I'm installing power steering in a '79 Sunbird and have a couple of questions. In the telescoping steering shaft there appear to be two (relatively) soft metal pins pressed in perpendicular to the shaft. I assume these are made to shear in the event of an accident so the driver doesn't get stabbed by the steering shaft. The power steering input shaft is a couple of inches longer than the shaft on the manual steering box so I need to collapse the steering shaft a little to fit the power steering. Will these pins press out or will I have to drill them? Trying to tap them out with a hammer and a drift hasn't worked so far. They haven't budged.
The power steering box has a 3/4" x 30 spline input shaft. I haven't taken off the manual steering box yet. Does anyone know if they're the same size?
(Edit 7/12/14) Got the manual box off and they're not the same size. Manual inpt shaft is smaller and so is the output shaft. Had to get a new Pitman arm to match the power steering box.