Frank. I got REAL familiar with my 73. While it does not have the cheese grater jacket, it is built to collapse. There are provisions inside it with plastic tabs that will sheer and allow collapse. The feature is there just harder to see. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from U.S. Cellular -----Original Message----- From: Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx> Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:02:08 To: <amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: Re: [AMC-list] Safety Weinie True about the rag joint, but it will rip away in a hard frontal collision. It's better than the old solid shaft even if it just allows the shaft and box to pivot at that point and doesn't rip apart. Takes a LOT of effort to rip it apart, but a head on collision easily provides that! The old columns are as you described. Newer ones (mid 70s on) just have a collapsible intermediate shaft. Those have a "D" or "Double D" solid shaft inside a hollow one that will collapse 6-12" depending on model. --------- Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:43:52 -0500 From: Matt Haas <mhaas@xxxxxxx> To: "AMC, Rambler, Nash, Jeep and family" <amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: Re: [AMC-list] Safety Weinie Message-ID: <4B3175D8.5010301@xxxxxxx> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed The rag joint is there for vibration isolation only. The collapsible part is in the column and how it mounts. The shaft is at least partially hollow and pinned together with nylon, the column has an expanded metal section in it, and the dash mount can partially break away from the dash so it can collapse. -- Frank Swygert Publisher, "American Motors Cars" Magazine (AMC) For all AMC enthusiasts http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html (free download available!) _______________________________________________ AMC-list mailing list AMC-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx http://list.amc-list.com/listinfo.cgi/amc-list-amc-list.com _______________________________________________ AMC-list mailing list AMC-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx http://list.amc-list.com/listinfo.cgi/amc-list-amc-list.com