Steering Squeeze

I started pulling the steering together on my '69 5 today and ran into an unexpected problem. I reassembled everything just like it came apart - I think. But, the brake pedal is too close to the steering column. The column appears to be too low, but I think I have it mounted properly.

I have posted some photos. Anyone have any ideas what the problem might be?

 

no x-pert, but in the first pic it looks as though your brake pedal arm (cast) is bent toward the column.

just went and looked at mine, a line drawn across the top of the pedal pads would pass about 2-3 inches under the column, looks like your column is to low somehow.

my jeep is certainly not to be used as a bench standard, but where the pedals pass through the floor wich is right at the top of the cast iron pedal arm, the pedal rods are at the lower side of the colomn tube, what appears to be about an inch lower than yours.

 

Hey Russ,

I'm making the assumption that my '57 is about the same as yours. My guess is that the column isn't angled high enough to clear the brake pedal. (You did know that the column can "swivel" up and down, right?) Also, there were some shims under one of the ears on the box to shift the column side to side. You didn't leave any out, did you? Otherwise, I don't believe that you could screw the reassembly up, just need to adjust it some. Once you get the tub on and anchored under the dash, I imagine it would line up OK. Here's a pic of mine for reference.

 

Thad - thanks for the pic. Thats what mine looked like before I pulled the tub to put in a new floorboard about three months ago.

All I did with the steering is pull the three bolds remove the box, run a new horn wire, reassemble and re-mount to the frame. I did not leave anything on the bench - I'm sure. I keep it pretty clean and would have noticed.

Did not know it will swivel. Did not see that in any of my manuals. How does that work?

I thought I had used the wrong set of holes in the frame, but nothing else lines up.

 

Loosen the bolts holding it to the frame, and you can pivot the column up. I have to assume that it's at it's full down position currently with gravity and all....

You may or may not have shims, mine did.

 

Looking at this picture, the 2 holes towards the rear of the Jeep are slotted, and that means that the box will pivot on the front bolt hole.

Clear as mud, right?

 

Thanks guys. I forgot about the elongated bolt holes until coffee this morning. Problem solved.