Steering column question

[TheNovaMan]

My question regards a 1970 Nova column shift steering column.
I had it apart and thought I'd be clever and make the shaft collapsible by driving out the two pins and letting the one shaft float inside the other, which was dumb because the rest of the column isn't collapsible. Anyway, I lost the plastic piece that goes between the two shafts and also the little pins that I drove out. Where can I get replacement parts? (Even just the correct names for the parts would be helpful.) TIA

[jasonL78]

I worked in a steering column plant for 7 years. Those 2 pieces are suposed to collapse under impact.They are plastic injected molded into those 2 pieces. The same design is used today. You will need to get a new shaft assembly no doubt about it. That is a safety critical part of the steering column design.

Jason

[TheNovaMan]

So what I thought were drift pins were actually shear pins? Boy am I an idiot.
Is there a shaft that will let me use a u-joint instead of a rag joint?

[jasonL78]

Yes a shear point. A steering column is designed to collapse at a certain pressure or downward force when you are in an accident. So the steering column doesn’t go through the driver. There are 2 other shear points on the column also. They are located on the steering column housing and the studs go through them to hold the steering column to the dash with a nut. They are aluminum with 4 plastic injection mold points. Between the inner shaft and the outer housing if these shear points are loose or broke you will need a new steering column. I was amazed when I took my first steering column apart (a 1970 nova) and the same design was still being used today. Well that was when I worked in the steering column plant from 1995-2002.

As for a u-joint you may be able to convert. It will all come down to trial and error. I don't know or have seen any...

Jason

[TheNovaMan]

OK, thanks for all the info. Next time I'll think twice before I try to out-engineer the factory.

[WILMASBOYL78]

I Have a used Nova column..maybe that would help you..let me know.

wilma

[TheNovaMan]

I'll PM you...