Hi Group. I've removed the steering wheel from my 62 Bird to replace the shift lever because it kept on dropping into reverse from park. Now I'm trying to put the steering wheel back together. There are 2 square bolts that sit in a recess behind the chrome piece that holds the blinker assembly. I can not seem to put the piece back together when the 2 bolts are inserted. The snap ring will line up & go far enough on without the bolts in it, but when I insert the bolts, the chrome round piece does not go on deep enough to accept the snap ring that goes on next. Also, these bolts are not threaded to the bottom so I can't put on the lock nuts that go on the other side to bottom it out. What am I missing here? What are these two bolts used for? I have been unable to find a diagram of all the inside pieces to the steering column that might show me these two bolts and their purpose. Any help please....

Hi group, I figured out the problem, thanks to a post on page 16,,"shifter slack", posted on March 4th, 2003. With the collar that holds the blinker assy. off, put the 2 square bolts through the back, in the square recesses, then put the lock nuts on the other side, just enough before they lock, then put the collar over the steering shaft. You can manuver the heads of the 2 square bolts into the slots that are in the columb tube by the lock nuts. Then tighten them up. Originally, I thought the 2 square bolts were supposed to sit fully into the recess on the back of the collar. Wrong. It's too bad the 62 shop manual dosen't show anything on taking the steering wheel apart that far down. Thanks to this forum & someone who posted back in 2003, I got it all back together today. I just had to keep digging all the way back to page 16. Thanks for the great forum.

62 t-bird, How do you get the steering column collar off the shaft after removing the c clip? I am unable to budge the bearing and I am considering drilling thru the race, exposing the bearings and removing one by one till the collar comes up. Thanks

If it's like a 65 you have to make sure the two bolts are off under the signal assembly. I usually put the shaft nut on flush with the top of the shaft. Pull up evenly on the collar fairly hard and wack the top of the shaft with a brass hammer or block of wood on top of the shaft. Should pop off

Hello Bob, thanks for your help. Your method worked and saved the bearing. Thanks again.