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 Adjusting the outer steering column shell on a 55-56 Dodge to eliminate scrapingJump to page : 1 Now viewing page 1 [50 messages per page] | View previous thread :: View next thread |
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56D500boy |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10797     Location: Lower Mainland BC | . Back story: Some years ago I made a gauge cluster for a small tach and voltmeter for my 56. To get the wires to this cluster, I dropped the steering column down a bit by loosening the nuts that hold the horseshoe clamp to the bottom of the dash. I never really tightened it up until recently. Flash Forward to a few weeks ago: I tightened the clamp nuts. Not that I put 2 and 2 together but shortly thereafter, the chrome steering wheel center bar (that fits over the chrome horn ring) started to scrape on the steering column (the painted metal bit). I ignored it for a bit but then I tried spacing the center bar away from the column by reinforcing the mounting bosses on the steering wheel an using some small washers. Seemed like that worked (for a bit). The scraping started up again the other day so I removed the center bar and added some washers. That didn't help. So I took the center bar off again and used used my angle grinder with a zip disk to grind away the part that was contacting the painted bit. Didn't really work so I sprayed it with WD40 and that helped but I don't want to do that everyday. Then the penny dropped. [KA-LUNK] I was thinking that the PS steering column outer shell (not the removable cover) of the upper steering column was separate from the actual steering shaft. DelS (Dels56) confirmed that for me (Thanks Del) What must have happened was when I tightened the horseshoe clamp I moved the shell upwards towards the steering wheel. I needed to reverse that and move the outer shell downwards a tad/smidge/scootch. So I went out the garage and, armed with a 1/2" six point socket on one of my 3/8" ratchets, I loosened the nuts for the horseshoe clamp and the clamp that connects the outer shell to the cast aluminum portion of coaxial steering gear box. Then I got a decent sized flat blade screw driver and wedge the blade in the small crack between the outer column shell and the steering wheel. It took a couple of goes but with some gentle persuasion (hammer), I move the outer shell about 1/16" towards the firewall. Seems like enough clearance but I won't tighten everything up until I test this out tomorrow (raining today). Previous photo showing the chrome "Full Time Power Steering" center bar: Some adjustment photos from today: Edited by 56D500boy 2025-06-22 7:36 PM (56DodgePSSteeringColumn_OuterShellToChromeBarClearance_before.jpg) (56DodgePSSteeringColumn_LowerClamp_Before.jpg) (56DodgePSSteeringColumn_LowerClamp_After.jpg) (56DodgePSSteeringColumn_UpperHorseshoeClamp_After.jpg) (56DodgePSSteeringColumn_OuterShellToChromeBarClearance_DuringAdjustment.jpg) (56DodgePSSteeringColumn_OuterShellToChromeBarClearance_AfterAdjustment.jpg) Attachments ----------------  56DodgePSSteeringColumn_OuterShellToChromeBarClearance_before.jpg (146KB - 162 downloads) 56DodgePSSteeringColumn_LowerClamp_Before.jpg (148KB - 151 downloads) 56DodgePSSteeringColumn_LowerClamp_After.jpg (149KB - 184 downloads) 56DodgePSSteeringColumn_UpperHorseshoeClamp_After.jpg (145KB - 147 downloads) 56DodgePSSteeringColumn_OuterShellToChromeBarClearance_DuringAdjustment.jpg (145KB - 185 downloads) 56DodgePSSteeringColumn_OuterShellToChromeBarClearance_AfterAdjustment.jpg (143KB - 162 downloads) | ||
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| 56D500boy |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10797 Location: Lower Mainland BC | . One would think that this would be a win. Nope. Twice I "adjusted" the gap and twice the gap "unadjusted" itself. The first time, I probably asked for it: I only tightened the Horseshoe clamp holding the upper steering column up. So no surprise that the gap somehow closed, seemingly on its own. We weird thing was the scraping did mostly disappear. The weirder thing was suddenly steering was very stiff and it did not want to self-center after a slight (5 degree?) turn from straight. That was more that just annoying so today I went out armed with the flat-blade screw driver and hammer I had used before. Once again, I "adjusted" the gap. *BUT* this time I tightened both the horseshoe clamp *AND* the lower joining clamp. Not crazy tight but tight. Went for a test drive. First half was no scraping and, more importantly, a return to easy, self-centering, steering. HOWEVER,.... during the second half of the test drive the scraping returned.  I will try one more time but if the scraping creeps back (again), I am going to grind the lip of the chrome center bar so it does not contact the steering column sleeve. It never ends.   Edited by 56D500boy 2025-07-08 11:24 PM | ||
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| 56D500boy |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10797 Location: Lower Mainland BC | . In reviewing the above "story", I realized that I had photos of a disassembled 56 Dodge PS steering column that Del S. (Dels56) had sent me. Based on this photo (below), I am confused as to why over/under clamping anywhere on the upper steering column would cause issues with not centering/feeling stiff to turn. ??? (DelsNewCoaxialSteeringColumn_SomewhatDisassembled_1024.jpg) Attachments ---------------- DelsNewCoaxialSteeringColumn_SomewhatDisassembled_1024.jpg (146KB - 167 downloads) | ||
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| 56D500boy |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10797 Location: Lower Mainland BC | 56D500boy - 2025-07-08 4:57 PM I will try one more time but if the scraping creeps back (again), I am going to grind the lip of the chrome center bar so it does not contact the steering column sleeve. I tried again. Worked so far for a 10 minute drive. If it fails, I think it will because of the rubber under the horseshoe clamp. I think it is stuck on the outer sheath and taken a "set" that doesn't want to change. ??? | ||
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