Need Help - Tilt Steering pin removal???
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,725
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From: Hanover Maryland
Need Help - Tilt Steering pin removal???
I am in the process of rebuilding the tilt/telescoping steering in my 82 Vette. I have gotten to this point but am stuck! I can not figure away to remove the pin at the top of the tilt mechanism. Both of the pivot pins have been removed, but I can not break it down any further. When I wiggle the tilt mechanism, it is hung up by this silver pin that runs from side to side. There is a flush, flat side and a tapered end that protrudes out past the housing by approx. 1/8 of an inch. I have tried driving it out in either direction with no success.
Please help???????
Please help???????
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Check Jim Shea's tech stuff, but I'm with kortensi on this one. I don't think that pin has to come out.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
From 1969-82 T&T Steering Column Disassembly & Repair Paper #3
"Remove housing by pulling upward on the tilt lever and pull the housing upward until it stops. Move the housing to the right or left to disengage the rack #37 from the ignition switch rod #38. Pull the housing up off the steering shaft assy."
Jim
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,725
Likes: 0
From: Hanover Maryland
From 1969-82 T&T Steering Column Disassembly & Repair Paper #3
"Remove housing by pulling upward on the tilt lever and pull the housing upward until it stops. Move the housing to the right or left to disengage the rack #37 from the ignition switch rod #38. Pull the housing up off the steering shaft assy."
Jim
Jim,
I read all of your papers for the T/T column and I could not get the assembly apart after following the directions. I will try again and let you Guys know what happens.
Thanks.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,725
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From: Hanover Maryland
DIDN'T WORK. I guess maybe I need some clarification.
Jim,
I had the column with shaft down at the ground and the tilt hub towards the ceiling. When you say "by pulling upward on the tilt lever", is that towards the ceiling or in towards the housing? I tried both directions.
I am then to "pull the housing upward until it stops". Is that towards the ceiling? My housing really does not move at all, maybe just a fraction.
I can not get the housing to disengage from anything.
Man, I can bench 400lbs as a bodybuilder, but I must be doing something wrong here. I can't get this to budge.
Jim,
I had the column with shaft down at the ground and the tilt hub towards the ceiling. When you say "by pulling upward on the tilt lever", is that towards the ceiling or in towards the housing? I tried both directions.
I am then to "pull the housing upward until it stops". Is that towards the ceiling? My housing really does not move at all, maybe just a fraction.
I can not get the housing to disengage from anything.
Man, I can bench 400lbs as a bodybuilder, but I must be doing something wrong here. I can't get this to budge.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Pull the tilt lever in the normal direction, as if you were adjusting it, hold the lever in that position and pull on the whole upper bowl. The upper bowl should come off. What you're doing is releasing the tilt latch(?) from the lower part of the column. It dosen't take a lot of effort, but you may have to wiggle it to get all the parts seperated..
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Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 613
Likes: 2
From: West Central Florida
Remove the spring!
You take a socket extension (I beleive its 1/4in) and put in the square hole where the spring is on the bottom of the column, have a friend hold the column if not in car and push on the plate with the square hole and turn to release. Then SLOWLY let it back out of the hole until the tension is off the spring then pull the spring out. Now you will have no problem getting the pins out if the are not grooved or pitted. Also, if you need to you could use a dent piller and a small machine screw that fits the threads in the pins and pill them out that way. I dont remember the thread size in the pins.
You take a socket extension (I beleive its 1/4in) and put in the square hole where the spring is on the bottom of the column, have a friend hold the column if not in car and push on the plate with the square hole and turn to release. Then SLOWLY let it back out of the hole until the tension is off the spring then pull the spring out. Now you will have no problem getting the pins out if the are not grooved or pitted. Also, if you need to you could use a dent piller and a small machine screw that fits the threads in the pins and pill them out that way. I dont remember the thread size in the pins.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
I am at a loss right now with this one. Interesting, we have another thread where we can't get the turn signal switch cover off. This one has the cover off but now we can't get the bearing housing off.
I will call my skilled trades retiree friend tomorrow. He used to assemble prototype Saginaw columns. We are asking him to remember back 30+ years but he is pretty good.
Jim
I will call my skilled trades retiree friend tomorrow. He used to assemble prototype Saginaw columns. We are asking him to remember back 30+ years but he is pretty good.
Jim
Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 613
Likes: 2
From: West Central Florida
Thats the pin that catches the teeth on the tilt position locking arms. Pull your tilt lever to disengage the teeth from the pin and the bearing housing should come off with a little tilting. Its been a few months since I did mine but I do remember running into the same problem with the teeth catching on the pin. As long as your spring is removed it should be easy to pull the lever and wiggle the bearing housing off.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
You really have us stumped! I talked at length with my retired skilled trades man. We really didn't come up with much.
One thought. When you were first trying to drive out the pin that holds the lock shoes. Did you already have the two pivot pins pulled out of the support? I wonder if you might have damaged something. Since the bearing housing was not supported.
I would suggest that you reinstall the two pivot pins. Now screw in the tilt lever. Pull the tilt lever toward the steering wheel (unlocking the shoes). Does the bearing housing easily pivot to each of the positions where the lock shoes engage?
If it pivots up and down easily. Try removing the two pivot pins. Pull back on the tilt lever and try wiggling the bearing housing to get it to release from the steering shaft and the support.
Jim
One thought. When you were first trying to drive out the pin that holds the lock shoes. Did you already have the two pivot pins pulled out of the support? I wonder if you might have damaged something. Since the bearing housing was not supported.
I would suggest that you reinstall the two pivot pins. Now screw in the tilt lever. Pull the tilt lever toward the steering wheel (unlocking the shoes). Does the bearing housing easily pivot to each of the positions where the lock shoes engage?
If it pivots up and down easily. Try removing the two pivot pins. Pull back on the tilt lever and try wiggling the bearing housing to get it to release from the steering shaft and the support.
Jim
