Hello All,

After about of years worth of fits and starts, (and many dollars) my rescued '89 XJS can finally be driven with a fair amount of confidence. In fact, I've found that the more I drive it, the better it seems to run!
At any rate, now that I'm spending more time behind the wheel and becoming more acquainted with some of the car's quirks, I've noticed that I cannot seem to get the telescoping column/steering wheel adjuster collar tight enough to keep the wheel/column in a locked position. I've been cranking it down tight enough to require two hands to loosen it, however, the wheel/column will telescope in or out during certain driving maneuvers.

Anyone have experience with a fix for this, or is this normal?

 

Yeah, I use a strap wrench!!!


Fixed in a position that suits me. No one else drives the car.


Not an XJS, but similar. 83 SJ wuzza six. Now enjoys Cadillac LT1 power.


Carl

 

Most common issue with that I have found over the years is item #16 in the attached parts drawing.

They are the 2 split collets that "grip" the steering shaft when that outer collar is tightened.

Some have one collet missing.
Some have had one or both collets broken.
One had SOOOOOOO much grease in there, they simply had NO hope of gripping.

Once sorted, that collar does not need to be super tight to hold the shaft.

 

Thanks Guys!
I might have to put this issue down to operator error.
I tightened the ring with the wheel in the rearmost position and it magically locked down nicely.
Is the wheel only lockable in 2 positions - in or out?
I had assumed I could lock the when in any position.

 

OK, I'm going to ask a silly question about my '91.

Telescope? I know I have a tilt adjustment, but telescope? I can't find info on that in my owner's manual...

 

Should lock in any position.

 

Yep, any position on the slide your heart desires, in how it SHOULD be.

 

the wheeler dealers t.v.programme did this job on an xj-c when the telescope had failed
I would guess it is on youtube

 

The later cars with the tilt did not telescope. The telescope cars do not tilt!
Greg