I'm in the process of installing the steering box on my 82 Trans Am. I had to pound the steering shaft closer to the firewall so I could get the steering box into place, but I'm unable to get the shaft to slide back to the box. The plastic piece surrounding the shaft makes it hard to get a hammer to it. How do I get it to slide back down?

I had my box rebuilt by Red-Head Steering. They did a nice job; they used the same valve size for the same road feel. They normally paint the top of it red, but I asked them not to.

Red-Head Steering Gears
206 364 3333 1-800-808-1148
900 N 127th St
Seattle, WA 98133, United States

 

If you're talking about the same part I think you are.... Just make sure the flat spot on the shaft in the steering box, is lining up with the flat spot on the shaft, and the splines are lining up. It should slide on pretty easily after that....

 

Yup, I'm refering to the shaft that slides onto the box on the far right(in the pic). It's not easy to slide, however. I had to pound it to move it out of the way, now I can't easily pound it back.

 

I had that problem before:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...light=steering