ignition switch/steering lock thingy

got to replace the ignition switch/steering lock on my 200 tdi disco, in the haynes book it says to remove the shear bolts using a centre punch, is it as easy as they make it sound or is it a pig of a job?

not done them on a disco but on a vauxhall they are a tvvat of a job to do with a punch. i ended up drilling the heads off the bolts then using mole grips to get the thread out. another option is to use a dremmel type tool to cut a 'bar' out of the middle and use a flat head screwdriver to remove them.

sorry its not more specific to a disco but hope it helps

Mark

disco dan said:

got to replace the ignition switch/steering lock on my 200 tdi disco, in the haynes book it says to remove the shear bolts using a centre punch, is it as easy as they make it sound or is it a pig of a job?

Click to expand...

Why do ye need to replace it?

Never done a disco but have done many,many others (whoops!Misspent youth!) and drilling them out is relatively easy given that you need room for your drill and the length of bit between the bolts and the windscreen,can sometimes be a bit tight requiring a short drill bit or right angle drill.I would imagine theres room enough but try to drill them straight along the line of the bolt or you'll be buggering around for ages and wish you had used the dremel to start with like mark says.Thats not a bad idea by the way,the dremel.....chop the dead heads clean off.Good luck mate...try to get your time to under 3 minutes and have the missis as a lookout.....

Used a centre punch to start my bolts turning, worked a treat no problems


Pete

If ye're takin' it off because ye're not getting any power etc when ye turn the key... and it's the same type of thing as a defender... then ye might just get away with changing the back piece where the wire go onto.
Mines was fecked and had to wiggle the key a bit to make anything work properly, swapped the one from the white bus and everything is hunky dory now. Ye can buy this part from most landy places and they are only held in by two small screws.
Here's a piccy of what ah'm on about...



Ye can see one of the screws just above the red/white wire about half ways along, the other is opposite

thanks for the replies, the reason i'm changing it is because for ages now its been a **** to turn the key, and have to wiggle it and bugger about with it, then last week trying to leave work after a 12 ans a quarter hour shift the bloody key broke in the lock, i couldn't get it out myself so had to call the aa, then it took 2 hours to arrange security clearance for the patrol man ( work in a shipyard and park inside the gates) so to save it happening again i ordered a new one, and after having a better look at today it looks like i'll have to remove the whole steering column just to get at these bolts, but that can wait for now as the ****ing head gasket has started blowing, taking it in monday to have it done

If your new one comes complete with the other half ie the clamp piece from behind the column, just take a chisel to the old one it's way easier.

got it off with a cold chisel and a large hammer, then spent the rest of the day gluing the plastic cowl back together with araldite, that broke while trying to remove it when i was in a bad mood at work before i called the aa