Steering column question

Don Giovanoni · Post by **Don Giovanoni** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 3:29 am

I had a disturbing occurance with my steering column coupler. I was turning the steering wheel and felt slippage. I checked the steering column to the connector with the rag joint and sure enough, it was slipping even though the bolt was tight. I tightened up the bolt some more and it was Ok for now but it has me spooked. Heaven forbid if the bolt broke while driving. Any one else have this problem?

newmanx59 · Post by **newmanx59** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 12:51 pm

Don, Make sure you have the proper sized German bolts in the steering shaft clamps. With the proper bolts I don't think the splines can slip in the shaft as long as the bolt is in place, since it fit in a groove in the shaft.

joemama · Post by **joemama** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 6:21 pm

As Jerry says, the bolt that goes thru the pinch clamp also fits in a groove on the steering box shaft, so ideally it should not rotate. Having said that,if someone shortened the steering column, a new groove would have to be made in the column for the bolt to go thru, and this would have to match the groove in the steering shaft, its possible that to make things fit a smaller diameter bolt could have been put in? Also, if its been loose for a while, its possible that things have worn out enough that things just dont do their job right. In any case, if you take the clamp off, I think the problem will become apparent.

Tom-Kathleen · Post by **Tom-Kathleen** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:29 pm

If you don't want to buy new parts, you can use a "roll pin" through the clamp & steering shaft. It is a small hollow pin that has a slice from end to end and springs out to fill the hole you put it in so it can't fall out. I have used them several times to take care of this kind of problem. Tom