Mk4 spitfire steering bushes

[ken spit]

I have just removed my steering column to replace the bushes on my MK4 Sitfire but cannot remove the inner shaft from the column as it says in the Haynes manual. Am I missing something that I need to romve first?

[Casper]

In the absence of a better informed response, have you got the key in, and in the 'on' position?  Otherwise, the column will be locked.
C.

[ken spit]

Hi yes I had the key in the lock but the inner shaft moves up and down but feels like it is hitting the bushes at each end so will not come out of the outer column.

[Nick Moore]

Ah. This one I think I know. The steering lock engages in a slot in a sleeve welded around the upper shaft. I recently pulled my half-mangled GT6-3 steering column apart, and the thicker part of the shaft wouldn't fit through the column's bushes. As a previous bodger had removed the steering lock with an axe I just split the outer column with an angle grinder, but that approach won't help you. i think you'll have to remove one of the bushes to get your shaft out.

[JoachimGT6]

Hi! I can confirm this! At least one bush has to be taken out to free the inner column. Cheers Joachim