• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Steering column Issue???

wtate

Well-Known Member
Local time
12:51 PM
Joined
Jan 26, 2015
Messages
87
Reaction score
5
Location
california
Hi everyone,

OK, here's one that has me baffled. I have a 1970 Roadrunner and finishing off a restoration on the car. It's an original power steering car but was drag raced briefly back in the day and was switched to manual steering.

I am now switching it back to a power steering car. I have everything in and changed the manual steering shaft to a shorter power steering shaft. Rebuilt the whole column had Firm Feel redo the steering box etc...Have it all hooked up but when I go to put on the final piece on the column and steering wheel there is a gap of about a 1/2" (see photo). At first I thought the shaft wasn't bottomed out on the bottom of the coupler but pulled it apart and slid the shaft (without the plates and spring clip) to bottom it out and the same thing??? Not sure what is going on, was supposed to be a 1970 power steering shaft which is much shorter then the manual shaft.

Any help here much appreciated.

Best regards,

Wayne
Steering Column Issue.jpg
 
did you measure the center shaft?it's supposed to be 3" shorter than the manual.should be 41 3/4" iirc,kent
 
Yes, just pulled the whole column back out and measured the center shaft, it's 41 3/4".
 
idk then.something is hitting.maybe the lock wheel?this is a 70,correct?maybe the shift tube got changed?
 
Has the collapsable column tube been slightly compressed?

Drag racers have no problem adjusting the inner shaft or the outer sleeve to suit their needs. Certainly a possibility.
 
OK, thanks for all the info above, it got me looking at it all closer. Turns out it was a simple fix (posting it here in case anyone else runs into it).
The column housing has adjustment to slide in and out (towards or away from the driver) by about an inch. I'd had it tightened down already so wouldn't move. When loosened it up the housing slid up on the shaft and closed the gap.

Wayne
 
OK, thanks for all the info above, it got me looking at it all closer. Turns out it was a simple fix (posting it here in case anyone else runs into it).
The column housing has adjustment to slide in and out (towards or away from the driver) by about an inch. I'd had it tightened down already so wouldn't move. When loosened it up the housing slid up on the shaft and closed the gap.

Wayne
I’ve got the same issue on my ‘69 Road Runner (power steering). The ‘69, of course, doesn’t have the key-locking column. But maybe I just need to adjust my column housing as well. Any chance you can describe how you loosen it to slide it up? Any photos? Thanks!
Rick
 
There are two studs hanging down from the dash that hold the steering column up. These have plastic inserts, if you loosen these and the only other bolt that holds the steering column up (it also has a plastic insert). These plastic inserts are slotted to allow you to move the column towards the fire wall or towards the back of the car. If these (3) are loose you can slide the column towards the back of the car it will close up the gap.

Hopefully this does it for you, if not let me know and I'll send pictures (just not near the car for a couple of days.

Wayne
 
There are two studs hanging down from the dash that hold the steering column up. These have plastic inserts, if you loosen these and the only other bolt that holds the steering column up (it also has a plastic insert). These plastic inserts are slotted to allow you to move the column towards the fire wall or towards the back of the car. If these (3) are loose you can slide the column towards the back of the car it will close up the gap.

Hopefully this does it for you, if not let me know and I'll send pictures (just not near the car for a couple of days.

Wayne
Thanks, Wayne.
I’m on a business trip right now, but I should be able to check that out later this week!
I’ll report back on my efforts.
 
Thanks, Wayne.
I’m on a business trip right now, but I should be able to check that out later this week!
I’ll report back on my efforts.
Wayne, I loosened the three bolts on the plastic adjustment inserts under the dash. This appears to move the entire steering column, along with the steering wheel, either closer to the driver or farther away from the driver.
What I really need, is to close the gap between the backside of the steering wheel & the column itself.
Any ideas?
RR.JPG

RRR.JPG
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top