Question Regarding Steering Column

[irish_in_ny]

Hey guys, I haven't posted here in a while. I had to lower the steering wheel one day, when I did, a few white plastic pieces/spacers fell to the floor. My car is a '73 SE if that makes any difference. Is it important for me to reinstall those white plastic pieces? If so, where exactly do they go?

Thanks!

[GreenMachine]

I'm not sure if '73 is the same as the '70 column pictured.

[Mike DC]

                
Those white plastic pieces are there to allow the column to come off its mounting bolts and slide back (towards the front of the vehicle) if your unbelted body slams into the steering wheel during a wreck.  The grated area of the column's outer tubing is a big "crumple zone" for this purpose.  



Yes, you need the plastic things.  If you don't ever plan on riding around without a seatbelt then please replace them anyway for future owners who might have to discover they were gone the hard way.  

Any Mopar from the period is probably a potential donor for them.  I dunno if they are repro'd but they probably are.