What I had to do was remove the plastic retainer (not at all difficult, I touched it and it exploded), then push that plate down, toward the middle of the column, and slide the C-ring out. There is a tension spring behind it. Then the plate and the turn signal knockoff cam (the yellow plastic part) came out easily. This would actually have been easier to do with the column in the car. I dont know the 77 manual shows a tool that screws onto the end of the column shaft and pushes the plate down, because with a telescope column, thats not possible...and how many Cadillacs were made in 1977 that didnt have the tilt/tele column? (Watch someone answer that). Or maybe there is more to that tool than meets the eye, I dont know. I made one based on what I saw in the picture.
The plastic retainer, what remains of it, is in the trash. I assume that its purpose was to keep the C-ring from sliding out, but since it exploded when I touched it, I doubt that it was doing anything. I just the column back together without it.
I tested the turn signal action, the key works great now, and everything is tilting and telescoping as it should. I hope that swapping the column into my hearse goes a little easier, but I know better than to expect it to.
-denise
