Have I screwed myself

[moranda]

I was trying to upgrade my steering shaft with a new heavy duty one but i ran into a problem when trying to get the upper part of the old steering shaft. The picture shows what i tried to do by pulling the old steering shaft off the column. anyway it seems that to be permanently rusted to the steering column shaft and does not want to go back to original position. SO anybody got any ideas on how to fix this? do i need a whole new steering column.

 

[Torxhead]

You do have the lock ring removed right?

 

[PaRenegade]

Mine was rusted / fused together pretty good too. I ended up just taking the whole column out so I could clamp it in a vice and get a better swing with a bfh on the joint. It pounded right off. You just can't get the right angle or a powerful swing on it when it's in place.

 

[hdgapeach]

Lots of "slickum" and an air chisel with a blunt bit (that is IF you have an air compressor and the air tool).

Unfortunately, that strap ain't helping you much pulling at an angle anyhow. If the rust showing on up the shaft is any indication, what Pa said is probably the most "pain free" solution.

Good luck!

 

[moranda]

i did not have the lock ring off i thought the tension from the strap would slide the end of the steering shaft off the column. i had been hitting with pb blaster and hitting on it the best I could with a hammer. i guess i will have to remove the steering column anyways correct? Thanks for the help guys!

 

[PaRenegade]

A tip. Don't loosen the top bracket where it's clamped to the column (that hangs off the cowl behind dash) shown in pic. That way you won't have to re-adjust the columns front to rear location. The front firewall clamps can be removed and the upper clamp will still locate it back to the same place.

 

[CJim7]

i did not have the lock ring off i thought the tension from the strap would slide the end of the steering shaft off the column. i had been hitting with pb blaster and hitting on it the best I could with a hammer. i guess i will have to remove the steering column anyways correct? Thanks for the help guys!

I just posted about this the other day about the need to completely remove the bolt to the clamp because the bolt itself holds the shaft by way of a cut-out.
Hint: the bottom of the shaft where it meets the steering box is the same way.