Steering shaft diameter?? (Help!!)

[Rockett]

They are so that in the event of a crash the shaft doesn't become a spear and go through the drivers chest. The collapsing column is a safety feature I think brought to the columns in 1968 but don't quote me on that. I do know the 66 has a solid shaft and possibly 67.

Understood. But why the plastic pins? I understand that they will shear, & allow the shaft to collapse for safety purposes. But if the collapsible shaft didn’t have the plastic pins (as probably many of ours have already been sheared during maintenance procedures)... the shaft would *still stay at its installed length* until something dramatic (collision) might push the steering box toward the driver. I’m thinking that the little plastic pins simply set the length of the shaft for easier installation at the factory. Seems like once the shaft is installed, plastic pins don’t hold its length.

 

[BeepBeepRR]

Look at dads bees pictures it was just done from the factory like that. The pins would make it factory length and you would just have to either cut the lower part of the shaft to put that bearing in the correct spot. Or find a power steering floor shift column. To collapse the column is where you are running into bearing problems. Cut the shaft to bring the tapered part down so that the bearing rides on the correct place. Or find another column. Or do the modification I did and it’s fixed or cut the shaft or new column. All three would fix the clearance issue.

 

[Rockett]

Look at dads bees pictures it was just done from the factory like that. The pins would make it factory length and you would just have to either cut the lower part of the shaft to put that bearing in the correct spot. Or find a power steering floor shift column. To collapse the column is where you are running into bearing problems. Cut the shaft to bring the tapered part down so that the bearing rides on the correct place. Or find another column. Or do the modification I did and it’s fixed or cut the shaft or new column. All three would fix the clearance issue.

Yes, the true solution for me would be to get a power steering shaft from a floor shift car. That would still be a collapsible shaft, & at that point I don’t see the advantage of putting plastic shear pieces back in the holes. Once the shaft is installed, being connected to the steering box, it would stay at the proper length until any impact.
Although.... as far as my lower bearing replacement goes... the shaft seems good & sturdy being supported only by the upper bearing & the steering box. Is the lower bearing all that important?
BTW, a power steering *shaft* would probably be same for column vs floor shift, right? The difference there would be in the *column* .... but if I’m just replacing the *shaft*, wouldn't any power steering shaft work?
Anyone have a B-body power steering shaft laying around unused??
Thanks everyone for all the info! I’m not obsessing over all this. Rather, I enjoy discovering the design theory & understanding how it all works (as well as getting my back car into specs).

 

[BeepBeepRR]

The column shift power steering shaft should be the same as a floor shift power steering shaft. The only one that comes into play as being different is the manual steering shaft. WE are talking the shaft itself. Not the entire column.

The reason I replaced the lower bearing and had to do the modification to that lower bearing was he was getting a rough feel in his steering because when you turn the wheel it puts that shaft into a bind and caused it to walk around in the end of the column housing. So you may have a good upper bearing but eventually its going to do the same as the guys car I mentioned. You need the lower bearing to keep the shaft centered.

 

[4406pack]

Can anyone help me out here?
I bought a new lower steering shaft bearing for my '68 Road Runner (4spd on the floor, power steering). The inside diameter of the bearing is 1", but my steering shaft is 3/4" dia. This is the way it is in my car, too (as pictured below), but I thought that the old bearing was just badly worn.
Now I'm wondering if I have the correct steering shaft in my car.
Can anyone with a similar B-body tell me what the diameter of their steering shaft is, at the lower bearing (under the hood, at the firewall)?
Does it make sense that the bearing dia. is 1/4" larger than the shaft dia.?
I was going to do this bearing replacement early tomorrow morning (Feb 02) but now I'm wondering if this makes any sense.
Thanks for any help or info!
Rick How long should the main shaft be for a 73 roadrunner with power steering?
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[4406pack]

Rick how long should the main shaft be in a 1973 roadrunner with power steering?