Steering Column color??????

[Cuda Cody]

So... I'm just putting the last finishing touches of the steering column and I get to the crumple can.  Forget the fact that it will not sit all the way down no matter how hard I press / beat it on there....  and it is lined up with the key way.  I just don't get it?  but the real bummer is................

While beating on the crumple can the steering shaft completely collapsed making it about a foot shorter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I can pull it back out to almost the full length, but I didn't know they did that!  Is it ruined?  I'm guessing the it is designed to do that in a crash?  I already took the column back apart.......

[ShelbyDogg]

Muscle man-Cody
That thing is meant to crumple when you hit your head or body, on the wheel. You can try to straighten it, but I'm afraid you'll never get it back to the non-crushed look.  You should have just used the Bolt and washer to pull it down.  We all know how much MUSCLE you must have used on that poor crush can. See if the steering wheel now rotates evenly or wobbly.
You might need a replacement.
I hold the wheel while tightening with a 1/2 drive socket and 6" extension.
Rob

[Cuda Cody]

I wish I was that strong!  I must have been tired while I was typing... the crumple can is ok, it's the metal steering shaft that colasped.  I checked the parts manual and it list several different sizes (lengths) for the different vehicles.  I can pull the shaft back out and I see they have small little holes to lock it in for every length they needed for all the vehicles.  They must have pulled the shaft at the factory to the desired length and put a little piece of plastic in to hold it. 

So that means they only made two shafts (manual & power) and then just adjusted the lenght per the vehicles needs.  A challenger / Cuda with PS is 40.78"  Learn something new all the time.

Muscle man-Cody
That thing is meant to crumple when you hit your head or body, on the wheel. You can try to straighten it, but I'm afraid you'll never get it back to the non-crushed look.  You should have just used the Bolt and washer to pull it down.  We all know how much MUSCLE you must have used on that poor crush can. See if the steering wheel now rotates evenly or wobbly.
You might need a replacement.
I hold the wheel while tightening with a 1/2 drive socket and 6" extension.
Rob

[ShelbyDogg]

Cody,  That Shaft is collapsable.  When I convert from manual to power steering, I colapse that shaft to make room for the longer power box, then change the coulper to the finer spline one.    Just pull it back out and you are okay. Just make sure that you have a good small pin that keeps the joints inside the coupler, under the seal and cal.  ALWAYS work that coupler onto the splined shaft by hand. It should slide easily onto it before you drive the big pin back in.

Rob

[Cuda Cody]

 

Cody,  That Shaft is collapsable.  When I convert from manual to power steering, I colapse that shaft to make room for the longer power box, then change the coulper to the finer spline one.    Just pull it back out and you are okay. Just make sure that you have a good small pin that keeps the joints inside the coupler, under the seal and cal.  ALWAYS work that coupler onto the splined shaft by hand. It should slide easily onto it before you drive the big pin back in.

Rob