steering column coupling

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Fri May 03, 13 10:48 pm

Hope someone can help please.....put a new steering box on my car today as the rebuilt original was still leaking....problem Im having is that Im struggling to get the coupling fullyonto the spline on the box. I can get it onto the first section of spline but not the second bit beyond the roll pin groove.

There is a master spline groove on the new box but there isnt a master spline in the coupling or on my old box.

Anyone got any tips on fitting the coupling?? I dont want to hammer it but I assume its more than just an easy push fit so whats the secret chaps??

Cheers Steve

Rebel · Post by **Rebel** » Fri May 03, 13 10:57 pm

Check that your steering column is all the way home, it might just need to be pushed further down, Is it possible that the spline on the new box is shorter than on the original?

The first time I pulled my column out, it didn't go straight back to where it was before hand.

Have you changed from power to manual, the manual boxes are shorter

drewcrane · Post by **drewcrane** » Fri May 03, 13 11:08 pm

Yea those can be a PIA sometimes ,make sure the blanks line up and sometimes you have to have some one push, and you guide the coupler on if it gets off just a little bit it will bind up ,also put a bit of lube on it and drive it home

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Fri May 03, 13 11:12 pm

Thanks for the quick reply......spline is exactly the same as the previous one other than the master spline groove, column bolted flush to the floor and its an identical one for one power steering box. There is some telescopic movement in the coupling so it has enough travel in it, I just cant get it onto the second layer of splines.....

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Fri May 03, 13 11:14 pm

Missed your reply Drew, sorry.....Im reluctant to hit it with anything to be honest as I dont want to damage anything inside....

Guy · Post by **Guy** » Fri May 03, 13 11:23 pm

If in doubt

Get a bigger hammer

mopar_mark · Post by **mopar_mark** » Fri May 03, 13 11:54 pm

Guy wrote:If in doubt

Give it a clout

Fixed it for you

drewcrane · Post by **drewcrane** » Sat May 04, 13 12:13 am

Steve wrote:Missed your reply Drew, sorry.....Im reluctant to hit it with anything to be honest as I dont want to damage anything inside....

No worries ..dont hit it with anything ,it has to lined up ,and on center ,have some one gently push the steering wheel ,while you keep the coupling lined up,as well as not slipping from side to side, it will with some coaxing

ANTON · Post by **ANTON** » Sat May 04, 13 7:59 am

On the coupling there will be a small indentation on the bottom edge and that must line up with the master spline.
There is about and inch of movement in the column. The plate that bolts to the firewall will stay in place but if you undo the three bolts that hold the column to the dash then it will move up and down about one inch.
When I fit an steerring coupling I loose the plate bolted to the firewall and the three bolts under the dash and that give you some movement and the will help locat the coupling.

Adrian Worman · Post by **Adrian Worman** » Sat May 04, 13 9:17 am

Don't waste ya time on the factory unit Steve .............get a Flaming River coupler, about 50 quid for the universal mopar one, fits pi55 easy and improves steering no end

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Sat May 04, 13 11:14 pm

Thanks gents....Anton, there isnt a master spline in my coupling but there is a groove on the new box shaft. There wasnt one on the old box. Ive centered the wheels, the shaft and the steering wheel. Tried everything, column bolted in, out, loosened, just cant get the coupling onto the second set of splines nearest the box....

Ade, ive heard of those couplings...msy be the way forward if my tinkering doesnt work tomorrow,

And thanks Drew, cant bring myself to thump it wigh anything...just feels all wrong!

Cheers Steve

terryr · Post by **terryr** » Sun May 05, 13 7:16 am

don't go thumping it steve ,bad advise and they should know better,it would be very strange for it not to have a locating spline

just reading through this and does say about a bigger spline on vans and c bodies ,could you have one of these boxes

http://www.allpar.com/history/mopar/steering-chuck.html

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Sun May 05, 13 9:48 am

Thanks Terry....the old and new boxes are identical in every way except there is a main spline groove on the new shaft but not on the old one...thankfully its not tbe other way round! Everything works fine as Ive tested it nust on the first splines on the drive

Ive clamped an old sway bar bush around the column tight up against the coupling to stop it retracting and coming off so I can move the car today. I might even unbolt the column again, withdraw it a few inches, fully extend the coupling, reclamp it then try pushing it gently from within the car....just a bit worried about the collapsable section witbin the column getting damaged by pushing....easy does it I think!

Kettle on so will have a go now

Cheers men

drewcrane · Post by **drewcrane** » Sun May 05, 13 3:10 pm

Yea Steve I really feel your pain , I to have left that thing and fought with it, and came back the next day fought some more,dropped the column and then it went in ,

but by then I was mr clean, was steaming mad at dirt,so I just kept at it and it did eventually go

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Sun May 05, 13 4:56 pm

Thanks for all your help gents, fresh day, fresh fiddle so to speak, plenty of WD40 and on she went! Roll pin in and all sorted now......amazing what a few tips, bit of encouragement and a sleep does eh!!

Cheers Steve