I tried to install the column in my 68SS this weekend, and ran into this problem...
I bought the car in pieces, including the column. The pevious owner had apparently damaged the column either in a minor accident or my abusing it with a hammer. There was no visable damage except that the steering shaft was obviously too short. Several inches too short. Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that the energy absorbing feature on the shaft had been compromised. I was able to persuade the shaft back to its original length, re-assemble the column, and install the unit back into the car with everything lining up just right and working properly. The GM Service Manual states that if and when the steering shaft or the intermediate shaft has collapsed, the car may still be able to steer but they further recommend that the damaged part be replaced anyway. My question is simple... Given that the shaft is back to the original length and there is no damage to mast jacket, shift tube, or intermediate shaft; and given that the plastic shear points inside the shaft only serve to stablize to two peices of the shaft during installation, are there any safety isuues to be concerned with by using this column with a "repaired" steering shaft?
Sorry for the long winded post, but any additional insight is greatly appreciated.

Patrick

You are correct in that the shaft is totally safe even though it has been collapsed and then pulled back to its design length.

The only negative thing that could happen is that the shaft might develop a small amount of lash over time. The injected plastic not only "locked" it at a set length, it also "delashed" the connection of the two shafts.

BTW, the steering shaft up inside the steering column also has a plastic injected joint and operates in the same manner.

Thanks Jim... After having read a number of your posts regarding steering issues, you're one I was hoping to get a response from. The intermediate shaft was not damaged and the upper shaft is nice and tight at least for now. With new bearings upper and lower, if I develop any lash in the near future, I'll know why. Thanks again for your expertise.

Patrick

Some trivia:

The collapsible intermediate steering shaft does not absorb energy. The upper and lower shafts collapse over each other so as to prevent the steering column from being driven back into the driver. The amount of energy required to break the plastic injection is insignificant.

The steering column was designed as an energy absorbing device. The original, first generation energy absorbing steering columns (1967-68) had a steering column jacket that had convolutions with cut-outs that bent on themselves and absorbed energy as they collapsed.

The second generation, energy absorbing columns had the column jacket designed in two pieces. There was a small tube that extended down to the floor, and a larger diameter tube that extended up to the steering column head. The two tubes overlapped by several inches. Where they overlapped, there were ball bearings heavily pressed into the interface. Now, in a severe frontal collision, the two tubes telescoped over each other and the ball bearings ploughed metal between the tubes and absorbed energy.