I want to remove my steering column for rebuild. The Service manual seems to imply to unbolt the rag joint. The top of the shaft has a strap type clamp and bolt.

Can I separate the bottom shaft from the top section at this point? If yes, can I do it easily or is it a tough one to get apart? There is a washer - then I think the lower bearing - then a spring and plactic holder above it. I added a picture to show the area I am asking about.

Thanks, Mike

If your car is an SS or has a stock big block, then the lower shaft is splined and connected to a rag joint flange by one bolt. An original small block would have the rag joint flange welded to the shaft, which would make it impossible to rebuild while the column is in the car.

If you have an original big block, then I guess you could rebuild while the column is installed, not sure if you would have room to pull the shaft out of the coulmn. I can't remember if the shaft comes out through the bottom or top of the column. I believe it comes out through the bottom, again making it impossible to rebuild while installed.

IMO It would be much easier to remove the whole column to rebuild it.

I already have changed the rag joint and it was threaded to the shaft.

It sounds like it would be easiest to unbolt the rag joint (2 bolt connection as opposed to unscrewing from the shaft) and just pull the entire column up into the car.

I saw that top connection and just assumed it would disconnect there.

Thanks

If you have the rag joint flange, just remove the cross bolt and pull the column and shaft out, there shouldn't be anything to unscrew.

You can leave the flange attached to the rag joint and steering gear

Checked again last night. You were right on with the rag joint. It is welded to the shaft so with the headers - no way it comes out without the header being moved. And I just replaced that one this winter. Looks like the clamp I showed in the picture is just to hold the assembly above it - washer, lower bearing, spring.

I believe this shaft goes the full length in one piece from the rag joint to the steering wheel threads.

So, it is not coming out and I'll just live with it without rebuilding.

Thanks for the direction on researching this

Mike