Help! 68 B Body. I can move my steering wheel in and out 1/2"

[68RT_MarkR]

Help! I have a 68 B Body with power steering. I can move my steering wheel in and out 1/2". I can see the steering shaft come out of the coupler 3/8 to 1/2''. The roll pin is in place at the bottom of the coupler. What is wrong? Thanks

 

[Kern Dog]

The 1967 and later cars had a shaft within a shaft. This allowed the column to collapse in a collision without being a shish ka bob to the driver. Sometimes, the plastic tabs that keep the two sliding shafts in place break. This can result in fore-aft movement.

 

[Beekeeper]

The upper bearing retainer c clip or retainer is missing only thing that would allow movement at the steering wheel. If the plastic retaining pins were missing or broken there still wouldn’t be movement in and out at the steering wheel

 

[pnora]

Pull the wheel and look. As said upper bearing has a c-clip on the bottom and a snap ring on the top.

 

[Beekeeper]

Pull the wheel and look. As said upper bearing has a c-clip on the bottom and a snap ring on the top.

Correct and also a retainer that holds the bearing in the upper housing.

 

[dadsbee]

 

[1 Wild R/T]

Here I thought pictures from the service manual with arrows would be helpful.. DadsBee you rock...

 

[gkent]

Movement in the coupler is normal - "manufacturing tolerance" to allow for different body styles, shaft lengths, etc.. Once you solve the upper bearing issue you won't have movement in the coupler

 

[68RT_MarkR]

Thanks to all that answered. Much appreciated.