So I had the loose tooth, and decided just to swap another column in.

Old one out in a breeze.

Now with the new one (it IS a 3rd gen column) I can't get the bottom shaft out anymore than one inch or so. It was flush with the base when I got it, but no matter how hard I pull/pry, I can't get it out anymore.

It only needs to come out around another 2 inches.




Pulled out the bottom bushing retaining spring....still nothing. And its not bolted into the firewall.

I really need my car back as it's my only car.

Any help or tricks/tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

(PS If this should be in the interior forum, would a moderator please move it)

 

Here's a picture of my old column, to show how far out my shaft was.



Would it matter if the steering wheel is still on the column?

 

So I pulled the new column back out of the car, and compared it to my old one. My old shaft is 3" long from the out bushing edge, and the new one is only 3/4".

They don't pull out all that much, certainly not 3". Every picture I've seen of a third gen column, the shaft is long like my old one.

Possibility the column is not infact out of a thirdgen, even though the harness's are plug and play?

Picture for reference.

 

Mine was the same way when i swaped my column out. I justed use a pair of vise-grips and pulled the shaft out and it will move a good 3 or 4 inches.

 

I used a pry bar through the bolt holes and pulled as hard as I could, still wont budge?

 

Looks like a column that was in a crash. The middle shaft is built to collapse like that on the force of impact. Im not sure if it can be pulled out tho.

 

So I talked with the guy I bought the column from. It's off an 88 car. He also had an 86 and 87 parts cars, and the intermediate shaft in the 88 is longer than the other cars. So this is the culprit.

Apparently some 88's have longer intermediate shafts and shorter columns?

 

Maybe, but I doubt it. I still vote the accident.

 

Would it show at least some sort of damage to the shaft or inside the column if it was in an accident?

It feels nice and tight, rotates perfectly, and shows no signs of an accident.

 

So verified that the vehicles intermediate shaft is in fact not longer than others. I didn't think they would change just an 88 from all other years.

So now I must decide to dispute (ebay) and get my money back, and find another column, or just cut the lower portion off of the old column and weld it up to the new column, so it's the same length the old one was.

I'm a decent welder, would be using mig. Would this at all compromise it or make it weaker for some reason?

What do you guys think I should do?

Need the car back on the road, and would have to wait probably a month for the dispute. But I am leaning towards welding it up?

 

what is wrong with the original one

 

Tilt was loose, and the bearings were destroyed. And the turn/wiper switch was bad. So rather than rebuilding, I opted for a new column.

 

PM sent.

 

Thanks for the info gator, unfortunately wasn't able to get any suggestions.

So now I've concluded the the shaft as been pushed in (like others thought), but it feels nice and tight. I don't for-see any issues coming if I just cut the old columns lower portion off and weld it to the new one.

I'm confident that my welding will be sufficient.

I'll post pictures upon completion, should be in the next few days.

 

You better be a excellant welder, can you imagine what would happen if that weld broke on a 60 mph hard turn? Makes me shudder.

 

Do yourself a favor and don't use that replacement column. It has either been damaged or has been repaired incorrectly. In your first picture there isn't even enough room for the mounting bolt to be installed into it.

All intermediate shafts are adjustable in size to make removal possible - but they are all the same length when installed. The only difference in intermediate shafts over the years relates to how many layers are present in the Rag Joint.

Better to take the loss ( or file a dispute ) than to wake up in the hospital because you tried to fix an already bad part to make it fit. It's not like you fixing some insignificant part - your talking about the major piece of the steering system !

Good luck !

 

I may be way off base here, but couldn't you disassemble both columns and use the parts to make one fully functional?

EDIT: Hah, I guess my suggestion is what you were trying to avoid all along.