Note: I hope this is not a duplication. I wrote this post earlier and submitted it, but nothing happened. I have gone through the log in process again and am starting over. So here goes.

I completed the restoration of my 1958 XK150 fhc in November of 2013. I started "debugging" it with safe, short trips that I gradually lengthened. There were many bugs, some major, some minor, some my fault, some not.

At last, on the weekend of March 8th, my wife and decided the car was ready for its "inaugural" trip. For our 18th anniversary, we drove it from our home in the Sacramento Valley for an overnight stay in San Francisco, a trip of about 200 miles plus those San Francisco hills. The car performed flawlessly, and the Mark Hopkins Hotel put it on display in the entry court where it drew many admirers. We thought we were on top of the world.

The following Friday, I took the car for one of those supposedly safe, local trips. On the way home, I notice some play in the steering wheel. I knew it needed attention but had no choice but to try to get it home. I drove pretty gingerly, but I still had to drive at approximatley county road speeds and make a few turns.

I came to the last turn before home where there is a stop sign. I stopped, signalled for a left turn, and pulled out. As I turned the wheel, it spun uselessly in my hands. I came to a stop quickly enough to avoid going into a field. Some passing motorists helped me get it off the road, and it was towed home.

The culprit was Jaguar part no. C.10836/1 "COUPLING FOR LOWER STEERING COLUMN". This coupling consists of a molded block of rubber with four metal fittings about 1" long with a triangular profile embedded in it. They are drilled out and threaded on one end. I don't know the technical name for them. Two of them bolt to the upper steering column. Two of them bolt to the lower steering column. The only thing holding this whole assembly together is molded rubber.

In my case, the rubber failed, releasing the metal fittings. My lower steering column was lying on the frame. The upper column was projecting uselessly out of the firewall.

I ordered a replacement (and a spare from my usual supplier). However, out of curiosity I checked some other suppliers. At Jaguar XK Parts, I found the catalogue for Coventry Auto Components. Next to part C.10836/1 was a notation in bold type *INSPECT REGULARLY*.

Coventry Auto Components claims to have purchased all of Jaguar's inventory for XK's when the factory stopped supporting them. They have been in business for 40 years. Maybe they know something other people don't know. Maybe not. But it appears that at least some people know about the weakness of this part. My supplier was shocked and had never heard of any problems with it.

You can draw your own conclusions. All I know is if my coupling had failed one mile sooner on a sweeping right hand turn, I would have gone off the road. If it had happened on week earlier, my wife and I would probably be dead. A crash in a 50 year-old car with only lap belts, no shoulder harness, no air bags, and no collapsible steering column hardly bears thinking about.

We all know the risks of driving old cars. Mine is a daily driver, and I willingly accept those risks because I love driving it. I have always known in a general way that something could easily go wrong, and I am pretty careful how I drive it. However, I never figured on the failure of a new part to do exactly what it was designed to do. Note, this part was replaced "new" during the restoration. Now I know that there is a specific part that has a good shot at killing me.

I will continue to drive my car, but along with the list of other maintenance items I have added inspecting the steering column coupler regulary. (I am thinking of putting a hose clamp around it to hold the whole assembly together as a back up system.)

I don't know if this applies to 140's and 120's. As far as I can tell this part is unique to 150's.

Happy Motoring!

 

They make a CV type joint for the shaft now. You cannot rely on 50 yr. old rubber NOS parts as they deteriorate just sitting on shelf.

 

Where do you get it?

 

By the way, I like your suggestion and would like to pusue it if I can find it, but this was not old rubber that had sat on a shelf. This was a newly manufatured unit.

 

SNG Barratt sell this part which is used on almost all 60s the Jaguar saloons as well as the XK150.

SNG Barratt - The Ultimate Jaguar Parts Specialist

However later saloons converted to a completely different lower column with a different CV-type joint. SNG Barratt show the two types side-by-side. The later one looks much more robust to me, but you're going to have to find yourself a complete lower column from somewhere. Might be worth giving their US office a call.

SNG Barratt - The Ultimate Jaguar Parts Specialist

 

XKS Unlimited has a CV type joint that will fit 140-150/ MK1, MK11, do not remember part or price, have not ordered from them in a while and do not receive their quarterly magazine. This replaces the rubber part on steering rod link to steering box.