Steering Column Woes and Questions - Connector, Lower Bearing, and Coupler

RedFish said

I have never encountered one I couldn't get off. Manual steering does seem to be more difficult. Forces applied generate more distortion and/or burrs in these ? I don't know.
I have needed to put the front end on stands so I could rotate the coupling and attack it from different positions.
Only 3 bolts and a ball stud holding the gearbox in there. That would require jack stands.
Then at reinstall, proper torque of its footprint to K member so those bolts don't work loose, and clocking centering check before reattaching the column and wheel. Good luck with it.

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Thanks. I will try putting it up in the jack stands and prying at different points. Maybe all the beating on it has pushed it a little crooked on the spline.

I've got a feeling I'm going to have to pull the steering box though - which I don't want to do as I don't have a lot of space where the car now sits. Plus, if I do, I'd probably just say "screw it" and get a new box and coupler. Which then means I should go on and get an entirely new column. And, of course, all the suspension components in the front end. And can't have new up front with old out back, so...... ;) Yep - pulling that box is going to lead to a lot of trouble and expense.