Trick to separate steering column shaft?

[beebest]

Is there a trick to seperate upper and lower steering column shafts? I'm going from a manual to power steering on a 70 Road runner, I have a power steering shaft out of a 68, but can't seperate the shafts. I drilled out the nylon plugs, shaft slides up and down no more than 6 inches or so than locks up tight, I tried hammering it off using a piece of aluminum so not to damage shaft and it won't budge. Thought I try this verses cutting and drilling existing shaft. Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[PurpleBeeper]

You need it shorter, so maybe the inner shaft just bottomed out on something inside the upper half?

 

[beebest]

No, I was trying to swap lower shafts from one to the other. I tried putting a torsion bar tool on it and proceeded to hammer away this morning. I got it to move abut two more inches and I actually started to bend the lower shaft. I give up, I'll just shorten the other shaft. Thanks for the reply!

 

[Bobzilla]

Is there a trick to seperate upper and lower steering column shafts? I'm going from a manual to power steering on a 70 Road runner, I have a power steering shaft out of a 68, but can't seperate the shafts. I drilled out the nylon plugs, shaft slides up and down no more than 6 inches or so than locks up tight, I tried hammering it off using a piece of aluminum so not to damage shaft and it won't budge. Thought I try this verses cutting and drilling existing shaft. Any ideas? Thanks!

View attachment 1987298

Typically, you swap the entire shaft. The upper and lower are NOT designed to be separated. The smaller shaft actually has a "flare" so it will not slide out of the larger one.

 

[beebest]

Typically, you swap the entire shaft. The upper and lower are NOT designed to be separated. The smaller shaft actually has a "flare" so it will not slide out of the larger one.

That explains it. I would have just swapped them but 70 has steering wheel lock ring that was too tight on the 68 shaft. I'll either collapse the 70 shaft some or have end cut and redrilled. Thank you!

 

[oldbee]

Ed, I hope you have some heat out there in garage. Brrr!

 

[beebest]

Ed, I hope you have some heat out there in garage. Brrr!

Jeff, I do, but still feels cold when your working on the floor. Lol. I'm done for the day, kids on the way for dinner.

 

[eldubb440]

Jeff, I do, but still feels cold when your working on the floor. Lol. I'm done for the day, kids on the way for dinner.

this ^^^^^


concrete floor becomes a giant ice cube after a while