I was told by RX7addict that there's a pin somewhere on the steering box to unlock for the shaft to telescope. However, I can't find it anywhere and I've never heard of our box being able to telescope... I want to know if that's true? Or he just making stuff up? I searched but can't find anything.

 

I don't know about a pin, but I've heard that in a terrible accident, the steering column is supposed to collpase so you don't get harpooned, but I doubt even that story....I got into a front collision that destroyed my RX-7.

I had my hands on the 3 and 9 O'clock positons and bent both sides of my Grant steering wheel forward upon collision and that stupid steering column did NOT give...

 

Broken collapsible shaft.. there has been many threads on this. Don't know of a fix for it, most just live with it. Something must have hit your steering wheel pretty hard to break it, I'd like to say it's uncommon, but it's not.

 

There is a plastic pin or 2 in the column that is part of the collapsing steering mechanism that sheers in the event of an accident for safety. It's not adjustable to my knowledge. Removing it/breaking it definitely causes the steering to "telescope".

 

Oh I see... got it so there's no way for that shaft to move. That means the guy sent me another wrong box!

 

It should not move, if someone sent you one like that send it back!

 

It must take a gawdawful amount of force, then, to break them if you can turn a steel core steering wheel into a pretzel and the steering column is still the same...

 

He sent me the box that has a shorter shaft and this is the SECOND time. I asked him what's going on?! He said I can break a pin and let it telescope.

 

Yea the nylons pincs or nut wear out and collapse and you get the 2 inch movement. Supposedly you can replace them but im not sure how easy it is as ive yet to get that far into my restoration

 

I've repaired two steering shafts that had broken pins. I used aluminum pop rivets, one because they are hollow and sheer easier than a solid rivet, two because I couldn't find a source for the nylon pins. I can't remember what size rivet I used, but I just pull the nail out and hammer the end over so its flat. I pulled the column out for the repair, cuz it was just easier to work on. It wasn't too awfully difficult, but its still kind of a suck-*** job. I have another one to do also, due to a buddy trying to pull off the steering wheel while performing a "free" front-end alignment. I still bought the beer!! Maybe I'll just sell the car!! Anyway, be brave, give it a try.......and good luck!

 

I tried once.. when i had the steering column out the repair of the tabs went fine, but when putting the steering gear back together I guess the bearing fell out of place. Needless to say I put the whole car back together, when I went to turn the wheel the bearing ate itself. So I just put a different column in and I've never tried again. Lesson learned, watch that bearing when opening up the steering gear with the column out of the car.

 

I am not gunna try it, I will just have the guy to send me a new box. I don't want to have another mess with all the removing/installing of the box.

By any chance, does anyone have a measurement of the whole assembly for the steering wheel? I measured it, from the shaft to the end of the box, it is 40 inches. The box I received is 38 inches.

 

Perhaps thats because it is in the collapsed position if I rember right the travel is two inches or so.

Mine does the same thing every once in awhile it will pop out and surprise me, I just live with it.

 

^ Which one? The long one or the short one?

 

just buy re-speeds steering kit and that will fix it. Since it includes the parts to replace that and comes with new aluminium pins for that part.

 

^

It's expensive!

 

I had this issue when I had a 1st gen, I think the po hit the column with a hammer trying to get an after market steering wheel to fit.

I fixed it with epoxy, low strength stuff not strong enough to keep the column from collapsing altogether.