Found mystery part in steering column "clamshell"
 

Hello all. Wondering if anyone can identify this part. When I pulled the wheel today, I found this sitting in the bottom of the steering column clamshell, where the switchgear is housed. I can't tell for sure if this came off when I pulled the wheel. Any ideas what it is?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1203282219.jpg

I don't know what year your car is, so I just picked a 911SC

http://www.pelicanparts.com/PartsLookup/HTML/911_USA_78_83_KATALOG/403-05-Frame3.htm

It's number 26 in the diagram above. It clips into the groove near end of the steering shaft before the threads. You have to take the steering wheel off to get to the groove. I recall mulling over this c-clip a little bit and I don't believe it really does much of anything. I've taken steering wheels off my car a dozen times and I don't see it doing much. I think it's intended to "bottom" the steering wheel on the shaft. But if I remember correctly, the shaft is stepped and therefore the wheel bottoms on the shaft taper?

Whatever the case about it's purpose, now you know where it goes. :D