Steering Column Too Long?

[emonster6x]

I need to know how to do the trick with a 1970 Manual steering column where you can shorten it for power steering by breaking a pin inside the column that allows it to collapse slightly. Anybody know how? Any other work arounds?

Thanx.

 

[Big Bad Dad]

That is the shear pin that allows the column to collapse when your body hits it in a hard front end collision. I dont think the column is usable after that pin is broken. See the lower part of the column that looks like mesh? That part telescopes in a collision and the shear pin hopefully keeps you from becoming a shishkabob.

 

[Deleted member 214]

Actually, there are plastic pins inside the column that will shear off on impact, and the mesh part of the outer column will collapse too. Two separate systems. I broke the pins on mine years ago with no problems.

 

[emonster6x]

OK, what's the easiest way to break them without collapsing the mesh?

 

[Cranky]

There is no easy way. The easiest way is to get another column.

 

[MCODECUDA]

Back in the day it was common practice for the Service Department to collapse the column when adding power steering to a new car if you wanted it and it didn't already have it.

 

[emonster6x]

Really?

Back in the day it was common practice for the Service Department to collapse the column when adding power steering to a new car if you wanted it and it didn't already have it.

Really? There's hope after all!

 

[Cranky]

Wow...Common practice? Really? I've been messing with this stuff since the mid 60's and I've never heard of a dealership 'breaking' a steering column to do that. Not saying it never happened but I can't wrap it around my head that it was common practice. I even took one apart to see how it collapsed and thought 'this might work' but decided to do it right instead. I did one by grinding off the weld at the bottom. The smaller shaft at the end is actually splined into the larger part. I went to a junk yard with a hacksaw in hand and found the correct lower portion and cut it off a couple of inches above the weld and then machined off the weld on that and then installed it into the original column and rewelded it.

 

[696pack]

Wow...Common practice? Really? I've been messing with this stuff since the mid 60's and I've never heard of a dealership 'breaking' a steering column to do that. Not saying it never happened but I can't wrap it around my head that it was common practice. I even took one apart to see how it collapsed and thought 'this might work' but decided to do it right instead. I did one by grinding off the weld at the bottom. The smaller shaft at the end is actually splined into the larger part. I went to a junk yard with a hacksaw in hand and found the correct lower portion and cut it off a couple of inches above the weld and then machined off the weld on that and then installed it into the original column and rewelded it.

Xs2!!

No dealer that had any idea of the BAD liability position they were putting themselves in would EVER do that. It was a factory safety feature that they were eliminating. It would be like repairing a car today that the air bags had deployed and they didn't install NEW air bags.