'79 Collapsed Steering Shaft
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 109
From: Las Vegas NV
'79 Collapsed Steering Shaft
A few months back I removed my steering column to replace the bearings to cure a wobbly steering wheel.
While I had it out, I frequently would stand it up on the shaft with all of the weight of the column pushing vertically down on the shaft, with the end of the shaft touching the ground.
All of a sudden the shaft, for lack of better word, collapsed into the column and could be moved in and out of the column itself, when previously it held its position and would just turn.
I'm guessing whatever exists in the shaft that is supposed to give way in an accident is what gave way.
That play is wreaking havoc on my steeroids joints and I suspect I need to pull it back out and repair whatever it is that is broken.
I'm having trouble understanding what it is that would have given in and what I would need to replace.
Here's a link to Jim Shea's papers:
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?p=1004
Any input?
While I had it out, I frequently would stand it up on the shaft with all of the weight of the column pushing vertically down on the shaft, with the end of the shaft touching the ground.
All of a sudden the shaft, for lack of better word, collapsed into the column and could be moved in and out of the column itself, when previously it held its position and would just turn.
I'm guessing whatever exists in the shaft that is supposed to give way in an accident is what gave way.
That play is wreaking havoc on my steeroids joints and I suspect I need to pull it back out and repair whatever it is that is broken.
I'm having trouble understanding what it is that would have given in and what I would need to replace.
Here's a link to Jim Shea's papers:
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?p=1004
Any input?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
The 2 sections of the inner shaft are held in place with injected plastic. It got old and brittle and broke. You can pull the 2 sections apart back to their original length. I don't know if it's possible to secure them. Jim Shea would be able to tell you I'm sure.
