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I haven't visited the site in quite some time. I've come for answers again. The rag joint on my 80 Corvette came apart last week. Pretty scary but lucky for me I was just pulling out of the driveway. As I started to diagnose the problem I discovered the steering column to the steering box was no longer attached or in alignment. I removed the old rag joint to discover it was torn. I then discovered the column was loose. See the attached picture. I'm assuming the problem is somewhere in the steering column but didn't want to start tearing apart until I had some input from this group.
The lower bearing should be a press fit into the tan plastic adapter (that is still inside the steering column jacket.) The good news is that the steering column parts seem to be in fairly good condition (lack of corrosion). There should be a round wire retainer clip that snaps into slots in the steering column jacket so as to keep the lower bearing plastic adapter from migrating out. (You may have just removed it yourself before the picture was taken.)
Here is the address for three papers on Disassembly and Repair of the T&T steering column. http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?p=1004
You should need #1 and #2.
Could you take pictures of the flexible coupling? Typically if you find that the rubber coupling disc is torn, that would indicate that the steering column may not have been aligned to the steering gear. In fact, your comments as to the steering column being loose, could indicate that the steering gear and flexible coupling may have been the only thing(s) keeping the steering column in place.
Hope that you can find an original flexible coupling to replace your torn one. I really can't suggest using any of the flex coupling rebuild kits that are offered in the marketplace. Any flexible coupling assemblies with the following GM part #s will work: 7808553, 7813351, or 7818568.
One last comment. Once you get the column rebuilt and the flexible coupling assembly in place, there is a specific installation procedure to insure that the steering column is aligned correctly to the steering gear. Make sure that you follow the installation procedure outlined in my papers or in the AIM for the C3 Corvettes.
Happy to see Jim answered along with the others. Jim I did indeed remove the clip and housing. See picture below. How do I get this bearing pressed back in? I didn't take pictures of the coupling yet as I can't get it all out. I've seen suggestion to loosen the steering box? The coupling was aligned back when I restored the car in 2004.
I put the bearing housing and clip back in place after Jim's comments to show how I found it.
I removed the steering column. After removing the lower bearing and plastic adapter (broken) the lower shaft fell back into the column assembly when I tilted it. Upon tilting the again the shaft came out. Is this normal? Everything seems ok when I turn the steering wheel. The lower shaft is firm and turns. Seems odd that it will go entirely back into the column assembly though.
I removed the steering column. After removing the lower bearing and plastic adapter (broken) the lower shaft fell back into the column assembly when I tilted it. Upon tilting the again the shaft came out. Is this normal? Everything seems ok when I turn the steering wheel. The lower shaft is firm and turns. Seems odd that it will go entirely back into the column assembly though.
That's the collapsible part of the column. Should push in during front end collision, by design.
Rag Joint
