Thanks for those pics, soothappens! That's the thing I was most curious about, and you answered the question of "what's in there?". As I said before, my steering lock, fortunately, isn't the problem on mine. I need to find out why the electrical plug on the back of the housing isn't releasing from the housing itself. It looks like, from what I can see, that the {-O-} type keyway connection is just an insert type that would slide right out, not a locking T that would hold it in, which is really stumping me. But thanks VERY much for letting me see it. Your pics are great, and I've been tempted to take mine apart just to see what you just showed me. It explains the spring that I'm seeing behind the triangular 'trigger' thing, only now that I think of it, it looks like my spring may be turned 90 degrees, in that, I think mine is laying 'across' the width of the tube instead of parallel to it. (Hope that makes sense) In other words, it looks like it's crossways instead of longways. Regardless, I'm pretty sure that, like whunter says, the housing has gone south. My main problem now is "How the hell do I get the plug off??" whunter may have the only solution, which for me would be to get the sawzall out, build a small frame for a brace and jig on the floor board and amputate the housing from the plug. It's almost like my trusted old Benz senses it's possible sale, and is doing everything it can to stall me out of the idea. Hmm. Maybe I do own a "smart car"!

__________________
"Knowing is not enough, we must apply.
Willing is not enough, we must do." Goethe

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1951 Chevy 3100

2003 Indian Chief Roadmaster

1983 GMC 1 ton Dually

1982 Chevy 1 ton Dually, service body (sold)

'90 GMC Suburban 6.2 "SS Veg-Burban"
(single tank WVO\diesel conversion) SOLD

'81 300D ~ Mama's car...my job (now my car)(but still my job) SOLD

'83 300sd ~ rescue car SOLD

2005 Ford Taurus (Mama's new car)(NOT my job!)