I’ve parted 71-72 Chargers and a 72 Road Runner just came my way with a bad ignition switch and other issues.

I disassembled the column for service. I have parts from 2 Charger columns in boxes and used the cleanest stuff. Upon reinstall the shaft inow too short to mesh on the coupler.
I checked the break way pins and they are all in tact on all shafts.

I have 3 shafts.
A. 1 in the column, too short .
B. 1 same length and the
C. last is 1-2 “ longer.


I’m puzzled.

The columns parted were
71 Charger PS Floor shift
72 Charger PS column shift
72 RR PS floor shift


Thanks in advance

It may look like they didn`t break but I bet the shaft has moved.

ill Check again

There's a spec at the coupler...

Check the service manual...

The spec is the shaft adjustment once installed. 13/16”. When columns bolted in place the coupler on the column won’t reach the steering box.

Let me see if I understand, are you saying that when the shaft, and associated parts are in the coupler, and secured with the roll pin, and the hole in the shaft is 13/ 16ths from the coupler, that the column won't bolt up under the dash? Is that what you are saying? I have a reason for asking this.

Yes. I slid it through the firewall and had a helper hold the column in the car as O connected the coupler. Once the coupler was on the splines, I then raised the column to the dash mounting studs and it was too short that way to capture the studs.

I checked the column dash mount I used against the others in the box. No diffeeence and all 4 bolts are bolted to column jacket.

Then I tried to bolt column to dash and see how short it was. Coupler won’t reach the column spline even fully extended.

It prob something dumb and Im finishing a floor so I’ll do some more investigation after welding. Gonna reread FSM too

Install the coupler on the box first, by itself and install the roll pin, it makes the rest a lot easer. Was one of these columns installed in this car when you started? The reason I ask is I had the same troubles , and come to find out I had a 73/74 coupler.

Ok. I will compare couplers. Never had 73 up

I think I used the column shift jacket with the floor shift shaft.

Some jackets have mesh and others don’t. Identifying now