Reinstalling steering wheel lock plate retainers

[Belair62]

The shaft may have dropped a bit and you may need to prop it up.

[Unreal]

I installed one once by installing big washers as spacers over the shaft and tightening down on the nut until the retainer snaps in.

The tool is much, much easier!!

[elcamino72]

I agree, rent the tool, it'll make like much easier!

[VintageMusclecar]

Lock plate retainer compressor tool

(no idea why it's listed as a steering wheel puller? )

Eric

[njsteve]

Here is what it looks like, posed elegently mext to my vintage NOS Lufkin foldable wooden yardstick:



You could probably make something like it out of a bent peice of steel. The center "bolt" is actually a hollow, internally threaded, sleeve that screws onto the steering post and then you use the nut to tighten down and depress the locking plate via the two "legs" of the device.

By the way, I hope you're kidding about using a bigger hammer. NEVER EVER hit a steering shaft with a hammer, especially the GM shafts. The shafts are actually made of two or three sliding/collapsable sections that are held together with clear/yellow plastic shear-pins that are designed to shatter upon the impact of your face on the wheel. (Ouch!) They are non-repairable if you have hit the shaft and it has collapsed in any way.

[169yenko]

Just kidding on the hammer. Thanks for the info and picture.

[ssl78]

The autozone by me sells them for 9.99. Did you use the same horn contact ring there are different hieght ones if its to high you cant get the snap ring in.