Steering coupler..how do I get the thing back together ?

[Cuda Al]

I bought a new coupler and internals for it.

View attachment 1715482265 View attachment 1715482266

I can't get the two pieces that go into the casting to fit.
I have greased them, to no avail.
These are brand new parts.
I still have the old coupling and internals.
They don't fit in the new casting either.
The new parts won't go in the old casting either.
I mic'd them and they are the same.

Can anybody, somebody, tell me the secret? Please !

Thanks in advance, cudamike13

Looking at these picture it appears you are trying to do this as you install the steering gear, I would recommend pulling the steering column assembly and assembling the coupler on the column. Install the steering gear then the column.


Alan

 

[George Jets]

You may have bought Chinese replacement parts that are not made to USA standards.

Looking at an enlarged photo of your new replacement shoes, they appear to be cast parts, there is even a chip out of one of them. Same with the coupler, Chinese made ??

Mopar original parts are finely machined parts, and are made to slide freely in the coupler body. I would find another good used mopar coupler and internals, clean and relube that and put that on your steering column.

Even can clean and relube your original coupler and internal shoes. Wonder why you are even replacing it in the first place . . unless it was full of water and rust.
They are full of grease, just wash it out, regrease, put the new seal and new cap on, use the after market spring clip on to hold on the seal cap.

Good to Go . . .

Detroit Muscle Technologies, makes a good internal parts rebuild kit, you can see their shoes are better machined. They also have the aftermarket spring clip for holding the new seal and cap on easy too.

Can use this style kit to rebuild your original coupler too.

Good Luck with your project.

 

[George Jets]

Detroit Muscle Technologies

 

[mopowers]

the smaller hump is for the square pots, IIRC you can put your tall hump on an anvil and tap the hump down if you can control the spread of the 'wings'. check clearance inside. Have you tried the tall hump in there, I think it will fit with a little 'pressure'. doing a rough measurement on your pic, its looks like the new clip is actually more narrow (due to taller hump) so it may have a little room to get tapped down as it will spread slightly.
View attachment 1715482440

Unfortunately, the little spring snaps if you put too much pressure on the small hump. I broke one very easily by tapping on it. They seem really fragile. Maybe it's a spring steel thing - who knows.

It's too bad no one seems to make the early-style small hump spring.

 

[cudamike13]

Thanks for the help everybody !
I cleaned up the original parts and measured them compared to new kit.
Originals were 1.000".
New parts were 1.002".
The originals now fit (cleaned up) in the new coupling housing.

Once I heated and installed new housing on shaft, there is no way I was going to take it off.

Problem solved !

Thanks again, cudamike13