Steering column shaft Question

[Kevineng]

I am rebuilding a steering column (came out of 73 challenger) Stupid question, is that inner shaft suppose to slide up an down by hand? I thought (my first problem LOL) that it was lightly pinned somehow and in the event of a head on crash, the pins (or whatever they are) are suppose to break so the shaft collapses instead of impaling the driver with a steering wheel.
I thought I read that somewhere.....if so, mine moves as if the pins are broke, is there a way to fix that? or am I over thinking this

 

[Kevineng]

I am rebuilding a steering column (came out of 73 challenger) Stupid question, is that inner shaft suppose to slide up an down by hand? I thought (my first problem LOL) that it was lightly pinned somehow and in the event of a head on crash, the pins (or whatever they are) are suppose to break so the shaft collapses instead of impaling the driver with a steering wheel.
I thought I read that somewhere.....if so, mine moves as if the pins are broke, is there a way to fix that? or am I over thinking this

View attachment 151786

 

[Kevineng]

Think I may have answered my own question, after completely sliding it out, looks as if its plastic, injected at factory maybe?

Now to figure out a way to fix it

 

[Katfish]

I wouldn't bother, it has nowhere to go.
Can't get longer, and will collapse if needed.

Some do put plastic screws there.

 

[Challenger RTA]

It's a safety feature. It collapse upon impact. Loctite 660 is what the factory used. Read this. Plastic steering shaft connectors broke

After you clean the loctite off, would you post a picture of the groove? I did't get one when I did mine. It will help other to understand. After I cleaned mine off. I used hot glue.

As Katfish said, A plastic screw there. That would work.

 

[Kevineng]

Pic as requested, thought about using a syringe to inject what ever into the holes to "secure" the shafts together, but still be able to collapse if needed.

 

[Challenger RTA]

As I said before. I used a hot glue gun. Measure from the hole to the end of the shaft. Then that measurement from the middle of the nouch and mark. Just a little measuring. I heated the shaft with propane tourch for about a minute or so. Just so the glue would flow around the notch before cooling. If the noucth is half full I don't think it would matter. It's ment to break. Just so it stays put while working with it.
By the way thanks for the picuter. Now there's a picture of that.