When replacing these bolts you have the opportunity to adjust the horn
contact by moving the housing up or down.  This is how you eliminate a lot
of the noise you hear when turning the steering wheel, and how you avoid
prematurely wearing out the horn contact.

Karl Wolz
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Beierl" <dbeierl@IBM.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2000 11:05 AM
Subject: Re: Shear bolts on steering column

> First off, before you drill out those bolts, try a visegrips.  Helps if
> it's not all munged up.  Usually you can grab at the very bottom and
loosen
> them, then remove with fingers.
>
> Second, you can get replacements at the dealer, about $8 each five years
> ago.  However IMHO this is not necessary as these bolts are apparently
(and
> according to my dealer) there to make it more difficult for thieves to
drop
> the column and take out the ignition switch.  Around here I don't think
> that would even occur to a thief, they use a slam-hammer to yank out the
> switch.  And since you can almost always remove them with visegrips, the
> security isn't that much better anyway.  So I'd grind flats on the
> originals and put them back, or use regular M8 (I think) bolts.
>
> NB:  There is an opinion extant that these bolts are actually part of a
> safety system that allows the steering column to move in a collision, and
> that the shearing feature is to make sure that they're installed to the
> right torque.  My dealer does not believe this and neither do I.  The
> straps that these bolts attach to are flimsy -- the only way that the
bolts
> could affect the issue would be by shearing off completely, and IMO the
> strap would fold up long before this happened.  But you pays your money
and
> you takes your choice.  If you want the official bolts I have a pair that
I
> paid the $16 for, then looked at the arrangement and talked to the dealer
> and didn't use them.  They could be had for say $8 the pair+ship.
>
> david
>
> At 08:31 AM 2/25/2000 , Elkavitch, Michael and Diana wrote:
> >Hi all,
> >         First thanks to those who eased my fears about the muffler
strap. I
> >think I will be okay and get in gear. Now, in doing the heater blower
> >repair, Bentley says to drill out the shear bolts on the steering wheel
> >column. That I can handle, I think! Question - what goes back in? The
size,
> >any particular type? Thanks again for the collective knowledge!
> >         Mike - '86 Westy syncro
>
>
> David Beierl - Providence, RI
>   http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
> '84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
> '85 GL "Poor Relation"
>