steering coupler: quick question

[KFunk]

I'm in the process of changing my steering box. I just beat the steering coupler out of my car, and plan to reuse it. But in the process, I broke off one of the metal loops from the spring, you know the ones that go around the bolts on each side. Can I forget about that and just reassemble it, rig something up, or will it be a deathtrap?

I'm thinkin it must just hold some extra tension in the coupling somehow...and as long as I have it bolted in there it won't go anywhere. Maybe someday I'll buy a new coupler, and it'll include a spring with it.

I'm livin in the middle of nowhere, so there's no possibility of a quick trip to an imports parts store or dealership (2+ hours away).

[ingraham]

it's the ground return for the horn button. You can replace it with any flexible wire.

[KFunk]

Cool, thanks Curt. My dad managed to figure that out, and glad that you confirmed it.

So of course, my horn doesn't work right now. I've still got some final details to work out tomorrow.

Further help needed:

I screwed up, and now my steering wheel isn't straight. I forgot to pay attention to the way the splines lined up. Can I just take out my big steering wheel nut and rotate the wheel a little, or do I need to take the steering coupler back apart? I've never had the steering wheel nut off before, so I'm not sure what it holds exacty....

[ingraham]

you can do it either way. Without removing the steering wheel, remove the big nut and washer. Look for alignment marks on the shaft and wheel. If there are marks, it's better to keep the wheel aligned with the shaft; realign the shaft at the coupler. If not, just remove and rotate the wheel.

[KFunk]

ack, no go on the steering wheel end. I have two rounded out bolts holding my momo wheel on there, and they refuse to give away. Pounding a torx in there didn't help, and I broke a couple drill bits on them....

Looks like I'm gonna have to take that stupid steering coupler back apart. That thing is really annoying...

[ingraham]

You can undo the upper end of the coupler and pull the steering wheel up/back to get the shaft clear of the coupler.

[KFunk]

You can undo the upper end of the coupler and pull the steering wheel up/back to get the shaft clear of the coupler.

i can do that without removing the big steering wheel nut? well crap, i shoulda did that before. doh!

[BillWilliams]

If you would have adjusted the wheel by undoing the big nut in the steering wheel area, you would have put the signal light cancellation out of snych.

What do they say,,,,,ask me how I know?

Remember to preload the steering wheel/coupler.

Dads are smart people