Melikoth

I just noticed the other day that my steering wheel moves in and out from the dash. If I pull back on it a little it will slide towards me about an inch or so. When pulled out the turn signals won't click off after a turn and the horn won't work. Both start working again if I push the wheel back in towards the dash.



I had someone help me check, and the movement doesn't happen near the steering box ( I thought it might be associated with the left/right play ), so it seems to be only in the upper part of the steering column.







Has anyone else had this happen, or know how to fix it?

fc3sboy1

ya i did, the colapible shaft is broken, you need a colom

1979rx7

i got a good one if you need it

Melikoth

Sounds like that might be a pain to change out, how bad was it?

fc3sboy1

the colum and steering box is all one unit. change them at the same time.



randy

Clarks7

To remove it, you need to jack up the car, disconnect the steering box from the steering linkage (1 cotter pin and I think a 17mm socket. Disconnect the box from the frame (three bolts through the frame). Remove the steering wheel and the plastic steering column covers. Remove the 2 bolts holding the steering column to the dash. and slide the entire thing out through the engine bay... you might have to remove the hood to get it all the way out (but since yours is collapsed, you probably will be able to take it out in two pieces, but you might need to take the hood off to put back in the good shaft)...



If your steering box is good (not a lot of play), you can weld the two pieces of the shaft together, the collapsable steering column probably wouldn't save your life in a really hard crash anyway... but that is your call. The weld is easy, since one shaft just slides over the other (and you just need it to keep from sliding back and forth).



Good luck!

djessence

I am pretty sure that the 2 peices of collapsible shaft were held together by a nylon nut. If there is play in it the nut has broken. I think you can buy a replacement nut (for safety) or use a conventional steel nut but then you no longer have the collapsible safety feature.