I have a 2000 xj8 VDP. I had to remove to steering column and now it won’t fit back in the shaft. Help I’ve tried wedging the clamp with a pry bar and flathead screwdriver….I didn’t want to chance gapping it too far..Please help, are there any tips or tricks to refitting the steering wheel column. Please help!

 

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...r-time-223146/

There’s some helpful advice about those upper column clips in that post. Post #5 to be exact.

 

thanks..However, I’m referring to the base of the steering column….I got it in the hole…but it won’t fit all the way in the clamp. It gets up to the gear like ridges. I tried twisting, turning, wedging the clamp. There has got to be something that I am missing….Of course my alignment is screwed at the this point. But I can work on that once I figure out to get the column all the way in…😭😭😭…I stopped to get more into keep from stripping the teeth on the base of the column

 

I used either an air hammer with a chisel bit that would spread the coupler apart or a chisel and hammer. You might want to blow the splines off on the male and female end to make sure there’s no debris and also use some antiseize to also help with the install. You definitely want to use some kind of chisel to spread the coupler though.

 

When I replaced my car steering column lower section there was nothing special at the upper clamp area. Regular shape axle and regular clamp. Old one came out pretty easily and new one went in like it was greased. Of course clamp has to be exactly in correct orientation otherwise it will stick. Bolt needs to be installed after lower section is pushed all the way to the upper.