Help-Steering Column Seals

[formula_raider]

I am putting back my steering column after a complete repaint of the cab and I am replacing the "steering column to dash seal" and the seal that is at the bottom of the column that attaches to the firewall. How in the world do you get these seals to slip off the column so you can put new ones on. I have a tilt auto column shift and the 4" metal mechanism at the bottom of the column that moves the transmission selector is in the way and you cannot slip the seal around it. I have taken off the bottom bearing and have tore down the top of the column. I really do not want to remove the upper bearing and do a complete tear down. Is this what I have to do? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks,

[Striker169]

well on mine I just had to stretch that sucker on, get someone to help hold it and just pull and push its a PITA but not impossible, if there is some other trick I too would like to know

[purple gas]

in my typical backwards fashion, AFTER I got my tilt column rebuilt and re painted , I then put the rubber parts on. All I did which was cheezy and red neck as hell was bend over the shift lever on the bottom of the column, and put the rubber parts on. Of course I had to do it a couple times 'cause I got the order and direction mixed up. After I just bent the lever back where it was before. It's crude but it works, Just like we did things back on the farm. If your careful no one will ever know. Cept us & we ain't tellin.

[70GMCer]

That's what I had to do to mine. Bend it down just enought for the seal to go over, then bend it back. It's pretty tough steal, so it won't break.