Steering shaft

[bbbbuick]

Hello all,

I need a steering shaft please. Anyone have an extra laying around gathering dust? Thanks.

Elvin

[Les M.]

Elvin, Are you looking for the complete shaft minus the steering wheel?
Les

[bbbbuick]

Hi again Les! I need the shaft only for a tilt column. Mine snapped right above the lower bearing. Still can't believe how lucky I was it happened when I was pulling out of the garage and not out on the road. I'm currently using a wheel from an Olds 442 until I find a decent Buick version. I haven't had the time to pull the column apart since it broke, hope to get to that this week.

Elvin

[Robert V]

PM sent

[yachtsmanbill]

GEEZ... was that shaft on an ARMSTRONG steering unit? Thats "non-power" for the un-initiated. You were beyond lucky! What caused the failure?    ws

[Loren At 65GS]

Hello all,

I need a steering shaft please. Anyone have an extra laying around gathering dust? Thanks.

Elvin

 bbbbuick,

 It sounds like you are looking for the internal shaft from a tilt column. I have outlined the part that it appears you need . This is  specific to a tilt column and is different than the shaft in a non tilt column. That's the bad news, The good news is that part is the same for column shift or floor shift column. To replace it would require a complete dis-assembly of the column and that would require a couple of special tools.

  Loren

[bbbbuick]

Thanks Loren for that schematic. Where did that come from? The standard manuals don't have that breakdown, just the one picture of that "U-joint" section. I thought finding a front bumper core was a challenge, this may be more so. The disassembly/reassembly looks like it's one of the more challenging jobs in the car. I'm guessing the spring install will be the toughest. Aside from a steering wheel puller I see two specialty tools called out, J-21179 and J-21180. Any idea if these are universal?

The failure was on a power steering unit. I'm unsure of exactly why it failed. My car is a driver so I generally tackle fixes for problems as they arise. I replaced the lower bearing some time ago when I noticed it had essentially disintegrated. It hadn't effected steering feel so I'm not sure of how long it had been in that state. It hides behind my larger dual res master cylinder so I hadn't noticed. I saw it when I was cleaning the engine bay and had my head stuffed down there. I replaced it without disassembling the column so there may have been damage, maybe a scoring of the column, that I couldn't see. I'm attaching a pic of the location of the break where you can see the snap and what looks like scoring of several mm around it. A few years ago I tried a lower ratio steering box to enhance drivability on all the winding roads where I live, but the feel was horrible so out it came and back to the stock unit. The lower bearing was still intact at that time but I wonder if increased torque was transferred through the shaft and maybe that weakened it if it was already damaged/scored? It's all speculation at this point. I just never gave any thought to checking my steering shaft for wear, I'd never heard of anyone ever having this kind of problem. It could have just been so very bad if it happened on the road.

[bbbbuick]

Forgot the picture...

[65GSConv]

According to what I see in the parts listing, P/N 5678304 (which was for the lower shaft and yoke) was used in 1964-1966 Specials, Skylarks and GS's with tilt steering columns, regardless of transmission option.

There is an ebay listing for this very part, if your interested in pursuing it:  https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-GM-5678304-Shaft-ASSY/292982224275?hash=item443719f593:g:pnUAAOSwSn1cS5FR

[GS66]

Good luck that there happens to be one for sale on eBay, I would have thought this would be very difficult to find. It looks like you can make an offer too! Good luck!

[Loren At 65GS]

Thanks Loren for that schematic. Where did that come from? The standard manuals don't have that breakdown, just the one picture of that "U-joint" section. I thought finding a front bumper core was a challenge, this may be more so. The disassembly/reassembly looks like it's one of the more challenging jobs in the car. I'm guessing the spring install will be the toughest. Aside from a steering wheel puller I see two specialty tools called out, J-21179 and J-21180. Any idea if these are universal?

 The schematic is from one of my Buick parts books. This one is for 1965 only.
Surprised to see the part available by itself.  Definitely should ask for a picture from the seller, before buying.
The tools aren't universal from what I can tell. The upper collar is easy to make out of round if the tool isn't used to remove it.

  Brian Stone may be able to give you some insight. PM me for his contact information, should you want it.

  Loren

[65GSConv]

bbbbuick, I see the eBay listing for a replacement steering shaft has ended, showing the item sold. You never did respond back to this thread. Was it you that bought it? Would be nice to know, so we understand what the ending was to the initial reason to start the thread.

[bbbbuick]

Thanks for the tip on the ebay listing! Bought it and now just waiting for the part to ship. I've tracked down the two specialty tools as well so hopefully in a week or so I can get started on this.

Elvin

[bbbbuick]

Thought I'd update this with positive results. I just finished the rebuild on the steering column with the replacement lower shaft. Thanks once more for the ebay spotting!

For the rebuild, should any of you have to ever do the same, the manual calls out three specified tools. The pin removal tool (J-21179) I'd say is a must, you could mock something up but the tool design allows for removal without marring the finish of the column tilt bowl housing. Make sure you get the pin and nut with it as some are sold without and would therefore be pretty useless. The half round (J-21180) used to remove the upper column housing could be easily fabbed from a round as Lauren brought up if you don't want to spend another $40. The spring installer (J-21181) I bypassed, using some heavy gauge garden wire attached to the spring to pull it through and onto it's tab, cutting the wire to remove it after install.

After going through this I am pretty sure I had a failed lower bearing for a long time and just didn't notice. This allowed for the edge of the bearing carrier to wear a groove into the steering shaft over time and eventually cause the failure. The lower bearing is much less robust than the upper, maybe due to a lower duty load, and the OPGI replacement I have fits but is not the smoothest. It's also a cinch to replace so maybe check yours if you never have. I didn't see any color guidance for the shaft so went with a satin black I have used elsewhere in the engine bay. Hopefully none of you have to deal with this but if you ever do let me know, I took pictures of the various steps.

Elvin

[GS66]

Glad to hear this all worked out! Thanks for the tips too!