Steering shaft length?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 288
Likes: 1
From: Maple Ridge British Columbia
Steering shaft length?
For a 77 tilt & tele steering column, how much bare shaft should be sticking out past the bottom bearing/housing? I had the column out to repaint it and noticed that when I replaced it the part of the shaft at the end with the splines and flat notch that fit in the rag joint doesn't seat all the way into the rag joint. It only goes in about 1 inch, so I'm wondering if the column may be collapsed?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
On the 1977-78 T&T steering column the shaft extending from the lower bearing face should be 4.9 inches long. You will probably find that the shaft is going to be a lot harder to extend back to this dimension than it was to compress it into the steering column. You should try to just pull the shaft back out and not hammer on the shaft. A constant pull is a lot easier on the steering shaft bearings inside the column.
Reinstall the lower flange and try to pry the shaft straight back.
Jim
Reinstall the lower flange and try to pry the shaft straight back.
Jim
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Wertheim Baden-Württemberg Germany
I have had the same experience with a 79 and a 76.Pulled the column out,dissasembled it on the workbench.After reassembly I noticed during installation it was magically to short.
A friend of mine sent his to some "experts" and had it rebuilt,only for it to come back to short.
Turned out that the spring behind the cam/lockplate assembly was the cause.Tore both units back down to the blinker assembly,installed the columns, and reinstalled the last few parts with em in the car.
A friend of mine sent his to some "experts" and had it rebuilt,only for it to come back to short.
Turned out that the spring behind the cam/lockplate assembly was the cause.Tore both units back down to the blinker assembly,installed the columns, and reinstalled the last few parts with em in the car.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 288
Likes: 1
From: Maple Ridge British Columbia
Thanks Jim, I'll try to pry it out to the correct length. I didn't disassemble the steering column, so either I somehow hit it and compressed it or it was like that to begin with.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Wertheim Baden-Württemberg Germany
having someone push in on the steering wheel while you guide it in at the
rag joint.I also wedge a screwdriver in the rag joint to spread it a little
whilst inserting the steering shaft.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
I don't believe that you can move a steering shaft on a T&T column by pulling on the upper end. If you have the c-clip installed on the upper end, the upper steering shaft is securely held between the two upper bearings. The only movement of the lower shaft is at the junction of the solid upper shaft and the tubular lower shaft. That junction is inside the steering column itself just about where the ignition switch is located.
Jim
Jim
