I have my '73 newport column apart on my coffee table as we speak.
On the lower collar there are three round bosses sticking up and one goes in between the walled in areas of the slot for the wires and the turn signal stick on the upper collar.
The collars fit together pretty snug as does the bearing on the shaft, after removing the screws I tapped on the shaft with a brass hammer while pulling on the upper collar and it popped right apart .
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