Collapsed steering column?

BarnStang

Founding Member
Mar 2, 2001
1,260
3
39
Hagerstown, MD
I have been trying to fix up the 92 vert I got. I ordered the two piece plastic shroud that goes around the steering column. Problem was the top part wouldn't fit. So, I took the ones off my 93 hatch to make sure I wasn't crazy. The steering wheel is closer to the dash on the 92 vert than the 93 hatch. I "assume" the column is compressed. Maybe the car hit something hard enought to throw an unbelted driver against the steering wheel, but not hard enough to deploy the air bag? Or the air bag was replaced.
If the steering column is compressed, what parts do I need to get? I imagine I need to buy a whole steering column? Or is there a part of it I can replace to restore the stock length?
I had the car checked out by a shop before we brought it down to Florida, it it drives straight. Brakes straight. So not sure what to think. And all the sheetmetal is straight. No uneven seems and no gaps larger than the ones on the 93. I suspect I will need to have it checked a little harder, maybe a check on the frame rack. Still need to pull codes on it.