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Steering shaft comes out of tube

pushrod

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Looking for an answer to a steering problem I've never encountered before.
My 64 Belvedere's steering shaft will not stay in the steering tube. I've had a half dozen of these cars and never encountered this before. I have had to put 4 turn signal switches on because of the sorry quality of replacement s. Finally got one from Joe Suchy, (problem solved) so I know it was installed correctly with a new tag joint kit and prrsevive manual instructions.
What am I missing? Thanks for any suggestions.
 
Is the spring missing at the bottom of the column?
 
Look in the manual to confirm, but I'm guessing that's your problem. Should be at the bottom close to bearing.
 
You'd have to look in the manual to be sure.
 
Sounds like the C clip behind the small bearing fell off. There is a snap ring on top of the bearing and a C clip behind it.
 
My 65 Belvedere didn't have a spring in it, I got a 64 Dodge column (no shift linkage) when I converted to floor shift, also no spring. There is a small plate that screws in to hold the top bearing in place. I would think there was a problem with either the bearing or retainer. I recall a clip on the top of the bearing holding it to the shaft, I don't recall if there is one on the bottom side.
Either way, worth a look.
 
It might also be the bearing retainer, held in place by 3 screws.
 
Thanks for the replies. I have 3 or 4 of these columns and 2 of them are surdy , shaft in place, and the other two the shaft moves. All have thecsant assembly, I'm baffled.
 
According to the service manual, only the column shifter has the spring to facilitate the shifting of gears.
 
As Kenton noted... must be missing the clip below the bearing if you have the switch/bearing retainer plate in place.
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Thanks for the replies. I'll let back out to the shop this afternoon and double check for the retainer.
 
Just one bearing up top with a c-clip on both sides of it. The one under the bearing must have slid down. Or it broke or its missing.
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And I see the early 60's isn't even knurled to make the bearing a light press on..so makes even more sense now... lower clip.
 
And I see the early 60's isn't even knurled to make the bearing a light press on..so makes even more sense now... lower clip.

The bearing acually has a rubber sleeve over it. Thats really all that holds it in the housing. On the shaft it's just a light press on.
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Thanks kryslerkid, that helps.

You'll have to pull your turn signal switch again.
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Remove the top c-clip
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Then there's two nuts that hold the housing to the column. You just need to loosen them enough to let the square bolt head come out of the slot on each side of the column. If you're doing this in the car don't remove the nuts all the way because you're going to drop the bolt down the column.
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That should let you pull the housing off.
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When re-installing I like to use blocks of wood to keep the shaft centered and supported at the bottom. Keep any pressure off of the bearing at the top. You can have the lower bushing and seal on the shaft when doing this. You want to center the shaft in the tube as close as possible when hooking up the coupler.
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Locating the coupler on the shaft is important also so it has equal travel. Here's the measurement you want when it's all insralled.
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Any problems give us a hollar!
 
Thanks everyone for your help.
I finally figured out what I did wrong, the two square Head retaining bolts we're not in their dedicated slots. This allowed the
Shift to rotate I nsde the column.
Having taken the column apart so many times replacing the turn signal switch I evidently became careless. Thanks again for everyone's help
Gary
 
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