Steering column
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Long Beach CA
Steering column
Hi names Victor not sure if I'm posting in the right place this is my first time here just joined 2 minutes ago. Now my question is should I rebuild my steering column or purchase a new one. I own a 1971 Corvette that is pretty much still stock it has a tilt & telescoping steering wheel I do want to upgrade to the Borgeson power steering eventually so I'm not really to set on keeping the car completely original (sorry if I offended anyone) but not everyone has unlimited funds thank you all for any help
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,694
Likes: 833
From: WI
Borgeson is going to be a lot of work for the incremental improvement vs a quality steering box rebuild and a new rag joint (read the honest reviews). Buddy of mine did one recently with a T-bird too (essentially the same style of steering). But it does have it's benefits. If you ultimately want to go that way, a shorter steering column would be a benefit on the steering angle. And if you haven't re-done a steering column, there are a lot of persnikety parts in there. You're probably better off spending the $ on a new column vs the time/parts. Mostly the time. Just my initial thought/s.
Guess it depends on what your column needs? What are the current issues with your steering column that it needs to be 'rebuilt'?
Best regards
Guess it depends on what your column needs? What are the current issues with your steering column that it needs to be 'rebuilt'?
Best regards
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Long Beach CA
Mark the column is loose it has movement in the middle like a bolt might be loose somewhere inside. The reason I want it rebuilt is the previous owner said he removed something off it I think it was the hazards so I really want to be safe and have it looked at now hopefully it's just a loose screw and done but the one place I've looked so far wanted $625. Just for labor plus parts. I would really like to get a better steering experience hence the Borgeson any advice is appreciated.
sorry I'm mechanically challenged 😀
sorry I'm mechanically challenged 😀
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,694
Likes: 833
From: WI
Most likely it's two thing which are somewhat easy to fix (the wobble):
1) Loose bolts on the lower tilt housing. It's a matter of disasssembling the housing to a certain point and just tightening them. Its super common they come loose. There's videos how to do this.
2) Worn tilt hinge pins. Grab the wheel and see if it rocks at an angle (not just up/down). The tilt hinge has a super-strong spring in it, so the steering wheel doesn't just "flop" down onto your lap from it's own weight. That spring puts constant outward pressure (pushes the tilt assembly toward the driver) ...which eventually over years of car vibrations, etc, eggs-out the holes for the tilt section. Particularly on the Rt side of the column where the spring is closest to. These are easy to replace if you remove the parts to tighten the column.
So you can see that getting it 'tighter' isn't that difficult. Shouldn't be that expensive either. You'll need a to get the c-clip off, a Pivot Pin Removal Tool www.ebay.com/itm/256114187220 and you can buy oversized dowel pins for the tilt
https://www.ebay.com/itm/284285256096
There's videos how to do all this. Just type in "Replace GM steering column pivot pins".
The flashers...sounds like an easy thing to fix depending on what the PO actually removed. Maybe all he did was just the pull **** and screw.
1) Loose bolts on the lower tilt housing. It's a matter of disasssembling the housing to a certain point and just tightening them. Its super common they come loose. There's videos how to do this.
2) Worn tilt hinge pins. Grab the wheel and see if it rocks at an angle (not just up/down). The tilt hinge has a super-strong spring in it, so the steering wheel doesn't just "flop" down onto your lap from it's own weight. That spring puts constant outward pressure (pushes the tilt assembly toward the driver) ...which eventually over years of car vibrations, etc, eggs-out the holes for the tilt section. Particularly on the Rt side of the column where the spring is closest to. These are easy to replace if you remove the parts to tighten the column.
So you can see that getting it 'tighter' isn't that difficult. Shouldn't be that expensive either. You'll need a to get the c-clip off, a Pivot Pin Removal Tool www.ebay.com/itm/256114187220 and you can buy oversized dowel pins for the tilt
https://www.ebay.com/itm/284285256096
There's videos how to do all this. Just type in "Replace GM steering column pivot pins".
The flashers...sounds like an easy thing to fix depending on what the PO actually removed. Maybe all he did was just the pull **** and screw.
Last edited by Mark G; Sep 21, 2023 at 02:17 AM.
