I am trying to get the power steering box pulled for a rebuild before spring on my '59 DeSoto Fireflite and I am having difficulty getting the column out. I followed the instructions in the shop manual, which included pulling the wheel, loosening the floor grommets/seals/covers and loosening the clamp on the engine bay side. I can get the column to come up about a half inch toward me in the driver's seat and also rotate completely around. I understand there is a pin that needs to be driven out. If it's like the '55-'56, I will need to get the column housing slid up higher to expose the pin. I am suspecting I may have to pull the turn signal switch, but am hesitant to since the shop manual doesn't say to. I have enough apart already with the dash out that I'm not looking for more loose pieces to be sitting around if they are not necessary to remove in the process. Has anybody done one of these before that can point me in the right direction? I'm currently waiting on weather to "warm up" here back to the 20's-30's F from single digits, so I figured I'd ask and get a better idea of how to attack it next chance I get.
Posted 2021-02-10 11:23 PM (#608724 - in reply to #608722) Subject: Re: 1959 DeSoto Steering Box Removal
Expert 5K+
Posts: 9672
Location: So. Cal
There is a little ring clip at the top of the column next to your upper bearing. That has to come off. In order to get to it, you will have to pull the turn signal switch, but you don't have to take it out of the column completely. Once that clip is pulled, you should be able to pull the housing up and expose the pin at the bottom.
Posted 2021-02-11 12:25 AM (#608725 - in reply to #608724) Subject: Re: 1959 DeSoto Steering Box Removal
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 341
Location: Wisconsin
That would make sense and is along the lines of what I expected. I'll take a look as soon as it get a few degrees warmer here. Usually the shop manual is really good at explaining how to do stuff, but I'm a little disappointed in the incomplete information on this one.
Posted 2021-02-23 11:04 PM (#609198 - in reply to #608722) Subject: Re: 1959 DeSoto Steering Box Removal
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 341
Location: Wisconsin
Temperatures finally warmed up here enough to work on the car again. It all came apart just as you described! Below is a photo of all the little pieces that have to come out after the turn signal switch is loosened up and partially removed. The shop manual didn't mention anything about the switch or the clip.