Can anyone tell me the easiest way to replace the steering coupler on a 75? I have read that there are two ways, one is loosening the steering column and pushing it back and the other is loosening the steering gear box and dropping it down.

 

I pulled the column in the 68 to replace the flex coupler and install a tilt column. I think it would be a lot easier to have a helper supporting the column while you plug it back into the flex coupler.

Download Jim Shea's paper on flex couplers, he's a wealth of knowledge (expert) on all things steering columns and his paper on flex couplers is most informative and enlightening.

 

I went with loosening the steering column and pulling it back method. Get something that you can use to support the steering column. I had a big plastic tackle box that fit perfect to wedge between the seat and steering wheel for the wheel to rest on.

Soak the shaft and coupler bolts with PB blaster for a couple of days beforehand too. It made getting everything apart a lot easier. I had to give a few good pulls on the steering column to separate the coupler but after that everything else was pretty simple.

Make sure you download and read Jim Sheas articles and you shouldn't have any problems.

 

Corvette Fever Magazine has a detailed article this month on rag joint replacement.

 

Per Jim Shea's papers... Don't push upwards into the cabin on the column from the engine compartment. The column can colapse inward and then is a big pain to expand back out to finish the job. If you are going to move the column farther into the cabin, pull it from the cabin following Jim's instructions.

 

Unfortunately, there was another article in a Corvette magazine a year or so ago that showed someone (Bubba) prying on the flex coupling in order to "make room" to seperate it from the column flange. When they got done installing the new flex coupling, the column flange seemed to be an inch or so further away from the new coupling. So they just stretched the rubber in the flex coupling and bolted it back together.

All C3s have steering columns with steering shafts that are designed to compress and protect the driver in a severe frontal collision. Obviously they had compressed the steering column shaft back into the column with their prying. The result was a very stretched and stressed out rubber disc in the new flex coupling that will probably soon fail.

I wrote to the magazine indicating their incorrect and somewhat dangerous procedure. They never responded.

For some reason (I still haven't figured it out) the steering column shaft will compress back into the steering column a lot easier than it will come back out to its original length.

FYI The length of steering shaft (don't measure the detachable flange) that sticks out of the lower end of the C3 steering column is as follows:

T&T Steering Column - Shaft Extending from Lower Column
1968 2.21 inches from edge of clamp
1969 thru 1976 4.70 inches to bearing retainer face
1977 and 1978 4.90 inches to bearing retainer face
1979 thru 1982 5.00 inches to bearing retainer face

Standard (non-adjustable) Steering Column - Shaft Extension
1968 2.74 inches to edge of clamp
1969 thru 1977 4.55 inches to bearing retainer face
1978 & 1979 4.79 inches to bearing retainer face

Jim

 

I would think pulling the steering column would be much easier. When I replaced mine, I was surprised how easy it was. From what I remember, you unbolt the coupler, then disconnect the electrical connection on the column and remove the two bolts that connect the column to the dash and drop it down. I had my son help me by holding the column when I got ready to align/connect the coupler (I tried doing by myself but it was too much for me to juggle).