Intermediate steering shaft

[vitamin_c95]

I replaced my steering gear box this past weekend. Now I can't get the bolt at the top to go in. Looks like the detent is lined up in the hole, but it's acting like the clamp at top of shaft is opened too far and not making a straight shot for the bolt to drop in. Has anyone ever had this problem? Any suggestions? Gonna go out now and try again. Also take a pic in case I still can't get it.

Has anyone had any luck taking just the shaft out? I had to drop the box before mine would even think of coming out.

71 C20 longhorn, not a tilt column, 2 wheel drive

[vitamin_c95]

I was able to remove it by taking rag joint apart....

Update. So the shaft came off after I took apart the rag joint. The top clamp had spun around so the bolt did not have a clear passage thru. I corrected this. My problem now is that I can't get the steering shaft all the way in unless I take the big washer off. Seems like either the spring is resisting me, or the volume shifts up to were the top detent won't line up with bolt. Anyone encounter this?

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by vitamin_c95

I replaced my steering gear box this past weekend. Now I can't get the bolt at the top to go in. Looks like the detent is lined up in the hole, but it's acting like the clamp at top of shaft is opened too far and not making a straight shot for the bolt to drop in. Has anyone ever had this problem? Any suggestions? Gonna go out now and try again. Also take a pic in case I still can't get it.

Has anyone had any luck taking just the shaft out? I had to drop the box before mine would even think of coming out.

71 C20 longhorn, not a tilt column, 2 wheel drive

If you pried the clamp open to get it apart you may have sprung one side of it instead of spreading it even. Does the bolt slide through the clamp OK before you put it on the upper shaft?

LockDoc

[vitamin_c95]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

If you pried the clamp open to get it apart you may have sprung one side of it instead of spreading it even. Does the bolt slide through the clamp OK before you put it on the upper shaft?

LockDoc

I updated my thread while you typed this reply to current problem. Now it won't all go together unless the big washer is out. Bolts up fine without the washer

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by vitamin_c95

I updated my thread while you typed this reply to current problem. Now it won't all go together unless the big washer is out. Bolts up fine without the washer

Can you post a picture of the bottom of the column? Need to make sure you don't have the bearing in upside down. There is supposed to be a little pressure on the washer and spring. That is what preloads the bearing in the bottom of the column and keeps everything snug. If you have someone push down on the steering wheel while you push up on the intermediate shaft and put the bolt in that should work.

LockDoc

[vitamin_c95]

Thank you for the reply. I will post pics after work today. I have a feeling pushing down on the steering wheel may do the trick.

[vitamin_c95]

Pic as requested

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by vitamin_c95

Pic as requested

Communications gap...... I meant the bottom of the main column (mast jacket), not the intermediate shaft.... Sorry.

LockDoc

[vitamin_c95]

This one? All I did was unbolt the rag joint and it gave me the clearance to pull it out. This past Saturday, I only undid the bottom pinch bolt by the gear box. I didn't get any time to play with it today. Hopefully tomorrow