L322 Steering wheel adjustment broken

so like many others, my rangie has suffered the snapped lugs on the up/down movement on the column,
I haven't seen a post suggesting anyone has managed to fix it so decided to have a crack at it today.
I bent a piece of steel over the brass block and Tapped a thread into it.
I used the new metal on the right side of the remaining lugs so it's a weak point rather than risk breaking the remaining 2 lugs.
Works ok at the moment although the new metal has bent a little so possibly a stronger piece will be needed.
The beauty of doing this is that if the bodge fails the wheel can still be raised to the desired level,
I'd like to disable the steering wheel movement when you remove the key.
Need all comms for this I believe.
I'm no engineer so any advice on a better solution is welcome
I did take a pic of the bodge but no idea how to add it using my phone

You need to take a picture on your phone and then click on upload a file and then choose file and select the photo from your photo library or take the photo, does that help ?

Put photobucket app on phone, click picture, top of picture has the icon, click and send, get link from phone and paste.
Use again and again.

Got it thanks guys.
So as I said, the remaining 2 lugs fit I between the new part and the existing bit.
It does need to be stronger or thicker steel though so will have to be remade. Working ok at the moment though.

So as a very rough sketch using paint, the section shown in red is the shape before it died?
Relatively straight forward to make on a lathe and mill or just a mill providing you had the dimensions and the leadscrew thread form which looks like trapezoidal or acme which would be the most expensive part if the machine shop didn't already have a thread mill, screw cutting insert or tap although taps can potentially be picked up cheap of ebay.
Why is it made from brass, does it run against something soft like plastic or is it a self lubricating material like phosphor bronze?
If you wanted to repair the one you have you could machine / file down a section and slide a rectangular part similar to what you have made but with thicker section and closed in on the sides over the end to replace the lugs and solder it in place maybe?
Just some thoughts, saint is you man for cad drawings, if you think you can sell hundreds i could get them made.

The steering column is the bit that breaks. There are 2 pairs of lugs on a ring around the column, the lugs sit either side of the circular bits on the brass block. The worm drive runs through the block which pushes the lugs, lifting or dropping the steering wheel.
The reason for not making the repair loads stronger is that if the remaining lugs break then It's pretty much game over for the column so needs a built in weak point.
I say brass but could be some other material. Just looked like brass

So do you have a photo of the lugs that are broken on the steering column?

I don't but I'll have a Google. Bound to be some pics on the web as its a common fail

So found this on Google, interesting the part is off the column, it would suggest it must be possible to just purchase the part, fitting it however might be an issue,
It's worth noting the size of the snapped lugs, I'd estimate 2mm thick so would be tricky to drill out and put a pin or similar in place of the snapped lugs

I think i would be inclined to machine it off flat where the red line is and replace it with a complete new set of 4 lugs with their own new base and screw it or tig weld it back to the original part. I think the original is a rough cast alumnium.

That's a pretty good suggestion. I figured it would be an alloy of some kind. Would it be simple enough to get a plate with the lugs on it made?

Would be simple enough if you know somebody with a machine shop or get it drawn up and 3D print a complete new part.
I can only see the steering column available as a complete exchange unit for around £1k

https://www.3d-alchemy.co.uk/3d-printing-metals.html

If I was going to the trouble of getting one printed i would go for a stronger material.

Some chemical metals are pretty strong also if you could build it up around the original part.

And for another edit, i would redesign the bronze part to have retractable sprung loaded pins so you could make the lugs on the casting like a complete box section for strength, ok, i may be getting tired now

Or just buy the new part ..........




http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201642097904?clk_rvr_id=1074447961166&rmvSB=true

Do you think it would be easy enough to get the original part squared off ready for a replacement part without removing it from the column. I think it's the time involved that would be the issue. Removing the column is a big job

see above ....

That's interesting. I had searched for the replacement part before and got nothing. I'll email them and ask them for a cost to supply and fit. It'll give me an idea of the time involved

Just sort of stumbled across while searching for an image to draw on with my crappy red lines

I've emailed them and asked a few questions. I would of thought it's an easy job to fit but you never know. I'm sure a price for fitting will shed some light on it

I reckon if they know the new column is a grand, they will charge around £500 including the part, just a guess....
The process is in Rave if you fancy a read

Yeah I think that's a reasonable guess. I'll find out and get back on here