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Old Aug 17, 2005 | 02:20 PM
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Default steering wheel play

I get vertical steering wheel play, perhaps close to an inch. Kinda scary. Any help?
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Old Aug 17, 2005 | 02:42 PM
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Did it just show up or was it gettin weird a little at a time...maybe it's the rag joint
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Old Aug 17, 2005 | 03:03 PM
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That play is coming from the bearing housing in the column. Possibly the 4 torx screws or the tilt pins are backing out....
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Old Aug 17, 2005 | 03:19 PM
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I have the same issues on my 79. I'll check the torx screws. big_G you really seem to know your stuff. Thanks.
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Old Aug 17, 2005 | 03:20 PM
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Originally Posted by big_G
That play is coming from the bearing housing in the column. Possibly the 4 torx screws or the tilt pins are backing out....
Thats exactly what mine had, same problem description and the 4 torx screws had backed out.
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Old Aug 17, 2005 | 04:03 PM
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how do u get to the screws?
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Old Aug 17, 2005 | 04:29 PM
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Make sure you have brass ***** before you rip into the column that far. It is a skill level 5 job, 5 beign the hardest. But if you feel comfortable going in, get an exploded view of your particular column. Get a magnetic wand and magnetic tray, for when you pull the bearings out...It took me about 5 column jobs before I was comfortable with them...G/L
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Old Aug 17, 2005 | 11:03 PM
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Go to corvettefaq.com and check out Jim Shea's papers on the steering column. It could be several things causing it to move up and down.
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Old Aug 18, 2005 | 12:02 AM
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You didn't mention it but I am sure that you must have a T&T column. Start with my D&R paper #1. It has a couple simple tests that can give you a good indication as to where the looseness is coming from. You will most likely need all three D&R papers and the three pics as well. Go to www.corvettefaq.com and look in the Steering section under Tilt & Telescoping Column 69-82.

For this type of repair, plan on pulling the steering column and doing the repairs on a bench.

If you need further assistance, just post some more. We are here to help.

Jim Shea
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Old Aug 18, 2005 | 09:32 AM
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Default me too

I recently replaced a shot stock power steering setup that was so lose I'm not sure how it stayed to gether with new Steeriods rack and pinion. It is a world of difference, but it now shakes your arms off with ever bump you hit.

I'm new to all of this and wonder where I should look to fix the problem. Is it in the steering column? any suggestions
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Old Aug 18, 2005 | 01:07 PM
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Originally Posted by big_G
It is a skill level 5 job, 5 being the hardest. But if you feel comfortable going in, get an exploded view of your particular column. Get a magnetic wand and magnetic tray, for when you pull the bearings out...G/L
I agree... In 1980, I completely disassembled my 1977 T-T column. The hardest part was removing the pivot pins from the tilt mechanism. I asked all of the local GM dealers how they removed the pins. They said it took a special tool, which none of them had. When I asked them how they disassembled the columns they all said they didn't.

Every technician I spoke to said the same thing, the only thing they ever had to do was retighten the 4 bolts that held the tilt mechanism together. (This problem has been around for a while!) But they could pretty easily disassemble them to a point where they could get to the 4 bolts without taking them completely apart.

I made a tool of my own to remove the pins and took it apart anyway. Putting them back in was the easy part… just use a large c-clamp.

All the while the column was removed from my Corvette (almost a month), I had my wife convinced I was doing the Corvette Summer conversion… for the same reason Mark Hamil used. "Wouldn't an alarm be easier?"… was her only response!

Bottom line is you should be able to reach the 4 bolts without a major disassembly of the column.

GUSTO
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Old Aug 18, 2005 | 11:46 PM
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If your goin' to take it out you might as well replace the turn signal swith and the ignition switch also the rag joint.
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