Steering column removal

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Does anyone know of a way to remove the steering column on 951 or 944s2 with removing the dash. I know it’s a long shot so I thought I would ask. I real don’t want to take the dash out again. I had the dash out 15 years ago and it’s a complete tear down.

[Tom]

Does anyone know of a way to remove the steering column on 951 or 944s2 with removing the dash. I know it’s a long shot so I thought I would ask. I real don’t want to take the dash out again. I had the dash out 15 years ago and it’s a complete tear down.

It's my understanding that you do not need to remove the dashboard to get the column out -- just the ignition, u-joint, lower trim, etc.

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Does anyone know of a way to remove the steering column on 951 or 944s2 with removing the dash. I know it’s a long shot so I thought I would ask. I real don’t want to take the dash out again. I had the dash out 15 years ago and it’s a complete tear down.

It's my understanding that you do not need to remove the dashboard to get the column out -- just the ignition, u-joint, lower trim, etc.

I could probably get the column out if I were able to drill out the shear-bolts on the ignition. However, since the dash does not have a “lower trim” that I can remove in order to access the shear-bolts, this is the problem I need to overcome. The dash is one piece the wraps down near the footwell.

I greatly appreciate the input and I am open to any ideas that other may have as well. Thanks!

[Tom]

Does anyone know of a way to remove the steering column on 951 or 944s2 with removing the dash. I know it’s a long shot so I thought I would ask. I real don’t want to take the dash out again. I had the dash out 15 years ago and it’s a complete tear down.

It's my understanding that you do not need to remove the dashboard to get the column out -- just the ignition, u-joint, lower trim, etc.

I could probably get the column out if I were able to drill out the shear-bolts on the ignition. However, since the dash does not have a “lower trim” that I can remove in order to access the shear-bolts, this is the problem I need to overcome. The dash is one piece the wraps down near the footwell.

I greatly appreciate the input and I am open to any ideas that other may have as well. Thanks!

By lower trim I meant the plastic inserts surrounding the column/ignition, like this pic from our dash removal guide. A dremel with cut-off wheel or die grinder might give you a better angle at the shear-bolts?

IMG_0574.jpeg (199.33 KiB) Viewed 151 times

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Tom,

Thanks! I might do some exploratory surgery and see if I can get a small die-grinder in there to cut the shear-bolts somehow.

[Tom]

Tom,

Thanks! I might do some exploratory surgery and see if I can get a small die-grinder in there to cut the shear-bolts somehow.

Probably your best bet, since it's not picky about the angle of attack. Curious why you are pulling it? Mine creaks a bit over bumps and I've mulled the idea of doing something about it -- hopefully short of full removal --so I'm quite interested to see and hear how your effort goes...

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I want to replace it because the column I have is a 2-piece and that is the source of my “clunk” when turning the steering.

The steering column part number that shows on the PET is 94434701904 which appears to be a 1-piece column. However, When my car was build a different variant of the steering column was installed and it’s a 2-piece column.I am getting a clunk noise in my steering column where the 2 sections of the column mate and can slide in-and-out as needed. Anyhow, I think it’s worn out and time to replace it with the 1-piece steering column.
The car has never been wrecked, nor has the column ever been replaced. I think Porsche only had this variant of my steering column available at the time my car was assembled.

Attached are pictures:

The first picture show my current steering shaft which is a 2-piece that connects together inside of the steering tube, although you can’t see it.

The second picture is the column with the part # 94434701904 that should be in the car and it’s a 1-piece.

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I am writing to report that I was successfully able to change out the steering column without removing the dash. So, it can done. Attached are pictures showing my failed 2-piece column. Replacing the 2-piece column with a 1-piece resolved all my issues with play in the steering and clunking noise when turning….What a major PITA though.

[Tom]

I writing to report that I was successfully able to change out the steering column without removing the dash. So, it can done. Attached are pictures showing my failed 2-piece column. Replacing the 2-piece column with a 1-piece resolved all my issues with play in the steering and clunking noise when turning….What a major PITA though.

Nice work! What's the secret to getting it out?

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I had to figure out how to remove the steering lock assembly from the column while in place, otherwise it’s impossible to get the column out. I ended up using a die-grinder and created a slot on the threaded end of the shear-bolts that fasten the steering lock assembly to the column. Once the slots were created it allowed me to use a stubby flathead screw driver to back the bolts out of the steering lock assembly.

Attached is a picture of a spare column housing and steering lock assembly that I had lying around, which I used as mock-up of how I was going to approach this project. In the picture you will see how I slotted the bolts with a die-grinder. You have to be able to get the die-grinder inside of the dash and it must be done for the success of this method.

It probably took about 8 hours total. However, I spent several hours prior preparing and researching for any intel I could gather.