Steering wheel pulling out while driving or otherwise

[Mr. Belvedere II]

Anyone ever give a pull on their steering wheel and had it slide towards you about 2”? It’s enough to startle anyone while they’re driving. I’ve never had any major issue that came of it but it feels like something that would be cause for concern. It seems to steer fine and is bolted into the firewall. I presume it’s a problem with the coupler. I will be installing a borgeson steering gear soon anyway but I always wondered why this occurred. Thoughts?

 

[pnora]

If the shaft pulls out at all there for sure is something wrong at the upper bearing. If it telescopes out at all its either a telescoping column or something is wrong. On a normal column the upper bearing in captured into the upper column housing. Plus the shaft is collapsed and the plastic sheer pins are broken.

 

[F4R/T]

Open it up and share some pics , something is wrong ... easy fix but it’s scary!

 

[Mr. Belvedere II]

If the shaft pulls out at all there for sure is something wrong at the upper bearing. If it telescopes out at all its either a telescoping column or something is wrong. On a normal column the upper bearing in captured into the upper column housing. Plus the shaft is collapsed and the plastic sheer pins are broken.

Lol yeah it’s definitely NOT telescoping column by design!

 

[Lefty71]

Wow, I have'nt had one apart in a while. Are you working on a '66?? Isnt that the last year for an inner shaft that does'nt collapse with a shear pin?? Seems I remember some of those old ones had a locking collar with a set screw on the bottom outside the firewall?? You see anything loose there, or slid down to the coupler? If it is a collabsible, I wonder if the plastic shear pin could have broke? I'm sure someone whos had one apart with chime in.. Need to know the year tho. HTH, Lefty71

 

[Beekeeper]

Either the snap ring behind the upper bearing or the bearing retainer is missing

 

[Mr. Belvedere II]

Wow, I have'nt had one apart in a while. Are you working on a '66?? Isnt that the last year for an inner shaft that does'nt collapse with a shear pin?? Seems I remember some of those old ones had a locking collar with a set screw on the bottom outside the firewall?? You see anything loose there, or slid down to the coupler? If it is a collabsible, I wonder if the plastic shear pin could have broke? I'm sure someone whos had one apart with chime in.. Need to know the year tho. HTH, Lefty71

It is in a 67 Belvedere II, it’s a collapsible column. I’m not sure if it was slipping out of the knuckle, or what. I’m pulling it soon so we will see

 

[Beekeeper]

Plastic pins securing the inner and outer shaft are probably sheared which is not uncommon.
It can be one or both of the two items missing in my post above. Does the upper collar come up with the wheel and shaft? If so the screws are missing or loose that
attach it to the lower collar.

 

[66 Sat]

I would be extremely wary of driving the car like this until it's fixed. At least get someone to watch the coupler while you pull on the wheel to make sure the end of the column isn't coming close to slipping out of the coupler.
This happened to me on my '69 Barracuda. The end of the column came out of the coupler as it telescoped up (broken shear pins). It was loose for maybe a week and then one day came out altogether. Luckily I had just parked when it happened - I was turning the wheel from side to side to see what the issue was when BAM - suddenly the wheel was spinning in my hands.

 

[Beekeeper]

I would be extremely wary of driving the car like this until it's fixed. At least get someone to watch the coupler while you pull on the wheel to make sure the end of the column isn't coming close to slipping out of the coupler.
This happened to me on my '69 Barracuda. The end of the column came out of the coupler as it telescoped up (broken shear pins). It was loose for maybe a week and then one day came out altogether. Luckily I had just parked when it happened - I was turning the wheel from side to side to see what the issue was when BAM - suddenly the wheel was spinning in my hands.

With the column properly assembled there’s no way pulling up on the wheel will transfer enough movement to pull the shaft out of the coupler.

 

[66 Sat]

Maybe not, but there was movement in my steering wheel for about a week before the column came out of the coupler. The turning action of the steering and maybe the jolting of driving was allowing the column to slowly telescope upwards. In that week prior to it coming apart I had been driving at 100 mph plus, and a steering failure at that speed (or any speed really) could be catastrophic.

 

[R413]

The pins sheared will not allow the wheel to pull out 2”. There is a problem in the upper brewing or snap ring like already stated.

Be very careful, don’t loosen the lower collar in the car or the little ball bearings will fall out. So Take it out of the car and be ready to catch them with something. Drain pan, bucket, clean white towel, etc.

 

[Mr. Belvedere II]

Either the snap ring behind the upper bearing or the bearing retainer is missing

I would be extremely wary of driving the car like this until it's fixed. At least get someone to watch the coupler while you pull on the wheel to make sure the end of the column isn't coming close to slipping out of the coupler.
This happened to me on my '69 Barracuda. The end of the column came out of the coupler as it telescoped up (broken shear pins). It was loose for maybe a week and then one day came out altogether. Luckily I had just parked when it happened - I was turning the wheel from side to side to see what the issue was when BAM - suddenly the wheel was spinning in my hands.

 

[Mr. Belvedere II]

It’s ok I won’t be driving it anytime soon!

 

[Mr. Belvedere II]

Try to fix just one little steering problem and look where I end up!!‍