72 Satellite Steering Column Bracket Not Lining Up

[JedIEG]

I cannot get the attachment bracket on the column of my 72 SSP to line up with the studs in the brake pedal bracket (you can see the studs relative to the spacers in the photo) The shaft is in the correct position relative to the steering gear and the brake pedal assembly doesn’t seem to have any adjustment.i don’t think I could have assembled the column wrong and there is no adjustment there
What am I doing wrong here?

 

[moparnation74]

The bracket is on backwards?

 

[JedIEG]

No I have the two toward the driver and the third back toward the fire wall (pic) like the service manual diagram shows and the pedal bracket. The slots for all three studs is abou 1.5" off where it shoul be.

 

[moparnation74]

View attachment 637451 No I have the two toward the driver and the third back toward the fire wall (pic) like the service manual diagram shows and the pedal bracket. The slots for all three studs is abou 1.5" off where it shoul be.

The first pic was hard to tell the position...So that is correct.....

Have you taken off the centering plate at the firewall. The grab the steering wheel and pull towards you to get it in a better position? Just make sure the coupler has the pin in it.......

Sounds to me like the shaft collapsed and the whole column is too far forward.....If thats the case you will have to repair the shaft or get one of the coupler clamps so the shaft doesn't work out of the coupler......

 

[JedIEG]

The coupler does not have the pin in, but it is lined up and the coupler adjustment is in the right spot...

What part of the saft could be collapsed?

 

[JedIEG]

Well I took the column apart to inspect for a collapsed shaft and the shear pins appear to be intact. If it is collapsed would these stay in the shaft?

 

[chtampa]

Power steering vs standard steering columns are different lengths. Have you changed that?

And yes the pins will stay even if collapsed. There are grooves on the smaller shaft.

 

[tak419]

That was my thought also, possibly have changed the column.

 

[JedIEG]

I have never changed the column. Its power steering in the car, on the fender tag, and the build sheet. As far as i can tell the column had never been apart and there was even wired for the key in buzzer in tact so i dont thinknit was swapped before i got it... Do you know the lenght specs for ps vs manual shafts?

 

[chtampa]

I can't help you with the length for a 72.
1) Was the car together with the same column and coupler in the car when you got it?
2) If yes, is it possible you may have pried back on the shaft when removing the coupler from the steering box before you unbolted the column from the dash. If so that could have collapsed the shaft.
3) Did you store the column vertical with the coupler on the floor? If you put any pressure on it then that could have collapsed it.
4) Did you hit on the end of the shaft when you were installing it back into the tube inside the column? That would make it collapse
5) Did you hit the steering wheel end of the shaft to get the coupler to slide on the steering box? That would make it collapse.

The old plastic "lock" is fragile after 45 years and if it sheared and slid in you will not know by looking. Also the fix is simple though. If you can get someone to give you a length it would be the best start. Otherwise split and clean the two parts and reset the length and replace the plastic. The old plastic will pop off the inside shaft and the grooves will align with the round holes on the outer tube so you can mark it. Preheat all sides with a heat gun, put some tape on the holes underneath and fill the top holes then let it cool.

 

[JedIEG]

Yeah I bet beat on it to get it out of the car origionally, so I probably broke it. I would like to confirm the lenght before I go breaking something I dont need to though. I have gone overbord in the past looking for a fault and dont want to create a lot of extra work for nothing.

What kind of plastic would you suggest for replacement if needed?

 

[JedIEG]

Well I can confirm that the shaft was collapsed and I think even before I got it. You can see how far the shaft collapsed by the black paint and the rusted section. There is a fairly distinct line where the rust stopps which I assume is where it was assembled from the factory.

Thanks everyone.

 

[YY1]

Not totally on topic but...

Those rectangular plastic breakaway locator blocks are used on M body (54th Ave) and trucks all the way into the 90's.