67 deville steering column inspection

[TomB]

Looks my steering column is playing tricks on me, I took it out and it doesn't turn (something is sticking and a lot of lateral movement of the shaft (shouldn't be I guess). To inspect underneath the switch I need to get a big c-clip (or snap ring?) out and later on I need to get it back in. How to do this without the special tool J-22569 (non-existent in Holland)? Any tips or tricks to get it out, without using dynamite?

[fishnjim]

search internet for steering column repair and you'll get plenty of hits, info, sites, and video.   Should be in the shop manual for '67 also.   
If you can't get a pair of snap ring pliers on it, then have to pry/push out slowly until a gap forms and then grab with needle nose pliers, so it doesn't fly off.   It's an art.

[Big Fins]

Snap ring pliers should be a universal tool found anywhere. I doubt there is a car made anywhere in the world that doesn't use snap rings somewhere on it.

[TomB]

Thanks all, but the special tool that I referred to is not a set of pliers. It looks like a pipe with an edge with a shoulder that is a fit on the shaft, probably with a thread on the other side to apply pressure to pull the a-symetrical c clip out, and to get in back in later on. see picture. It is a quite a bulky c-clip. The shop manual, nor youtube are specific about this.

[wheikkila]

You can make a tool if you can't find one on line. You will need about 12 inches of 1 inch wide 1/8 inch think steel. Measure from the top plate to about the middle of the threads for the steering wheel. To start draw a line in the center of your metal. Next draw a line 1 3/4 inches on each side.  This will give you about 3 1/2 inches in the center. Now add the first measurement to each side. Now bend the metal into a flat U. Go back to the center line and drill a hole large enough to slide over the steering shaft. Use the steering wheel nut to press down on the plate to remove the c clip. I hope you can understand this. Good luck
                    Thanks Wayne     

[TomB]

Thanks Wayne, this is clear. Will have to find my way around the fact that the shaft is telescoping and can only be locked with this fragile mushroom shaped knob on top of the shaft. Probably by extending the legs of the flat U. It will work, thanks again.