Steering Column Woes and Questions - Connector, Lower Bearing, and Coupler
Sorry for the long post - 3 concerns/questions and a couple of pics to support them.
I ordered a new turn signal switch (Thanks Slantsixdan!) and pulled the column to make it easier on myself. While it's out, wanted to clean it up, do the coupler rebuild kit, paint, and all that fun stuff. Of course, ran into a few issues.
'69 Barracuda
Manual Steering
5-speed
Column looks to have been a column shift with the linkages cut when the 5-speed was put in.
The connector for the wires on the new switch is quite brittle. After I removed the old wires from it, I could see one of the sides is cracked, as is one of the clips that mates to the other connector half. Are these being repopped with any quality, and if so, where? I did see one on ebay, but worry if it's quality or if will break faster than the brittle one I have now, but it might be my only choice. I am going to try a dealership. I still find various parts still as many of them were used up into the 80s and even 90s as you all know, and of course it's the fastest way if they have it, and I'm hoping to get stuff back together this weekend. Napa guy had no idea.
Mopar 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 Turn Signal Switch Connector / Plug NEW
The coupler seems like it is welded on. I've tried many of the tricks I have found here - I have used a bunch of penetrating oil - Liquid Wrench, Marvel Mystery, whatever I could find, and pried, pushed, cursed, and even took a hammer to the thing (though not too crazy), but I don't think it has moved in the least. Roll pin is out, column is out, and it doesn't move. I actually was using a 1 inch open ended wrench as a prying implement since it contacts more of the coupler's bottom and I actually bent the wrench. Any other tricks anyone can suggest? I've never known one being this stubborn.
Finally, I pulled the lower column bearing. Found the seal over the balls was broken, so tried the ER16 bearing mod, but it doesn't seat far enough into the jacket - which is actually split from the old linkages, so it doesn't grab the bearing for 360 degrees. Instead, I have cleaned up and want to repair and reuse the original. This column bearing has a metal housing, not plastic. It is (supposed to) be held in the jacket via 3 bolts - which weren't there so the bearing could spin freely in the jacket and move around on the shaft. Gotta love what you find when you dig in. Anyway - anyone know if it is possible to get a new seal for the bearing? It's almost like a snap ring. I tried an industrial bearing place locally to no avail. If I can't get a new seal, I'm going to try to find a nylon or teflon washer that fits over the barrel on the bearing and hold it on with a snap ring as there is a lip that will work for that (pic below). Just need something to keep the grit and grime out.
Also - to make it a little easier than trial and error at the hardware store, does anyone know the proper size and length of the bolts that would be used so I can properly anchor the bearing to the jacket without interfering with the shaft?
Thanks all!
Sorry for the long post - 3 concerns/questions and a couple of pics to support them.
I ordered a new turn signal switch (Thanks Slantsixdan!) and pulled the column to make it easier on myself. While it's out, wanted to clean it up, do the coupler rebuild kit, paint, and all that fun stuff. Of course, ran into a few issues.
'69 Barracuda
Manual Steering
5-speed
Column looks to have been a column shift with the linkages cut when the 5-speed was put in.
The connector for the wires on the new switch is quite brittle. After I removed the old wires from it, I could see one of the sides is cracked, as is one of the clips that mates to the other connector half. Are these being repopped with any quality, and if so, where? I did see one on ebay, but worry if it's quality or if will break faster than the brittle one I have now, but it might be my only choice. I am going to try a dealership. I still find various parts still as many of them were used up into the 80s and even 90s as you all know, and of course it's the fastest way if they have it, and I'm hoping to get stuff back together this weekend. Napa guy had no idea.
Mopar 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 Turn Signal Switch Connector / Plug NEW
The coupler seems like it is welded on. I've tried many of the tricks I have found here - I have used a bunch of penetrating oil - Liquid Wrench, Marvel Mystery, whatever I could find, and pried, pushed, cursed, and even took a hammer to the thing (though not too crazy), but I don't think it has moved in the least. Roll pin is out, column is out, and it doesn't move. I actually was using a 1 inch open ended wrench as a prying implement since it contacts more of the coupler's bottom and I actually bent the wrench. Any other tricks anyone can suggest? I've never known one being this stubborn.
Finally, I pulled the lower column bearing. Found the seal over the balls was broken, so tried the ER16 bearing mod, but it doesn't seat far enough into the jacket - which is actually split from the old linkages, so it doesn't grab the bearing for 360 degrees. Instead, I have cleaned up and want to repair and reuse the original. This column bearing has a metal housing, not plastic. It is (supposed to) be held in the jacket via 3 bolts - which weren't there so the bearing could spin freely in the jacket and move around on the shaft. Gotta love what you find when you dig in. Anyway - anyone know if it is possible to get a new seal for the bearing? It's almost like a snap ring. I tried an industrial bearing place locally to no avail. If I can't get a new seal, I'm going to try to find a nylon or teflon washer that fits over the barrel on the bearing and hold it on with a snap ring as there is a lip that will work for that (pic below). Just need something to keep the grit and grime out.
Also - to make it a little easier than trial and error at the hardware store, does anyone know the proper size and length of the bolts that would be used so I can properly anchor the bearing to the jacket without interfering with the shaft?
Thanks all!