Movable Steering Columns: Description

Two types of steering column designs are used. A conventional Convoluted Absorber type is designed to collapse about six inches at the bellows on hard impact. The shift tube and steering shaft collapse in proportion to outer tube. The Mini Extruded Absorber type column has an outer column tube with collar attaching brackets which provide a collapsing system. The upper steering shaft is a solid steel bar with two grooves to accept clips; the lower shaft is a formed steel tube which fits over upper shaft for a means of collapsing shaft. Ford, Mercury and Lincoln Continental use conventional Convoluted type tilt columns. Torino, Elite, Montego, Cougar, Thunderbird, Continental Mark IV, Granada, and Monarch use Mini Extruded Absorber type tilt columns.