Steering Column removal and replacement?

[Dibbons]

Dropped the steering column on 72 SSP project car to remove the dash frame for painting. To paint the steering column, I guess it would be easiest to remove it completely from the vehicle. It looks like there is only a pin holding the column at this point. Is it tricky taking the pin out or putting back in? Is the column indexed so it only slides on one way? The factory service manual is very specific about using a special tool to align the shaft in the center of the column during re-installation. There must be another way. Thank you for any help (power steering).

 

[72RoadrunnerGTX]

Yes, the steering coupler is indexed to the gear box input shaft, will only fit on in one position. Drive the roll pin out, pull the column out, much earlier to do the dash work with it out of the way. The tool referenced in the manual is meant to lock the coupler shoes in the middle of their travel inside the coupler when installing the column. When used, the column slider mounts, at the pedal support, should be centered over the studs. Can be done without the tool (good luck finding one), should be a measurement listed there too for the distance from the reference hole in the shaft to the upper end of the coupler. You will likely find the nylon pins that located the collapsing steering shaft are no more, may require fore & aft adjusting to get everything lined going back-in anyway.

With column out of the way, not that much more work to pull the entire dash frame out as a unit for servicing or painting.

 

[Cmmopar]

I posted some TSB column info here that you might find useful:

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/mopar...ple-issue-Need-help&p=910242718#post910242718