Steering Column Lowering/Raising

[1973JA5]

On raising the column up for re-installation the factory service manual calls for a couple of special tools for alignment of the steering shaft/column jacket.Are these tools really necessary to do this job?

[anlauto]

No

[bc3j]

I saw that in the FSM as well when I replaced my steering box. I just had a helper watch the steering shaft inside the column tube and I moved the Duffy plate around and put a couple of washers under the two studs on the column bracket until the steering shaft was as near to center in the column tube as I could get it.

[1973JA5]

Thanks for your replies!

[burdar]

After I slid the coupler onto the steering box, I attached the column to the dash. The three bolts at the fire wall weren't installed at this point. There is supposed to be a foam seal at the base of the column to take up the gap between the steering shaft and the column jacket. I moved the base of the column around so the steering shaft was centered in the column jacket...so there wasn't any pressure on the foam seal. Once the steering shaft was centered, the three bolts at the firewall were tightened.