13x

Yes I "searched" but nothing jumped out at me

It's a series 3 and this car is going to the great recyler in the sky but trying to get all good parts off as I am sure someone somewhere needs stuff for the project or DD

The column has zero play (side to side) so the bearings/bushings are nice and snug.

I've unplugged the harness's, unbolted from the bottom of dash. So here is the ignorant question how does it seperate from the steering gear box??

thanks guys

twinkletoes

iTrader: (17)

I'm not totally certain on taking out the steering column. I would search about the rack and pinion re-speed installs. I know one user did a very detailed thread on taking out old steering setup and putting in new steeing rack. Are you trying to get rid of the steering column

13x

Like I said the column has no play so was trying to get out before shell goes buh bye. my S3 is good, the S2 is showing age as well as my S1

RX-7 Chris

iTrader: (19)

I was looking into this same thing.

82transam

iTrader: (18)

Assuming the engine is out of the car (which it sounds like it is) then its easiest to just remove the steering box and column all as one unit through the engine bay. You need to remove the ignition switch/key and combo switch to do this but it should just come right out all as one piece.
FYI the column tube itself just slides into the box, so if you really want to take that part off (no need to) you just pull and it should come out. This still leaves the steering column itself though and that won't come out unless you start taking the box apart...

RX-7 Chris

iTrader: (19)

aaa, I'm not that ambitious, lol.

13x

thanks, it's not quiet clicking in my head but am at work so will re read once home. I just hate letting good stuff go knowing there are so many ppl looking for stuff, lord knows I don't do this to make a living

7aull

iTrader: (2)

As said - steering assy meant to come out as a unit via engine comp - trick is to have pickle fork (so called tool) to pull steering arm off the bottom of the box (or cut with torch, pull later). Assy actually pulls out the _bottom_ of the car, if you follow, once detached from rest of steering bits.

Oh, and obvious but ignition sw assy will have to come off to pull thru firewall. 2 break-away bolts that hold it will need to be drilled-out to remove. Or use a chisel to knock a groove into each so you can get a screwdriver to bite and remove screws...

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

82transam

iTrader: (18)

^Yeah I usually use a small cutoff wheel on a dremel to cut slots in the ingnition switch bolts then use a screwdriver to remove them.

I've always had good luck removing the steering link bar from the pitman arm with a few smacks with the BFH. Now removing the pitman arm from the steering box itself is another nightmare altogether lol.

13x - I agree, when I do part a car (which is rare) I keep absolutly everything, and typically cut any good panels off to use as patch panels. No need to waste good stuff. Once you take a look at the car you'll see what we mean, its kinda awkward to get the box out with the engine etc in there, but if its all stripped out it should just come out, as Stu said, through the bottom of the car, usually too much stuff in the way to go up.

13x

awesome thanks for all the input guys


82transam - I hate parting these, I moved about 11 years ago from NYC I know how hard it is to find parts that can rust and good chassis stuff. My son reminds me this when he is looking for something he's still in Orange County, NY with his FB

82transam

iTrader: (18)

Yeah, finding a good one is difficult at best, and if you do find a good one keeping it in good shape is almost as hard. Even if you don't drive in winter its so damp here all the time they tend to rust anyway... I've always wanted to have someone out west ship me a shell to build off of lol, too bad I'm knee deep in other projects right now.

13x

Just let me know I know my son has said they have a problem with the rear wheel well rotting out and I would suspect gas tanks have issues as well

Rotary-MG

iTrader: (1)

A few months ago I broke the two breakaway pins while removing the steering wheel as part of replacing the combo switch.

So to fix these pins, I take it that I'll have to remove the column from underneath the car? Somehow this doesn't sound like the easier method for what I understood to be a simple fix....

82transam

iTrader: (18)

If you broke the two pins you can repair that in the car, no need to remove the box. Remove the steering wheel, ignition switch and combo switch then unbolt the column support (its the two bolts going up near the gauge cluser) then pull the column tube out of the steering box. You might need to twist it a bit, but it will come out pretty easily, and there should be enough room inside the car just remove it completely. This will give you access to the steering shaft, the collapsable joint is in the middle, so maybe a foot of so up from the pedals. You should have plenty of room to drill it out and put new pins in.
Really wish I have a column out of the car to take pics of all this, its kinda hard to describe...

Rotary-MG

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for that short 'how--to'.
It's the best description I have seen so far.
I'll definitely be giving this a try.

82transam

iTrader: (18)

You're welcome! I should mention that the information I posted applies to the 81.5 - 85 non power boxes. The power steering column is different, and the 79-81.5 boxes are slightly different where the column tube meets the box, I've never worked on one so I'm not sure if it just slides apart like the later ones (although it very well might)