kaz pointed, the last 2 owners was old guys. i can even tell you that the owner before the last owner sold the car because he was so old he was not able to drive it anymore.
the steering wheel may have been the only way to enter and exit the car for them...


thank to all of you

ps: i fixed the knee bolster in the process

[NSXGB]

Well done, glad you got it fixed.

[pralognan]

When are we getting too old to drive the nsx? I'm 71 next and hope to get my free ski pass at 72 or 75 depending on the resort, if they don't keep moving the goalposts. Meanwhile pull on the A-post,not the steering column!

[Pride]

When are we getting too old to drive the nsx? I'm 71 next and hope to get my free ski pass at 72 or 75 depending on the resort, if they don't keep moving the goalposts. Meanwhile pull on the A-post,not the steering column!

Better still instead of damaging the A pillar trim why not fit a pair of these, as strongly recommended by the MR2 old boys club.:)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-MR2-MK2-Passenger-Side-A-Pillar-Grab-Handle-1989-1999-/301724839901?hash=item464033afdd