Steering column question

[prayers1 153]

I'm replacing the steering box and noticed after it was removed from the rag joint, the end of the column shaft just hangs freely. I can pick it up and run it around with in the inner circle of the tube. Also, the white plastic sleeve thats around the shaft keeps sliding out. I tried to find an exploded view and I think I'm seeing that a doughnut of some sort goes around the column shaft and inside of the white plastic sleeve. Is that correct?

 

Does the shaft have that much play after the steering box is removed.

****How can I replace the doughnut and white sleeve w/o taking the column apart.****

 

The steering wheel side feels fine and I do not believe it needs rebuilding, but I can take the steering wheel and with the slightest movement, cause the shaft at the other end to make contact with the inside of the column tube.

 

What are your thoughts?

Thank you

[miketyler 15]

Yes it does. It relies on the steering box to stabilize the forward end of the shaft. I don't know how you could replace the foam doughnut and the plastic retainer without pulling the inner shaft out.

[69volunteer 84]

They sell the foam donuts. I just did a restoration on my column and did a write up on here. I'll post the link:

 

http://mustangforums.com/forum/classic-mustangs-tech/700779-1969-non-tilt-steering-column-rebuild.html

Edited April 16, 2014 by 69volunteer

[prayers1 153]

I tried to follow your write up, but you need an account to view the pictures.

Can you post them here and anymore progress on the rebuild.

[69volunteer 84]

Here are pics of my column restoration. I got the foam donuts from

https://www.musclecarresearch.com/catalog/60

My inner column lower plastic retainer was in good shape but they reproduce now.

This is the diagram
 

Plastic retainer at the bottom of the outer tube. Notice relief in the outer tube in which the notches of the plastic ring fit into. Also, notice the fingers at the bottom of the plastic ring, this is where the gray foam donut slides into. I think musclecar research reproduces the plastic ring now too.

 

Gray foam donut

 

Installed


With inner column installed

 

Inner shaft prior to installation. The donut on the shaft didnt really fit well and tore in the final install. The bottom donut goes around the drive shaft and inside the inner column. The center knockout for this donut goes between the two metal pieces of the rag joint (3B361) in the diagram.

Edited December 3, 2015 by 69volunteer

[prayers1 153]

Thank you for taking the time to post the pictures. I clearly see what your talking about.

 

Can you explain how you take the center shaft out. Is it complicated?

 

My steering wheel is still on, so I don't know how the shaft comes out.

In my mind, I'm thinking it's just a c-clip that you take off and the shaft drops out. Is that wishful thinking?

Can the shaft be removed when the steering box, motor and steering components are off the car,

or do you have to drop the entire column and remove it from the car.

Edited April 18, 2014 by prayers1

[69volunteer 84]

Steering shaft slides into inner tube, inner tube slides into outer tube--all from the bottom.

 

You can leave the wheel on and unbolt the colum from the firewall and lower dash. Really not that bad.

 

Shaft has to come out from the bottom because of upper flange of rag joint

Edited April 20, 2014 by 69volunteer

[prayers1 153]

Yes, I realize that. What at the steering wheel end needs to come off to allow the shaft to fall out.

 

Once the shaft slides down, does anything inside the column come apart. My point is, that my guts are OK, I just want to replace the white sleeve and bushing on the bottom.

[miketyler 15]

IIRC, there is a snap ring under the turn signal switch that holds the shaft in place.

 

EDIT: Ok, not a great pic but if you look close at the base of the shaft you can see the snap ring there.

Edited April 20, 2014 by miketyler
EDIT: added pic

[prayers1 153]

Stupid question I asked about "sliding the shaft out from the engine compartment". I see now that it's impossible to go past the shock tower. I just might order the sponge bushing and cut a slit in it to go over the shaft. This way I hope it will keep the white plastic bushing from dropping down.

[69volunteer 84]

Yes, impossible to get out. You could probably try that and glue it back together. Since the inner tube is not turning, its should be ok.

[JayEstes 173]

Guys,

 

Hoping to revisit this topic a bit. I'm in the middle of this now.

 

I have the two plastic pieces shown in the pics that look like they need to be replaced. It looks like the longer tubular piece can be had at the website you mentioned for $20. what about the other notched ring? Can it be purchased to refurb the steering wheel?

 

I don't see any "foam pieces" in my column, I'm not understanding what I need those for from what I see.

 

[ATTACH]18151[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH]18152[/ATTACH]

[LindenBruce 27]

The foam pieces have prolly rotted out by now (LOL) that's why they aren't there. The taller white plastic piece as far as I know is obsolete. I have searched for it numerous times with out luck. You might be able to find it NOS on someone's shelf but that will be a matter of looking at the right time and at the right place. Bruce

[JayEstes 173]

Got it on the foam pieces… makes sense.

