C2/1967 Steering Column Pulls Out?

[Paul L.]

I was fumbling about in my 1967 doing some seat adjustments and put some outward pressure on the steering wheel. It pulled out about 1/2" (see pic). It stopped in that position. I pushed it back in but this is somewhat unnerving. Anyone have an idea as to what is happening here?

The column is not telescoping.

[Ken Edmunds]

Re: C2/1967 Steering Column Pulls Out?

Check your steering coupler under the hood. It has come apart or one of the the bolt that retain the coupler has fallen out.

[Paul L.]

Re: C2/1967 Steering Column Pulls Out?

The coupler and fasteners are fine. At the back of my mind I seem to recall this having to do with the energy absorbing steering column introduced in 1967. But I can't remember where that thread was posted.

[John H.]

Re: C2/1967 Steering Column Pulls Out?

Paul -

There should be a clamp on your steering shaft just below the fluted plastic spacer that prevents axial movement of the shaft.

[Paul L.]

Re: C2/1967 Steering Column Pulls Out?

The clamp is there. Is there provision for movement of that clamp (or something else) to take up the slack in the column?

[Bill Stephenson]

Re: C2/1967 Steering Column Pulls Out?

Paul,

------Im going by memory here (a bad thing) but could the nylon parts of the energy absorbing part of the steering shaft (not the outer sheath) have been compromised at some point??? That would allow the upper part of the inner shaft to pull up when you pulled it, I think. Its originally meant for that part to collapse, not get longer, but I think the half inch of growth would be possible. I dont have a 67 column to look at around here, so I am a bit in the dark.......Bill S

[Paul L.]

Re: C2/1967 Steering Column Pulls Out?

Bill,
I really do not know to be frank. I have never had steering problems. This one just popped up/out yesterday when I was re-installing my seat bolts with anti-seize compound. The usual spring maintenance when it has been pouring rain for 10 days.

[John H.]

Re: C2/1967 Steering Column Pulls Out?

Paul -

If the excess axial movement at the top of the column occurs with no corresponding movement at the lower end of the shaft, the two injected plastic pins that go through the holes in the male/female "double-D" slip joint in the center of the two-piece steering shaft have sheared.

[Paul L.]

Re: C2/1967 Steering Column Pulls Out?

Thanks John,
Where do I get them and how are they installed? I have pulled things apart for a turn signal switch replacement so I can go that far. Or alternatively, are those shear pins in fact needed?

[Bill Stephenson]

Re: C2/1967 Steering Column Pulls Out?

Paul,

-----John said what I was trying to say. He makes it look so easy, doesnt he??? I would think that if those nylon pins arent there you will keep having the same occurence. A regular soft shear pin from a good hardware store might be a good substitute.........Bill S

[Paul L.]

Re: C2/1967 Steering Column Pulls Out?

Thanks Bill, but where do they go? I have the LICS diagrams and the AIM but I can't see those pins.

[Paul L.]

Location of Pins

Is the circled area the location of the pin(s)?

[Scott Marzahl]

Re: Location of Pins

Since I just rebuilt by '67 column this is a bit puzzling to me. I know my nylon pins are sheared, they were sheared while in shipping when I had the lower portion of the shaft hard chromed. I thought the injected pins were simply there for indexing for assembly process.

With that said, I don't see how the wheel can be pulled forward as in the photos unless the upper bearing/housing assembly is not secure or has come apart. The shaft is basically held in place between the upper and lower bearings. I'm going from memory here so if I'm not 100% correct please corect me. The bottom clamp is to cinch up the shaft to the bearing since the bearing is slipped into the column housing from the bottom and onto the shaft and this would prevent any unwanted upward movement. Downward shaft movement would be prevented by it's location between the rag joint and steering box. It has a washer/nut on the top part of the shaft to secure it in place to the upper bearing. The upper bearing is situated inside the pot metal turn signal retainer and is attached to the upper housing.

As John stated, if you have any upper Axial movement, your bearing would be suspect.

I looked at mine last night since it is still on the shelf and I can not get it to seperate like this. Paul, is your turn signal/bearing retainer assembly screwed down?

[Paul L.]

Re: Location of Pins

Scott,
The bottom of the column does not move at all so as you note, the problem must be in the upper regions. I replaced the upper bearing and T/S switch two years ago and it's possible I did something incorrectly. I will pull things apart tomorrow and see if anything is loose. Thanks for your comments.

[Scott Marzahl]

Re: Location of Pins

Paul, you can look at LICS section #18 for a reference too. It's in PDF format so you can blow it up on your screen.