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Need help on assembly of 71 B-body steering Column

Posted By: Wizard

Need help on assembly of 71 B-body steering Column - 04/11/11 04:42 PM

I rebuilt my 71 road runner steering colomb about 6 years ago. I can't remember everything thing how everthing went inside but now I am trying to hook it up in the car and I am about 1- 1 1/2 inches short of the steering shaft from reaching the steering box gear. The adjusters up under the steering (3 ea) column are maxed out also. You can see the marks from where they used to be before I took it off and rebuilt it. What would now make the steering column shaft to short to reach the steering chuck gear? I can get the steering shaft to go over the first gear spline on the chuck but thats maxed out and the adjusters won't be able to hold up the steering column under the dash. I did have the steering chuck rebuilt by steer and gear about 6-7 years ago. Everything looks good there though and it is mounted correctly in the K member.

Wizard
Posted By: GETX

Re: Need help on assembly of 71 B-body steering Column - 04/11/11 05:30 PM

It sounds like to me that at sometime during your rebuild and/or recent installation you have collapsed the lower shaft. This happens when the two plastic "shear pins" are sheared off. It is easy to do if you are not careful. This was a safety design for head on collision accidents. The only quick fix for this is to tear down the column again pull the lower shaft back out to where the plastic pin holes line up again and insert some other type of pin in the two holes. I know some guys use aluminum pop rivets for this.
Posted By: Wizard

Re: Need help on assembly of 71 B-body steering Column - 04/11/11 07:00 PM

If this has happened, "shear pins broken" would I be able to pull the steering rod back out without taking the column apart? The steering rod does not move up or down any from the steering wheel. I know I would have to replace the shear pins anyhow if they did break but just wondering what the characteristics would be on the steering wheel if it did happen.

Wizard
Posted By: JulesdaWiperman

Re: Need help on assembly of 71 B-body steering Column - 04/11/11 09:22 PM

Wizard simply pull the lower shaft out. You can do so gently without doing any damage.
What has happened is that the inner shaft has collapse slightly.
See picture below. There are no shear pins to replace. You can safely pull the shaft out
1.5 inches without any risk. Once connected to the steering box the shaft will no longer move up or down.
Just make sure you have the safety pin installed in the coupler installed.
Jules

Attached picture 6580083-ebodysteeringshaft(2).jpg
Posted By: JulesdaWiperman

Re: Need help on assembly of 71 B-body steering Column - 04/11/11 09:25 PM

The holes are there so that they could inject molten nylon to the inner cavities.
This would create a friction point so that the shaft would retain it's proper length.
If you wnat you could always inject some super glue in those holes once the length is reset.
Super glue will not resist an impact so bad that the column would be crushed.
Jules

Attached picture 6580087-ebodysteeringshaft(3).jpg
Posted By: JulesdaWiperman

Re: Need help on assembly of 71 B-body steering Column - 04/11/11 09:27 PM

Cannot use pop rivets or any pins for that matter because the inner shaft
does not have holes that go through to the other side.

Attached picture 6580093-ebodysteeringshaft(4).jpg
Posted By: Wizard

Re: Need help on assembly of 71 B-body steering Column - 04/12/11 02:55 AM

Do I have to dissasemble the upper steering column or can I just pull on the end of the steering shaft to get the 1.5 inches I need?

Wizard
Posted By: JulesdaWiperman

Re: Need help on assembly of 71 B-body steering Column - 04/12/11 03:08 AM

Just pull on the end.
Use just enough pull to get the amount you need.
Don't sledge hammer away at it.
Remember the other end is held just by a C clip at the top
of the column.
Jules
Posted By: Wizard

Re: Need help on assembly of 71 B-body steering Column - 04/12/11 04:39 AM

Appreciate it. I will give it a try.

Thanks,

wizard
Posted By: cataclysm80

Re: Need help on assembly of 71 B-body steering Column - 04/12/11 09:17 PM

Quote:


Just make sure you have the safety pin in the coupler installed.




I'm pretty sure my 70 Challenger has that safety pin in the coupler, but I think some of the earlier cars didn't come with it. Anyone know what year the safety pin came out?

Tav
Posted By: Wizard

Re: Need help on assembly of 71 B-body steering Column - 05/27/11 02:28 AM

Well, my dad and I have been trying to pull the bottom shaft out but with no luck. We have been just trying to use our hands to pull it apart but won"t budge. Even tried putting column on ground standing on steering wheel and pulling up on it but it won't move. I was wondering how do I get it apart again up near the steering column where the wires and turn signal/key goes in? Been few years how I took it apart and can't remember, but sounds like I don't really need to take that apart again to fix this problem but would still like to know? Anyone?

Wizard
Posted By: Rockland71GTX

Re: Need help on assembly of 71 B-body steering Column - 05/27/11 03:30 AM

Stand the column up with the wheel on the floor. Use a little penetrating oil where the lower shaft slides into the upper and let it work in for a bit. Then try giving it a sharp rap on the lower shaft in the inward direction. BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO JAM THE LOWER SHAFT INTO THE UPPER SHAFT!!! The idea is just to break the 2 parts loose so that it will slide out.
Posted By: Wizard

Re: Need help on assembly of 71 B-body steering Column - 05/27/11 03:47 AM

I can't seem to figure out how to remove the metal round housing that the steering shaft goes thru to be able to put oil in between the 2 pieces and also to be able to give it a rap with a mallad where the 2 pieces are inside each other.

Wizard
Posted By: cuda-sweden

Re: Need help on assembly of 71 B-body steering Column - 05/28/11 07:59 PM

i just went through this with a -70 column that was shipped to sweden,ít was collapsed all the way to the bottom.i took the shaft out of the steering column using the oem miller tool(witch i think is sold here on moparts at the tools for sale page(a copy of the miller tool).then i opened a wise just ehnauff to fit the lower shaft but not the coupling,then i hold it as a pool stick and whacked it backwards a few times and it came loose,(the coupler came apart to but it should be rebuilt anyway).im not going to do anything to replace the plastic shear stuff,as the shafts are nice and tight and firm together.maybe you could use a pipe wrench or wise grip on the lower shaft(wrap the shaft in rubber first)and give the lower shaft a couple of whacks to get it loose if you dont want to open up/remove your column.then again,if its stuck hard maybe you better take the inner shaft out of the collumn before whacking???
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