What's ground on the steering column?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 33
From: Lokeren, Belgium
What's ground on the steering column?
Hi There,
Probably stupid again but at any point on the steering column I have continuity to ground, so also on the exterior covers. (the ones which are in interior color).
Is it true that normally on a std column only the shaft and the hub (because it's connected to it) should have continuity to ground through the steering column coupler?
I'm asking because my horn is blowing constantly due to my whole column (painted parts inclusive) has ground and you bolt the horn contact through the metal of the steering wheel to the column which closes the circuit for the horn.
The first point to look at would it be the two bolts which mount the column to the reinforcement bracket? The two insulators are there but maybe worn. Are they still available?
(concerning what's ground on the column I checked the papers of Jim but the documents don't specifically mention if only the shaft and hub are grounded).
Cheers
Nick
Probably stupid again but at any point on the steering column I have continuity to ground, so also on the exterior covers. (the ones which are in interior color).
Is it true that normally on a std column only the shaft and the hub (because it's connected to it) should have continuity to ground through the steering column coupler?
I'm asking because my horn is blowing constantly due to my whole column (painted parts inclusive) has ground and you bolt the horn contact through the metal of the steering wheel to the column which closes the circuit for the horn.
The first point to look at would it be the two bolts which mount the column to the reinforcement bracket? The two insulators are there but maybe worn. Are they still available?
(concerning what's ground on the column I checked the papers of Jim but the documents don't specifically mention if only the shaft and hub are grounded).
Cheers
Nick
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 419
Likes: 4
From: Lewisville TX
Any metal part of your Steering Column is going to be grounded. It's bolted to the dashboard frame - Metal to Metal contact.
Your horn ring should have an insulator to prevent contact. My 75's was made out of paper, so I took cardboard and cut a new one using the deteriorated old one as a template. The plastic fasteners were also brittle, so I went to Home Depot and found some plastic screws to replace them. Works great now!
Zips has a pretty good diagram on their web page (you have to click on it to bring it up, I can't link to it).
Horn Shim:
Horn Button Rivets:
Your horn ring should have an insulator to prevent contact. My 75's was made out of paper, so I took cardboard and cut a new one using the deteriorated old one as a template. The plastic fasteners were also brittle, so I went to Home Depot and found some plastic screws to replace them. Works great now!
Zips has a pretty good diagram on their web page (you have to click on it to bring it up, I can't link to it).
Horn Shim:
Horn Button Rivets:
Last edited by sfallison; Dec 14, 2010 at 09:57 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 33
From: Lokeren, Belgium
Thank you, its the answer i was hoping for 
found the issue as well today. The hub nut came with a washer, which wasn't present when I opened the column. Anyhow, the washer had constant contact with the horn contact hence circuit closed. It works fine without the washer.
Nick
found the issue as well today. The hub nut came with a washer, which wasn't present when I opened the column. Anyhow, the washer had constant contact with the horn contact hence circuit closed. It works fine without the washer. Nick
