Steering Column bracket

[Kevineng]

I started rebuilding my steering column, and was looking a the bracket that holds it up to the brackets on the firewall, it seems bent, but maybe they are made that way???? The interior is stripped, so I can see how it all aligns with the dash and the rest of the car. Dont know if I should start looking for a new one, or if its fine, or try to bend it straight. In pictures, a person can kind of see how it's "tweaked to one side.
Anybody know for sure?

 

[Xcudame]

If I remember correctly, they do have the "bent" look you are seeing. It's like a memory check. Hopefully someone else can chime in.

 

[Steve340]

I cannot remember - but from your pictures it would appear to be made that way.
It would be hard to bend it and not buckle the mounting ears.
How does it fit on the dash frame?

 

[Kevineng]

I cannot remember - but from your pictures it would appear to be made that way.
It would be hard to bend it and not buckle the mounting ears.
How does it fit on the dash frame?

Thats what I was thinking, it would buckle or some other obvious flaw (crinkled/crack/peeled paint for example), I've got the whole car torn down, no dash installed as Im in the process of redoing that as well. Guess I'll have to wait until the dash is put back together and do a test fit, see how it looks then.

 

[Steve340]

I guess another thing to consider is - how buckled would the body shell be if that bracket were damaged.
Pretty badly damaged IMO.

 

[pschlosser]

I straightened one of those, when I discovered it was bent. Mine was bent to the left, and I recall thinking I was pulling too hard on the steering wheel (yes, to the left) as I entered the car. I seem to recall bending it by pulling really hard on the steering wheel from the passenger side. It was so long ago, maybe I'm delusional.

 

[Oystercopy]

I just tried to take mine out for the second time and this time, the left (drivers) side bolt won't stay put and keeps turning with the nut... JEEZ... So I'm going to have to have the heater switches taken out to get to that bolt to replace it (too small for my hands to fit through). I was pulling mine down to install a new turn signal switch today. Luckily, I was able to snake the harness through the column without fully removing that bolt....

 

[Copilot]

Mine is bent also, looks just like the one in the pic, must be from factory. What are the chances of both looking the same.

 

[Ronbo73]

That shape is how they should be. I have two of them and they are both "leaning" the same direction as yours.