Steering Column Woe’s
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Steering Column Woe’s
I have a ’74 that needed the steering column replaced. I ordered and received a replacement from a reputable corvette salvage and parts dealer (non tele/tilt). I cleaned up the column and repainted it, installed a new key switch. Slide the column in, hooked up the electrical connections to check them out. Turn signal and ignition switch both function correctly. I look under the hood to hook up the column to the steering box. I look at the shaft, shaft looks short. Grab a tape measure, shaft length lower bearing to end of shaft is about 2.75”. I measure the old column, 4.5”. What the &@#*! I had already down loaded Jim Shea’s steering column papers. According to Jim’s paper what I received was a column out of a ’68. The question is what to do now. Try to use it, try to return/exchange it. Put it on ebay. If this hadn’t happened I could have drove my car into work today.
I am bumming
Robert
I am bumming
Robert
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,359
Likes: 787
From: Redondo Beach, California
I have a ’74 that needed the steering column replaced. ....... I cleaned up the column and repainted it, installed a new key switch. Slide the column in, hooked up the electrical connections to check them out. Turn signal and ignition switch both function correctly. .... I look at the shaft, shaft looks short. Grab a tape measure, shaft length lower bearing to end of shaft is about 2.75”. I measure the old column, 4.5”. What the &@#*! I had already down loaded Jim Shea’s steering column papers.
Robert
Robert
About the 2.75 vs 4.5 inch shaft lenght. The steering columns have a crush "tube" in them. In a front end collision, the drivers chest slams into the steering wheel. The crush tube absorbs some of the shock. I think I read that if this happens, end of the shaft appears to be shortened ...could be wrong about this though. Maybe one of Jim's write up discusses this.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 30
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I should not have posted until I talked to the guy I bought the part from. Apparently '68 did not have ignition locks in the column. The shaft can collapse into itself (by design). If I would have read further into Jim's paper I would have read this. I'm going home at lunch to check this out. Hopefully all is good.
Robert
Robert
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
You are correct, the steering shaft sticking out of the lower end of the steering column was designed to collapse back into the column in a severe frontal collision. You will find that it is somewhat easy to get the shaft to telescope back into the column. It is not so easy to get it to come back out. You want to work it back out so that 4.7 inches sticks out past the lower bearing.
When I ship a steering column I tape a 5 inch long piece of 1.25 inch PVC pipe to the lower end to protect the shaft during shipping.
Good luck,
Jim
When I ship a steering column I tape a 5 inch long piece of 1.25 inch PVC pipe to the lower end to protect the shaft during shipping.
Good luck,
Jim