 

But when you say the "taller white piece" isn't that the part I can find here?:

https://www.musclecarresearch.com/C9AZ-7347-A

 

For me it's down to what about that ring with the notches in it? (And kinda why & how & where on the foam pieces. I look at those and it seems I can go get some random packing foam and cut circles in it and use that. )

 

But where can I get that notched ring? To me that is the hard part.

 

Jay

[stangs-R-me 121]

I re-did mine in 2011 and bought the 3 foam pieces from MuscleCarResearch.

 

The taller ring was completely gone from my column and not yet being reproduced, so I was forced to make my own retainer (made it out of a piece of white PVC and added a screw in the bottom of the column tube to hold it in place). Without it, the inner shaft to column foam doughnut would just work it's way out eventually.

 

The split-ring that holds the foam in place between the outer & inner column tubes was fine, so I was able to re-use it. Does not look like there is anything seriously wrong with yours, so I'd think you should be able to re-use it too.

 

Making your own foam would be more effort (IMO) than the $10 cost of buying the "correct" foam set from MCR at the same time as buying the taller retainer. There are actually 3 pc. of foam, the 3rd one goes into the end of the steering shaft:

 

https://www.musclecarresearch.com/C9AZ-3E629-A ... $5.00

https://www.musclecarresearch.com/C9AZ-7C102-A ... $5.00

 

Doug

 

Picture is what was left of my inner shaft foam, just a little turd that shrunk to maybe 2/3 of the ID but was still stuck to the wall inside the shaft !!

Edited October 23, 2014 by stangs-R-me

[stangs-R-me 121]

I re-did mine in 2011 and bought the 3 foam pieces from MuscleCarResearch.

 

The taller ring was completely gone from my column and not yet being reproduced, so I was forced to make my own retainer (made it out of a piece of white PVC and added a screw in the bottom of the column tube to hold it in place). Without it, the inner shaft to column foam doughnut would just work it's way out eventually.

 

The split-ring that holds the foam in place between the outer & inner column tubes was fine, so I was able to re-use it. Does not look like there is anything seriously wrong with yours, so I'd think you should be able to re-use it too.

 

Making your own foam would be more effort (IMO) than the $10 cost of buying the "correct" foam set from MCR at the same time as buying the taller retainer. There are actually 3 pc. of foam, the 3rd one goes into the end of the steering shaft:

 

https://www.musclecarresearch.com/C9AZ-3E629-A ... $5.00

https://www.musclecarresearch.com/C9AZ-7C102-A ... $5.00

 

Doug

 

Picture is what was left of my inner shaft foam, just a little turd that shrunk to maybe 2/3 of the ID but was still stuck to the wall inside the shaft !!

Edited October 23, 2014 by stangs-R-me

[LindenBruce 27]

Yes Jay that link it appears is to a reproduction part. That was not available when I did my column. So that will be your best bet rt now. B.

[LindenBruce 27]

Yes Jay that link it appears is to a reproduction part. That was not available when I did my column. So that will be your best bet rt now. B.

[JayEstes 173]

Thanks a ton guys. I had gone ahead and gotten the repro sleeve, and one of the foam pieces. I didn't order the 2 piece one. I just now went back and got that too - thanks for making it clear. So that should be everything I need to rebuild my column. I plan to take pics and show how it is assembled…. once I figure all of that out. I can't get to it until week after next, so it will be awhile before I get there, but I'll post when I do.

 

Also, after inspection and cleaning, I agree. the "notched ring" i have does seem usable, so I don't need to replace that part. Initially I thought it broke free of the sleeve, but I can see that was a mistake - they are separate parts, and my ring seems to be fine (after knocking 40+ yrs of grit and grime off it!)

 

Jay

Edited October 23, 2014 by JayEstes

[JayEstes 173]

Thanks a ton guys. I had gone ahead and gotten the repro sleeve, and one of the foam pieces. I didn't order the 2 piece one. I just now went back and got that too - thanks for making it clear. So that should be everything I need to rebuild my column. I plan to take pics and show how it is assembled…. once I figure all of that out. I can't get to it until week after next, so it will be awhile before I get there, but I'll post when I do.

 

Also, after inspection and cleaning, I agree. the "notched ring" i have does seem usable, so I don't need to replace that part. Initially I thought it broke free of the sleeve, but I can see that was a mistake - they are separate parts, and my ring seems to be fine (after knocking 40+ yrs of grit and grime off it!)

 

Jay

Edited October 23, 2014 by JayEstes