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'71 rr Steering Column Shaft In/Out Position Manual Steering

road robert

FBBO Gold Member
FBBO Gold Member
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Mar 29, 2020
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Location
Holden, MA
I dropped the steering column to remove the instrument cluster at which time found that only the 2 nuts on the studs were securing the column (3rd lower bolt missing) and that they were not centered in the rectangular breakaway plastic washers, were towards the steering wheel end (and breakaways broken). I also had to remove the 3 bolts down at the firewall to get it to drop, which I thought was strange. I bought new breakaway washers and can pull the column closer to the driver to better center the mounting studs in the 3 breakaway washers (still not quite centered but closer) but then the column shaft is farther out of the piece between the gearbox and the shaft. My question is does it matter if the shaft is pushed all the way into ththat piece (what is this called) or pulled out (it stops ~ 1" out) so the 3 column fasteners are better centered in the breakaways? I wrapped blue tape around the shaft to see the 2 positions (in/out) for reference…

P.S. This car was completely taken apart some time ago for a rotisserie resto so I am finding a lot of little stuff that is wrong…

Thanks!
Shaft Pushed "IN"
road runner steering shaft in.jpg
road runner steering shaft out.jpg
 
It seems like the steering shaft is too short? The shaft movement is with the column dismounted under the dash. My concern is that the even with the shaft pulled away from the coupler (toward the driver) the column studs are still not centered in the breakaway washer bracket and when shaft is pushed into coupler (away from driver) the studs are nowhere near the breakaway washer bracket. Also had to remove the 3 bolts from the firewall to drop the column... please see pics:
Column pushed into coupler - stud does not align with mounting bracket:
Steering column pushed in.jpg

Column pulled away from coupler - stud aligns with mounting bracket BUT not able to center:
Steering column pulled out.jpg
 
Shaft could be too short (collapsed) just use a vise grip on the shaft, and with small blow with a hammer, it should do the job.
This is what I did on mine 4 years ago...
 
Phil - where on the shaft do I clamp the vise grip? I do not understand what you mean, can you please call me to explain? (510) 917-0036
Thanks!
 
Î’m sorry but not available at this time. Took 2 pictures. Small blow with a hammer on the vise grip from behind should do the trick
DA019E75-1785-4E52-AFB4-89463BE7F964.jpeg
278C4074-DDDC-4421-ABA2-0ADE4691E31F.jpeg
 
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