When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hey guys,
bought this column and it looked fine in the pictures, when it was shipped to me it looked like the column had been collapsed..there is only 2 inches showing when there should be about 4.5
is this column toast? I don't want to have to tear it apart...What do you think?
Calling Jim Shea!!
There was a expanded metal component/ tube...safety device so the column doesn't spike you in the chest! Hmmm let me guess...junkyard part.
You can get parts tho!
The shaft is a 2 piece affair designed to collapse. There is a plastic "shear pin" about 1/2 down. See page 18 of this link. Your column was probably dropped at some point and it sheared the pin.
The shaft is a 2 piece affair designed to collapse. There is a plastic "shear pin" about 1/2 down. See page 18 of this link. Your column was probably dropped at some point and it sheared the pin.
The measurement should be 4 3/8" from the end of the lower bearing retainer to the end of the shaft. I just measured one in my shop out of a 1978. I actually built this column for my SA car because of all the options it doesn't have... .tilt column is one... .
Possibly you could bolt it to the coupling and then attempt to pull it back out.... It could have been dropped in shipping or it could have just come from a wrecked car.
Did you ask the seller? It could have broken in shipping. In all seriousness, this is exactly what you need to do to install a Borgeson power steering box, which is larger than stock, and places the rag joint closer to the firewall.
I agree that it is worth trying to pull it back out.
It looked great in the pictures (famous last words!) when I got it, it looked like it took a hit and the column had collapsed as designed..
See the plastic shear pin in that picture..I'll bet it snapped and the column collapsed..
I will be sending it back.
Anybody have a decent 78-82 column?
It looked great in the pictures (famous last words!) when I got it, it looked like it took a hit and the column had collapsed as designed..
See the plastic shear pin in that picture..I'll bet it snapped and the column collapsed..
I will be sending it back.
Anybody have a decent 78-82 column?
I do but I still think you can use what you received if you are willing to pull it back outward....
Agree with you can probably fix it. I have been working on my 78 S/a for a few years and when it came time to work on my tilt/tele column I was pretty intimidated But I was determined to never have to worry about that component again for as long as I own the car. So I jumped in, bought a few dollars worth of parts that wear out and I took the link supplied above, printed it out and went to it. Now, not only do I have a prefectly functioning column, but I understand how it all works together. If you look at the picture in the link, OMG I can't possibly do that. It isn't that difficult and if you are going to take it apart to determine why it is short, I would recommend doing the whole column. Then you know for sure you won't have to get on your back and replace an ignition switch or high beam switch, for example. Might as well do the signal light switch and horn contacts too. It will add value to the car And it is great when all the tilt/tele stuff works. Just my $.02 Good luck
78-82 style column
