Steering shaft play/slop

[Chryco Psycho]

I actually didn`t ssay you can do it without pulling the column , , you simply have to pull it back just to get enough troom , & at the point it is pulled back the column is out anyway , it could be donw in the car but you might as well do it on the bench
 the coupler [black box] is not part of the kit & generally doesn`t need replacing , there is a trick thopugh , there is a small press pin in the top edge of the coupler that needs to be pryed up to slide the column out of the coupler , some columns have a small hole in them on the same side as the pin , if there is no hole put a mark on the column so you do not put the column back together 180* out , if you don`t put a mark there the column can go back in with the steering wheel upside down , it will take 2 people to reassemble it as the one person has to guide the coupler back in whilelthe otehr holds the steerig wheel inside the car

[shadango]

Sorry Chryco....I meant that for "plumbeeper"

So the shaft doesnt have to come out of the column but the column does have to come out or at leats pulled back.....

[plumbeeper]

Sorry Chryco....I meant that for "plumbeeper"

So the shaft doesnt have to come out of the column but the column does have to come out or at leats pulled back.....

That is correct, and what Chryco said is correct. I forgot, you do have to pull the column back a little, just enough to clear the coupler body.

I do not sell the kits. I can get you one, but it's probably going to cost me the same amount as you would pay. I don't think anyone is making the coupler body yet, but the kits are available in many places. You can clean yours and spray it with a little semi-gloss black paint and it will look like new again.

Dave

[Moparinho]

Your shaft will not have to be removed. Just knock out the pin 19-15-23, remove the cover 19-15-17 and disassemble, clean, put new kit in, reassemble. You can pick up the kits at several places like Mopars by Crane, Year One, Ebay and maybe even a seller on this board for about $15-20.

Dave

hi plumber,
can I ask you where the second image come from ?   Is it a repair manual ?   I have a copy of the original Service Manual of my Challenger but it doesn't so detailed..

[shadango]

That is correct, and what Chryco said is correct. I forgot, you do have to pull the column back a little, just enough to clear the coupler body.

I do not sell the kits. I can get you one, but it's probably going to cost me the same amount as you would pay. I don't think anyone is making the coupler body yet, but the kits are available in many places. You can clean yours and spray it with a little semi-gloss black paint and it will look like new again.

Dave

I would like to avoid pulling the whole column right now.....but it sure sounds like it would be the best way to go.....tough to do?

[Moparinho]

That is correct, and what Chryco said is correct. I forgot, you do have to pull the column back a little, just enough to clear the coupler body.

I do not sell the kits. I can get you one, but it's probably going to cost me the same amount as you would pay. I don't think anyone is making the coupler body yet, but the kits are available in many places. You can clean yours and spray it with a little semi-gloss black paint and it will look like new again.

Dave

FYI:   http://www.bouchillonperformance.com/BPE2218.asp 

[shadango]

WHOA!  For THAT price ($125!!)  I will reuse the old one!  LOL   

[plumbeeper]

hi plumber,
can I ask you where the second image come from ?   Is it a repair manual ?   I have a copy of the original Service Manual of my Challenger but it doesn't so detailed..

It's out of a 70-71 Chrysler parts manual I have on a disc. It's actually an entire original manual that someone took the time to scan all of the pages and put them on a CD. I bought it off of ebay a few years ago.

Dave

[Chryco Psycho]

the column is easy to remove , 3 - 1/2 bolts onm the floor & 2 - 7/16 under the dash , undo the 2 wire plugs & it is out

[LAA66]

I actually didn`t ssay you can do it without pulling the column , , you simply have to pull it back just to get enough troom , & at the point it is pulled back the column is out anyway , it could be donw in the car but you might as well do it on the bench
 the coupler [black box] is not part of the kit & generally doesn`t need replacing , there is a trick thopugh , there is a small press pin in the top edge of the coupler that needs to be pryed up to slide the column out of the coupler , some columns have a small hole in them on the same side as the pin , if there is no hole put a mark on the column so you do not put the column back together 180* out , if you don`t put a mark there the column can go back in with the steering wheel upside down , it will take 2 people to reassemble it as the one person has to guide the coupler back in whilelthe otehr holds the steerig wheel inside the car

  just add Grease.

[the_engineers]

Well heck...that makes my day!   Thanks!

I was going to test fit the steering wheel but am missing the turn signal lever and dont know ift he signals work yet.....a standard puller will get this puppy off again right?

Still need a turn signal lever?

[shadango]

Still need a turn signal lever?

Thanks, but no....found one on ebay......

Do you have other parts?

[shadango]

the column is easy to remove , 3 - 1/2 bolts onm the floor & 2 - 7/16 under the dash , undo the 2 wire plugs & it is out

WOW!  That WAS easy.

Ok cool....Chryco, thanks again for the info and encouragement....

[the_engineers]

Thanks, but no....found one on ebay......

Do you have other parts?

Watcha need?

[shadango]

Well, LOL, now it looks like I need some guts for my steering column --

I removed the column today after seeing the advice here that the column had to at least be pulled back some to get the pot coupler apart....took Chryco's advice and decided to do the work on the bench... and tore it down.....surprisingly easy and found out a few things.....I had some movement between the lock housing and the column itself.....turns out two screws of the 4 were loose and one is missing....that seemes to be what was causing a little up/down slop I had in the column....so that issue should cured once I get that missing screw....

So I need that screw to start.....

Next....looks like someone removed the following from the column:

-retaining plate 19-14-23 (goes in front of the signalswitch assembly)
-  need one of the three screws that holds the signbal switch assembley and retainer in
- one of the two snap rings is missing (#19-4-4)
-sleeve #19-14-123, the lock plates (2) and 2 pins, and the two levers for the lock plate...though for the life of me I cannot see any hole for the pin for the lock plate as shown in the above diagram and in my manual (my care is a 72)
- key light bracket and screw (light itself was stuffed inside of column) -no part #
-column lock plate

also, the upper bearing feels gritty when turning it so is in need of replacement

seal 19-14-68 (at lower end of column) is missing.....the retainer #19-14-73 is there but probably needs replaced too...

the sheer pin appears to have been replaced with epoxy on one side....

need the dial indicator window or whatever goes in front of the light unit....

will also need the foam gasket for when the column goes back in...

so, should I just look for a new column or can I get these parts reasonable?

I also have other questions like--

-- what is the purpose of the "depress lever and turn key" unit at the back of the front side of the column?  Can I assume that section i supposed to tie in with the locking plate and such that is missing on mine?  Mine just sits there...will spring back if moved though....just doesnt DO anything.

-- I think the lack of the locking plate and sleeve, plus the missing snap ring could be the reason I have the in/out slack in my column.....can anyone confirm?  Or can I get by without the locking stuff on the column and have no in/out slop?

--what is the point of having the illuminated "dial indicator" on my car, as its a console car.....? The manual shows it, even for console cars.....mine has the light in it and all....what gives with this part?

-- do you remove the cross pin at the lower end of the shaft or leave it alone?  If you have to replace it what is the best way to remove the old one?

Ironically, I pulled the column to ease working on the pot coupler...The pot coupler looked surprisingly in good shape and had grease packed in it and all, though the seal is shot....so I fear that the slop I have is in the missing parts and not the pot coupler...


Pictures of my column to follow....




Here is a shot of the two grooves in the shaft which I believe are for the two snap rings....but the bearing seems to be on the wrong part for the two snaprings to be usable...



The column came off the car this way...seems to be missing some stuff here, right?



What are these?  These were in a box of parts given to me and I am thinking they could be related to the locking plate etc...or not....