ididit Right Hand Drive & Collapsible Steering Column: Theory of a Collapsible Column - Manual

PROPERTY OF
ididi
T, inc
PROPERTY OF
ididi
T, inc
PROPERTY OF
ididi
T, inc
PROPERTY OF
ididi
T, inc
PROPERTY OF
ididi
T, inc
PROPERTY OF
ididi
T, inc
ididit inc. 610 S. Maumee St. 49286 Tecumseh, MI PH: 517-424-0577 FAX: 517-424-7293
www.ididitinc.com
Instruction #: 8000000100 REV 12/12
THEORY OF A COLLAPSIBLE COLUMN
AND WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE INSTALLING
ididit collapsible columns are designed to collapse upon impact from either end. To
help you further understand this valuable safety feature, we have included a general
guide to the physics of a steering column impact and it’s effects on different steering
column applications.
In general, there are two different types of steering column impacts that can occur
during an accident.
IMPACT 1 - The gearbox and shaft hit the bottom of the column.
This is caused by the frame collapsing and pushing toward the firewall.
This type of impact will cause the column to shear the shaft pins internally and
shorten the shaft and outer housings of the lower half of the column. Following
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, the ididit collapsible column will
collapse into itself 5 inches (127mm). In order for this to occur, the floor mount
must allow the column to slip towards the driver as it absorbs the impact. This
slipping action can only take place at the lower mount. When choosing or designing
your lower mount, please consider the fact that it must shear or slip with less than
550 lbs of pressure. ididit offers a mount that meets these requirements, and can be
adapted to most vehicles
(see Figure 1 & 2).
Figure 1: Collapsible Floor Mount
Part Numbers:
2” 2401010010
2 1/4” 2402010010
Figure 2: Collapsible Floor Mount with Plate
Part Numbers:
2” 2401020010
2 1/4” 2402020010
IMPACT 2 - The impact of the driver hitting the wheel.
As previously described, our collapsible column will collapse from either end. As a
column collapses from the engine side, the upper mount must absorb that energy in
order to stop the column from hitting the driver. This will require the upper mount
to be rigid one way (must absorb at least 750 lbs of pressure from engine impact),
but slip the other way (must absorb 550 lbs of pressure from driver impact) in order
for the column to collapse forward (away from the driver).
(see Figure 1 & 2).
Figure 3: Collapsible Underdash Mount
Part Numbers:
2” 2301410010
2 1/4” 2301310010
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
1