Ignition cylinder shear bolts

[e9Leveque]

I was having problems removing my lock cylinder and numerous previous threads had recommended lowering the steering column. This was a problem encountered by @Wes in a previous thread. Unfortunately, my euro car had four shear bolts holding the steering column in place. I had to drill those out with a reverse screw removal set. Just for future reference, those screws are M 6 x 10 mm.

 

[TomHom]

Drilling them out would be the last resort.
The head of the locking screw shears off when mounted, so use a small pick for unlocking. Hammering anti-clockwise on the outer side in tangential direction.

Works easy on the one securing the barrel.
Use a very slim pick or screw driver to reach the four small ones holding the steering column in place.

 

[e9Leveque]

@TomHom thank you for this clear picture. I had searched the forum and had not seen this info reported previously so wasn’t aware of this trick. The one holding the cylinder in place had already been notched by someone before me so could be removed easily. The ones holding the steering column in place were my nemesis and I had reached the point of last resort. I will replace them with hex head M6 as elsewhere on the vehicle to make a future owner’s life a bit easier. Do you know the torque setting at which these are set to shear so I can replicate it with the ones I put back in?

 

[TomHom]

....there is no torque setting in the manuals for these shear-off screws. They shear off once the maxium torque has been exceeded!