Steering wheel/coupling movement

[horse]

Trying to figure out whether the movement back and forth of the steering wheel (and coupling) of 3/8 is in the column or in the coupling on a 68 with p/s cheers John

[1974dodgecharger]

mine is in the coupling I can move it with my hand just dont have the money to replace it/fix it.

[horse]

I can move the shaft with my hand and see the movement in the coupling even though it looks new. What's needed a new coupling or a rebuild kit?

[ODZKing]

Looks new but were the insides rebuilt?  That assembly was used up to 93 I believe.
04443436AC

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Steering-Coupler-Repair-Kit-Dodge-Plymouth-Chrysler-A-B-C-E-Bodies-and-RAM-NEW-/370625003205?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item564af8bec5&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOPAR-DODGE-PLYMOUTH-STEERING-COUPLER-KIT-A-B-C-E-BODY-pick-up-trucks-Ramcharger-/171167658380?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27da63318c&vxp=mtr

[tan top]

  do you mean the  column moving in & out  of the steering coupler pot ?

[horse]

Yes correct Tan Top

The shaft moves back and forth in the coupling hence moving the steering wheel.

I can do this by hand but it won't pull right out. Does the pin stop it from coming out?.

The car has been restored and the coupling etc looks new so before I order another rebuild kit could something have been assembled wrong or is there meant to be some movement and the issue is in the column?

[BrianShaughnessy]

E-booger sells a kit with instructions.   I've seen him do a bunch of these in minutes with a pair of old channel lock pliers and yet I can't get it to save my butt.   

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Mopar-Steering-Pot-Coupler-Overhaul-Repair-Kit-Cuda-Dart-Charger-Duster-GTX-/321245387109?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4acbb79965

Note on the 2 metal  'H'  pieces,   the flat sides go out against the coupler body... not the curved side. 

[BrianShaughnessy]

  do you mean the  column moving in & out  of the steering coupler pot ?

In and out is what it's supposed to do...   by design.    However the possibility exists that the 'plastic' retainer in the column is or was broken allowing the column to slide in and out of itself.

If the movement is only the pot coupler  and not the column itself then check that the  roll pin is in place, etc   FYI the dead spline on the steering box,  coupler and steering column are all supposed to be 12 o clock with the wheels straight.   

The column is designed to collapse in case of a collision - which is a safety feature.    The coupler is designed to take up the slack for frame / body flex to prevent premature wear of the steering column and steering box bearings.

[ODZKing]

Had an issue with my 73 like that But that turned out to be completely different set up. Problem was the rag joint.
See http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,33354.msg1229395.html#msg1229395

[tan top]

 do you mean the  column moving in & out  of the steering coupler pot ?

In and out is what it's supposed to do...   by design.    However the possibility exists that the 'plastic' retainer in the column is or was broken allowing the column to slide in and out of itself.

If the movement is only the pot coupler  and not the column itself then check that the  roll pin is in place, etc   FYI the dead spline on the steering box,  coupler and steering column are all supposed to be 12 o clock with the wheels straight.  

The column is designed to collapse in case of a collision - which is a safety feature.    The coupler is designed to take up the slack for frame / body flex to prevent premature wear of the steering column and steering box bearings.

  sorry should of  explained better   , should be a bit of fore & half movement   less than 1/2 inch  maybe + or - ,

that's what I was thinking ! the sheer pins  may have been broken     , is there any movement with the steering wheel in or out  ?

[horse]

The steering wheel moves back and forth (in and out) about 3/8 - 1/2. The movement is in the coupling and not in the two shafts so it seems the column hasn't collapsed.

The coupling looks like new as does everything on the car.

I would expect that the shaft in the coupling should be able to travel so that is why I am thinking that there is something a miss in the column...top bearing or plastic bush etc

[tan top]

when you say the steering wheel moves in & out !!  is it just the wheel on the inner shaft that does it , & not the actual complete column ?

[375instroke]

Not exactly sure what's going on, but on a power steering box, the input shaft moves in and out of the box under normal operation.  As it moves in and out of the box, it moves a shuttle valve that directs fluid to one side of the power piston or the other to assist turning.  Does this sound like what is happening?

[horse]

Just the inner shaft moves NOT the column and it looks like the travel is limited to the travel of the coupling

[tan top]

 might be an idea to take the horn pad off & see how the wheel is moving in & out , may be well something going wrong with the top bearing & or retainer as you say   , if its all been restored  properly , would of thought the only thing could of happened is ! the shear pins broken , sorry cant be  much more help !  its difficult  to diagnose some things with out actually being there    

[horse]

thanks guys
I took the horn cover off and everything seems ok there and I will get a steering wheel puller today and dig a bit further.
Will update once I get to the issue

[horse]

Well the issue is the circlip had come off.

The housing has some grit in it so I am going to replace the bearing and both circlips. Who would I get these from ?

Is there anything else missing from the pictures?...

So it goes shim, housing, circlip, bearing, circlip. It seems like the housing could have another bearing lower for support.

[oldcarnut]

For the sake of info you can get the same kit from advance auto parts for $7.99.  Use the code promo online for more savings
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,69059.0.html

[tan top]

yeah that's all there is , the only other bearing is the lower one , white plastic outer shell held on with two bolts ,

like I mentioned in the other column thread been so long since I done mine  , could well be forgetting  stuff 


   

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,90507.0.html

[ODZKing]

Now that I think of it, I had to replace the bearing and white coupling at the end on my 67 a while back. But mine was "clonking" because of the bearing being bad. But if that has fallen apart it could cause the issue you mentioned.
See http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=6143221&Main=6142602

[horse]

Thanks guys I got a mopar bearing and will replace the circlips and should be all good