3. The taper on both lower shafts is the same. No cutting or welding is required for reassembly. I would recommend sticking the low half of the inner column out in the sun, and the upper half in the freezer, for a couple of hours prior to fitting together. I started reassembling with it sitting upside down on the steering wheel but the old rubber KE70 wheel was absorbing too much impact. Took the wheel off and the wheel retaining nut and rested the end in a block of wood, to prevent damaging it. I then used the same star picket to carefully drive in the lower half, bracing the end of it where I'm pointing in the photo. I eventually realised that I was able to turn the uni join at a particular angle that permitted slotting the long leg of the star picket it and hammering from the top again. This made quick work of it. IMPORTANT - be careful as the bearing nears the outer column end. Until it slots in, there is free play in the inner column and hammering down with the bearing not centred would result in it being damaged upon impacting on the edge of the outer column. I found some random bits to brace it to ensure it was centred.
Really happy with the finished product. Looks almost factory. Total cost for job was less than $70 - for KE70 column, new bearing and circlip.
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