Wartburg Tech Forum

It's pressed in on a big vice machine until the ends of the pin are squashed. To get it out you have to grind it, chisel it, hammer it, anything it takes to drive it out. Then to replace it you either have to take it to a shop that can press a new pin through it or figure out some other way of pinning it together. Of course, you could hunt down a complete used shift lever/column somewhere, then you just have to disconnect it at the end under the hood and feed the new assembly down through the firewall. That is what I would do- I know, easier said than done from over here in the states. But there are guys on here with good connections in Hungary. Or someone on the German Wartburg forum might be willing to help.

My cars are from Hungary. I lived there for 3 years and was able to shop around and buy nice one-owner examples. I had them tuned up and put through the national safety and emissions inspections while there. When they arrived here to Virginia, I had all paperwork in hand to register them, but the DMV had to alter its database in Richmond before it was physically possible to title a car "Wartburg"!

How did you come by yours then? You've had it five years?

Jeff

Hey Jeff I bought the car from Peter ... I know is on here sometimes .
Ok here are my new questions ??
Is taking pin out the only way to get the bushings back in the shifter??
Next how do you discount it from firewall?? Do I need to get the #26 bolt/pin out? Because loose didn't do it.
I'm getting beat down by this thing. I can get shifter of column no problem, but can't figure out how to get bushings back in and shifter together!! Ahhhhhhhhbb
Do you want another wartburg??? Will trade for vw or guitar!!!
Thanks again I'm not normally this challenged!!!
Thank you, Chris

I guess what I'm trying to say is it won't do you any good to keep putting the bushings back in until you replace at the very least the Gabel that is broken. And to do that you have to drive the pin out, take it apart and put it back together with a new Gabel, then the bushings will stay put. If you don't want to mess around with the press pin then you need the whole column. And to replace that, yes you need to get the finger #25 off the end of it and draw it up through the firewall. Taking out the bolt #26 is necessary but the finger part #25 is on there really tight so it will take some coercion to get it off even then. I'll also send you a private message.
Jeff