I need help

[wilsum]

Evening. I am replacing my old steering box with a firm feel unit. I am having problems. Can anyone guide me to what I am doing wrong as far as getting steering column back together? I have 2 nuts loose where column attached to dash and 3 bolts out where plate meets firewall. I can’t get it to slide the rest of the way in.
Also in my struggles to remove pitman arm and steering, I sacrificed pitman arm and replaced that with what I thought would be same arm. It is a fast ratio from rate parts. Does anyone have a c body idler arm part number I can use to order to get steering geometry back to where it should be?

 

[Challenger RTA]

You do see the cup and shaft on the steering box are keyed?

 

[Challenger RTA]

Did you have the shaft out of the cup? like this.

 

[wilsum]

Did you have the shaft out of the cup?

No. Just pull column back far enough to remove old box

 

[wilsum]

No. Just pull column back far enough to remove old box

Can you explain what you mean by out of cup?

 

[wilsum]

Did you have the shaft out of the cup? like this.

View attachment 94006

No. I did not take anything apart. Just loosened and pulled back to clear old box

 

[Challenger RTA]

it might have come apart in side. take cove of and look if it's together.

 

[wilsum]

it might have come apart in side. take cove of and look if it's together.

Thanks. I am done with it tonight I believe. Tomorrow I will tackle it again. Do you think it looks like I have the splines lined up correctly?

 

[Challenger RTA]

I posted pictures of the parts. worst case, you broke the shaft.

 

[Challenger RTA]

Click here:

Plastic steering shaft connectors broke and here​

Steering Column

 

[Challenger RTA]

old and new steering boxes are power steering. Are the under dash steering column loose or out?I have to ask. the only dumb question is the one that's not ask! there are different size splines. The notch and key look to be aliened. Check to see if the splines are twisted.
Seen it been there done it!

 

[wilsum]

old and new steering boxes are power steering. Are the under dash steering column loose or out?I have to ask. the only dumb question is the one that's not ask! there are different size splines. The notch and key look to be aliened. Check to see if the splines are twisted.
Seen it been there done it!

Yes. Both boxes power steering. I have tried both with bolts undone and then just lightly fastened. I am going to give it another try later and also attempt to look in the collar to see if anything looks amiss. I have tried to look at what steps I I should take or if the column should be at a certain angle to go on. It is just kicking my butt and I am almost ready to have car taken to someone that has more experience. It just should have been a remove and replace job and it has turned into a major headache. I will still have to deal with putting a new idler arm on to match the fast ratio pitman arm. More headache and aggravation. I have lost sleep over this. Lol

 

[Challenger RTA]

It might be something simple you just don't see it yet.

 

[wilsum]

It might be something simple you just don't see it yet.

I was able to get it lined up and attached today. Very happy. Now to order c body idler arm and slip header into steering so I can begin the re assembly

 

[Katfish]

So what was the issue?

 

[wilsum]

So what was the issue?

I am not exactly sure. I propped the column up and moved the collar to make sure it would reach and I hadn’t collapsed the column. I then aligned the splines carefully ( took the third time)and then it slid in. I was very happy to succeed. Attached the 2 nuts to supports the colum and then attached other bracket to fire wall. Snugged everything down. Last is to pack collar with grease and order clip to hold cover on.

 

[Challenger RTA]

Sometimes dumb luck is better than no luck. Good to here you got it.did you get the part number? MOOG K 7014

 

[wilsum]

Sometimes dumb luck is better than no luck. Good to here you got it.did you get the part number? MOOG K 7014

Thank you. I didn’t have the number

 

[cuda joe]

i bought the fast ratio idler arm on e bay I love the steering now

 

[i_taz]

i bought the fast ratio idler arm on e bay I love the steering now

K7014...?