How I Improved the Tilt Angle of the Steering Wheel

16759 Views 44 Replies 31 Participants Last post by CCCC, 1 mo ago

RickT

Discussion Starter · Aug 10, 2019

5

I am 6'4 and have the seat tilted back by having the back on the lowest bolts and the front on the middle bolts. With that I still could not see the top of the dash. I finally got around to taking the cover off the bottom of the column so I could see what it would take to adjust the angles and it was much easier than I thought. I just needed a stack of 3/8 washers.

To do the modifications I used 10 washers, 5 on each side to lower the back of the steering wheel mounts. It was a pretty simple thing to do but to get to it you have to take the bottom cover off the dashboard and the bottom half of the steering column surround off. Once they are off Just loosen the front bolts that hold the steering column on. I loosened them all the way till they only had a few threads holding them on. That way I could remove the nuts holding the back of the column without the column dropping. Once the nuts are off the back of the column can be lowered and 5 washers or however many you need can be inserted on the studs then everything fit back together.

The way I figured out how many washers I needed was while the column was tight I took one of the nuts off the back and fit washers under it until I had as many as I could fit and still have enough threads on the nut to hold it tight. Five washers was about right for what I needed. Once I had the washers on and had the column tightened up I just had to fit all the bottom covers back on the car and it was done.

This last picture shows how much higher the column can go now with the washers in place.

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Reactions: 5

1 - 20 of 45 Posts

4Canada

· #2 · Aug 10, 2019

Ingenious!
Thanks for writing this up and adding the photos.
I’ll post a link to this thead in the DIY index.

RYUK

· #3 · Aug 10, 2019

There is hope for tall people!!!

losangeles4c

· #4 · Aug 11, 2019

Just did this. its life changing!!!!!!!

Samy

· #5 · Aug 12, 2019

Can you guys see the whole gauge now? Finally! I asked this question not so long ago.

losangeles4c

· #6 · Aug 12, 2019

Samy said:
Can you guys see the whole gauge now? Finally! I asked this question not so long ago.

yes. perfectly.

Samy

· #7 · Aug 12, 2019

losangeles4c said:
yes. perfectly.

This is a big deal. A big problem was solved. This was the reason I waited so long to buy a 4C.

Reactions: 2

losangeles4c

· #8 · Aug 12, 2019

When I took my seat apart, I found that you can cut at least 2 notches into the back to get it to recline more but the recline by adjusting the base was all I needed. I suppose if you like a flat bottom seat but want a recline you could do it.

Reactions: 1

Philster

· #9 · Aug 12, 2019

So what is going on here? You're dropping the back so that the front has great upward angle/height?

.

losangeles4c

· #10 · Aug 12, 2019

Philster said:
So what is going on here? You're dropping the back so that the front has great upward angle/height?

.

yes. it's slight and subtle at the bolt point but 5 washers adds 3 -3.5 inches in viewing

Reactions: 2

smc4C

· #11 · Aug 19, 2019

Wow, thanks for this info. Did the 5 washer install this weekend. I can see the whole screen!!! From the moment I started reading about this car I knew this was an issue. And it was with me because I have a long body and could not see the top of the gauge even after adjusting the seat to highest front and lowest rear. But now, it's like a fog has lifted!
I did struggle with removing the lower dash panel. I could not figure out how the far right edge connected to the center. I dropped the air bag and removed all of the panel attachment screws I could find. This allowed me to move the deep end of the column low enough to add the washers. Oh, and separating the column covers was a whole 'nuther problem!
Anyway, great mod; really appreciate it!

flyt100

· #12 · Aug 19, 2019 (Edited)

FYI, this may be handy.
From the service manual:

Steering control support to crossmember under dashboard

Screw/Nut

M8x35

24

In case the formatting didn't work, that's 24NM torque (17.7 ftlb) for those nuts/bolts.

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Reactions: 2

RickT

Discussion Starter · #13 · Aug 19, 2019

I have had this done for a bit over a week now and I noticed it is also easier to get into and out of the car. The wheel being slightly higher makes it just a bit nicer to get my knees out from under it.

Reactions: 1

radm

· #14 · Apr 19, 2020

I tried today and didn't finish. I didn't figure out how the lower dash panel is attached to the center but I could access the rear two bolts so I didn't try further and I didn't want to break anything. But I didn't know how to remove the steering column cover to get to the front two 13 mm bolts. Without loosening those I couldn't drop the back to add the washers. Do I need to take the steering wheel off or is there some trick how to separate the column cover into top and bottom part?

radm

· #15 · May 3, 2020

I managed to do it this weekend. Much better now.

This image I found online helped me to see where to pry the bottom of the steering column cover from the top part.

I regret that I didn't take the photo of the metal round pin in a shape of a bowling pin that is used to attach the corner of the bottom dash cover to the center console. I broke it off its housing taking the dash cover off but nothing a little bit of superglue didn't fix. Basically, pull towards you in that area.

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ace

· #16 · May 22, 2020

Thanks for posting this. I’m contemplating seats but this is my biggest problem, and a free and easy solution is a great way to go!

Gentleman Racer

· #17 · May 30, 2020

Thanks so much for posting this. I'm also 6'4" and the obstructed view to the screen makes me nuts.

I'm struggling with the last bit of this. I've got everything exposed and loosened, I've got the two bolts nearest the steering wheel virtually to the last thread but I can't lever it enough to get the back of the column off the studs to place the washers. I'm contemplating removing all four attachment points and resting the whole column onto the crossmember that's beneath. But I think the better bet is to go get two other bolts the same spec as the two stock bolts nearest the steering wheel but longer. Replace the two stock bolts with the longer ones temporarily to get another inch or so of leverage. That should allow me to place the washers, then re-assemble.

radm

· #18 · May 30, 2020

Gentleman Racer said:
Thanks so much for posting this. I'm also 6'4" and the obstructed view to the screen makes me nuts.

I'm struggling with the last bit of this. I've got everything exposed and loosened, I've got the two bolts nearest the steering wheel virtually to the last thread but I can't lever it enough to get the back of the column off the studs to place the washers. I'm contemplating removing all four attachment points and resting the whole column onto the crossmember that's beneath. But I think the better bet is to go get two other bolts the same spec as the two stock bolts nearest the steering wheel but longer. Replace the two stock bolts with the longer ones temporarily to get another inch or so of leverage. That should allow me to place the washers, then re-assemble.

Did you loosen the lever that allows steering column adjustment? Without loosening it, I couldn't move the column. Then I was loosening the top two nuts (the ones closer to you) bit at the time until I could squeeze in the washers one at the time on the back bolts.

MacFever

· #19 · Jun 2, 2020

I also did this mod today, thanks a lot

Gentleman Racer

· #20 · Jun 2, 2020

Success! As noted in post #18, yes, I did loosen the adjustment lever. Ultimately, I also was able to squeeze the washers on one at a time.

A few suggestions and points of note:

Alternatively, you could remove one of the "front" bolts (nearer the steering wheel) entirely, leaving just one of four connections remaining. That gives you plenty of space to put the washers on the corresponding "back" stud (nearer the firewall). Then, switch sides.

I did it without removing the lower dashboard cover/crossmember. It will be much easier if you do remove that part.

The lower steering column cover, pictured in #15 above, attaches with 4 screws. Then, basically, pull straight down to separate the remaining friction connections, pins/holes and tabs/slots. You can gently pry them apart with a screwdriver if necessary.

The turn signal/cruise surround fits between the upper and lower steering column covers. That can be removed easily too, just slots and tabs.

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