Bending Steering Column Stalks.

[B.L.Z.BUB]

Sup fullahs..

 

I have put a Twinky wheel in my KE70 and it sits quite a bit further away from the indicator/window wiper stalks.

 

Now, have any of you tried to bend the stalks closer to the wheel? If so was it straight forward or is there a bit of a knack to it?

I know it'll be a relatively easy replacement if I snap them but I'd rather just get it right first time.

 

Cheers.

[Trev]

I did it in the 70 van, pull it all the way forward and push at the base (closest to steering column) with one hand and pull on the end with the other hand (tip).

 

Make sense?

[B.L.Z.BUB]

Yeah that's kind of what I figured, was a bit worried they would fold instead of bend. 29 year old stalks and all.

I'm guessing gentle is the key. I'll give it a go then :y:

 

Last thing I need is a defect for something as stupid as that.

[rian]

If you can get your hands on AE82 SX twincam stalks they are already bent to account for the offset wheel, other than that they look exactly the same as the KE70 ones. I'm planning on taking them from my donor AE82 SX and putting them into my KE70.

[B.L.Z.BUB]

Cool, if I snap my KE ones Ill look into that. Ill go try it now, should only take a few minutes.

[ke70dave]

i had a twinky wheel on my ke70, i reckon it was so much better for spirited driving having the stalks miles away.

 

before the twinky wheel i had a ~100mm boss kit so i guess i was kinda used to it...

 

maybe try it for a week before you bend them?

[B.L.Z.BUB]

I've had it for months Dave, I don't like taking my hands off the wheel to use the stalks.

 

It wasnt too bad.

Started off with the indicator stalk about 125mm away. Which I could just kinda get with my finger tips.

 

 

Tried to bend it by hand but those things are surprisingly tough. So I jammed a tape in between the stalk and the back of the wheel.

 

 

Grabbed an old vacuum cleaner pipe for some leverage.

 

 

Its now around 85mm, which means I can keep my hands on the wheel, same as the other side.

 

 

Still have plenty of clearance though as they sit inside the circumference of the wheel. 40mm closer but still 85mm clear.

Edited August 13, 2012 by B.L.Z.BUB

[flyinwall]

from the looks of the pic you would be closer to 50-60 mm from the wheel by the time you take the 10mm from the edge of the stalk and the 15mm to the edge of the wheel you would only be left with about 50-60 mm clearance (which by the way is plenty)

you might want to try edge to edge instead of center to center

Edited August 13, 2012 by flyinwall

[B.L.Z.BUB]

I was thinking more.in terms of finger clearance. Therefore from the front of the wheel to the edge of the stalk is 85mm. But yeah the actual gap is probably a bit narrower. Still the fact the outside diameter of the steering wheel is quite a bit bigger than a stock wheel means there is plenty of clearance.

 

I'll report back after driving to work.

Edited August 13, 2012 by B.L.Z.BUB

[ke70dave]

ahh i see.

 

yeah well if you don't like it after months then you might not ever like it!

 

Only a ke70 owner would have the intuition to find a use for a large vacuum cleaner pipe on their car, love it!

[B.L.Z.BUB]

Worked a treat, they are still a fair distance away. the window wiper stalk is pretty hard to get to still.

But was more worried about the indicator. Took ages to realise I could just tap 'em with my fingers as Ive been taking my hands off the wheel for so long.

 

All in all happy with how it turned out.

[the witzl]

good info - i didnt realise you could bend these stalks.... i always thought they were just plastic and would therefore just snap off!!

 

I'll be diong this mod next week for sure.

[Jono.C]

^ That's what i thought

 

I'm just used to taking my hand off the wheel to flick it, I do it in every car now..