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Old 08-26-2005, 10:59 PM
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KATSCAN KATSCAN is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pensacola/south carolina
Posts: 106
72 280se Steering Coupler R&R Procedure

Tried several options learned on the site, but find that C.Taylors method is the best. If I had started his way, would have saved a lot of time. Basically, This is how I would do this job next time.

1. Pull car forward to get "straight aligned wheels"
2. Open hood, locate steering coupling, NOTICE the position of the
bolts. If original, they should be facing up and horizontal / almost "flat"
looking. You can get to these from the engine compartment with
extentions. DO NOT LOOSEN THEM YET.

3. Go inside car and pull off horn pad, unscrew 5 13mm bolts, lift steering
wheel off and unscrew horn leads on the back side.

4. Put key in ign; turn to unlock steering wheel. Take 22mm socket and
unscrew steering shaft nut. Since the car is on the ground; use the
friction of the tires, etc to give you resistance. Wheels may turn all
the way left, ok.

5. Remove the nut and washer, Now replace the steering wheel using 2 or
3 of the 13mm bolts earlier removed.

6. Now, start the car; straighten the wheels and pull up onto ramps.

7. 6mm allen socket to loosen the steering coupler. Remove both bolts all
the way out.

8 Remove steering wheel again (30 sec) and now remove steering
bucket.

9. Turn signal grommet; pull out and unscrew the two screws up front on
the switch. Gently pull switch, not out but just a little near the front to
give the steering shaft room to move; about 1 in.

10. Notice big spring clamp; remove it using spring tool or a handy
instrument cluster tool will do as it worked well for me. Pull on the shaft
and it will travel a good six inches and should come out of the coupling.

11. Go under car; loosen the 3 bolts holding the gear box and it will come
down a little bit; enough for you to get your hand on the coupler. Once
again, notice the position of the coupler. use spray paint here if you
need to. Remove coupler from gear box. Wiggle it out.

12. Put new coupler on without any screws in it. An additional check of the
coupler alignment can be done by pushing up on the gear box and
looking at the coupler to see if the bolts will be "horizontal" or flat like it
was originally.

13. Re-attach gearbox; 3 15mm bolts. Now everything is lined up already
and all you have to do is push the shaft in. CAUTION SEE NEXT STEP

14. Go into car; looking at the top section of steering shaft from the side
through the switch hole, you'll notice a "raised" notch in the shaft.
Rotate the shaft so that the notch is visible through the switch. Now
rotate the shaft in small increments until you feel it go into the coupler,
and then press it in. Your turn signals will work cause the notch is on
the switch side.

15. Put screws into coupler and tighten.

16. You're done. Just put back what you took off; steering clamp, steering
nut, steering wheel.


Good Luck!
__________________
JHaburay

1972 280se 4.5 "princess"
1986 2.3-16v first 100 (099) USA
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