I need to take something like 100 or 150mm out of my lower steering column. Cutting and sleeving should be fine for MSVA and conveniently, the lower shaft is exactly 15mm in diameter. Can you get 19mm x 2mm wall thickness CDS tube? It would be very convenient if it were a standard size. Is 2mm wall thickness up to the job do you think? Py car should be 300kg including driver so no real weight at all.

There is almost no load on a steering column, 1mm would be fine.

If you're on about the steering shaft I used some pipe I had kicking about as mine was 15mm O.D.

The pipe is 14.9odd I.D so I spun a 15mm drill through on the lathe just to clean it up a bit, then it went on with a slight tap, and I tigged the ends up.

Like this





It's 3.3 wall seamed, so a bit thicker than required but I had it there.

I've got a few more bits around the garage if you want one

all the best
Stott

[Edited on 26/7/10 by Stott]

Are you sure there is no load?

Id have thought hitting a pot hole at 70mph would put a fair twisting motion onto the shaft.

MikeR,

When I worked on electric steering, we used to say that 2-3 Nm of steering force was normal and that 5Nm was the maximum. That was at the steering wheel plus the electric assistance. 5Nm at the surface of a 15mm dia tube is 666N. A couple of spot welds should hold that. A good seam weld round the whole tube would be more than enough for shock loads.

Stott,

U2U sent, thanks.