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Vintage Steering Column Issue

csm22

csm22

New member
Joined
May 9, 2016
Location
Xenia, OH
Here’s a weird one that’s stalled reassembly of my 1966 122S... reinstalling the turn signal switch and steering column cover resulted in a gap (about 1 inch) between the cover and the dash.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/129069636@N06/39395999380/in/dateposted/

During the time that I had the dash out for repaint (and car getting moved in/out of shop bays), it looks like the jacket tube (outer tube over the steering column shaft) at the upper end of the column has shifted aft. Attempting to reseat the tube through hammering (short of damaging the cover mounting flange) and installing the wheel and tightening the nut have failed to tighten the gap.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/129069636@N06/39395999370/in/dateposted/


Any ideas on how to reseat the upper column jacket tube?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/129069636@N06/40310448335/in/dateposted/
 
Last edited:
Try loosing the 2 bolts that clamp the steering column support tube to the dash.

You should be able to adjust the tube and then re-tighten the bolts.
 
Thanks, Eric... unfortunately, I failed to mention that I hadn't tightened those two bolts yet -- the column moves freely within the rubber bushing.

In addition to some judicious hammer use, I even tried penetrating oil where the inner column shaft mates with the jacket tube and applying compression with a cargo strap... good for compressing the spring, but everything popped back out when relaxed.

In light of that (omitted) fact, other thoughts?
 
If the bolts are loose, then the outer tube should slide towards the front and the cowl will move with it as it is attached to the tube.
 
I forgot to ask if the upper half of the steering column or the tube was removed recently?

If so, you may not have put all the parts in correctly.
 
Nothing associated with the steering column (other than the cowl) was removed, although the car spent some time without the dash installed, so the column was only loosely secured to the upper steering column bracket. I suspect that the two pieces might have been pulled apart a bit during shop handling while the car was in paint.

I should've included this photo of the gap taken before the dash was removed...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/129069636@N06/41169879162/in/photostream/
 
Here's what the column looks like under compression, which brings it closer to its pre-dash removal state. Relaxing strap tension allows the jacket tube to spring back, restoring the extended gap.
photostream

https://www.flickr.com/photos/129069636@N06/41251058981/in/photostream/

photostream

https://www.flickr.com/photos/129069636@N06/26378262027/in/photostream/
This would seem to indicate that the jacket tube is capable of movement along the steering column... maybe the seat has shifted aft (up)? I'll also note that the dash fits perfectly in place and the column upper support bracket aligns perfectly with the dash mounting holes.
 
Did anyone change the foam seal that mounts to the firewall where the steering column goes through?

If that seal was changed correctly from the inside of the car, the outer tube MUST be removed and if someone didn't pay attention to the EXACT order of the spacer washers, springs and spring seats when re-installed could be your problem.

And you haven't mentioned whether tightening the 2 bolts for the steering column tube holds the tube in place.

If they don't you may need a new rubber bushing for the steering column tube and I have those in stock.

The rubber bushing goes around the tube at the back of the dash.
 
Settings changed, last two pics should open.

I replaced the foam seal, but cheated by cutting the seal and gluing the seam back together... the outer tube was not removed.

Since I've been dealing with this outer tube issue, I never got to the point of securing the mount bolts; the bushing appears to be fit closely enough, but will try to tighten the bolts with the tube compressed before releasing the strap.
 
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