Steering column
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 121
Likes: 2
From: Middletown Delaware
Steering column
I have three problems with my steering column: It is loose in the tilt area. I believe there are three screws that work loose and cause the problem. The second problem is the turn signal lever. It is very sloppy but hard to move into position but it does work. Third problem How do I get it apart? It is a tilt / telescopic column. It looks easy enough in the manual but the only experience I had with a column was trying to put one back together that someone else disassembled. Needles to say I ended up replacing it with another used unit. Also, when I tighten the screws should I use loc-tite?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
First of all I would suggest that you download my first T&T steering column disassembly & repair paper from the internet. The first two pages have some simple tests that you can perform with the steering column in the car. These tests should lead you to determine what needs to be corrected.
The papers can be found at: www.corvettefaq.com
click on: Jim Shea's Steering Papers
click on: Corvette Steering Papers
Scroll down to the Tilt & Telescoping Steering Column area
Download this Paper #1: Tilt & Telescoping Column 69-82 Disassembly & Repair Paper #1 (Rev 09OC07) - check for loose pivot pins, support screws, & lock shoes, replace lock cylinder, key buzzer, turn signal lever, and adjust telescope lock.
This paper has the test procedures and gets you started on disassembly of the steering column. If your assumption is correct and you need to loctite and retighten the four support screws (it is four not three); then you are going to have to disassemble the column head to reach them. You are going to need the rest of the D&R papers and I suggest that you pull the steering column for much easier access.
In this T&T column area you will also find two more Disassembly & Repair Papers (#2 and #3)
You will also find three Disassembly & Repair Pics (#1, #2, #3).
There is also a blow-up drawing that might be of help.
As much as I have tried to make the explanations in my papers as clear as possible, I strongly suggest that you take lots of digital pictures as you disassemble the column. They will really help when it comes to rebuilding the column.
Jim
The papers can be found at: www.corvettefaq.com
click on: Jim Shea's Steering Papers
click on: Corvette Steering Papers
Scroll down to the Tilt & Telescoping Steering Column area
Download this Paper #1: Tilt & Telescoping Column 69-82 Disassembly & Repair Paper #1 (Rev 09OC07) - check for loose pivot pins, support screws, & lock shoes, replace lock cylinder, key buzzer, turn signal lever, and adjust telescope lock.
This paper has the test procedures and gets you started on disassembly of the steering column. If your assumption is correct and you need to loctite and retighten the four support screws (it is four not three); then you are going to have to disassemble the column head to reach them. You are going to need the rest of the D&R papers and I suggest that you pull the steering column for much easier access.
In this T&T column area you will also find two more Disassembly & Repair Papers (#2 and #3)
You will also find three Disassembly & Repair Pics (#1, #2, #3).
There is also a blow-up drawing that might be of help.
As much as I have tried to make the explanations in my papers as clear as possible, I strongly suggest that you take lots of digital pictures as you disassemble the column. They will really help when it comes to rebuilding the column.
Jim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
We have another slight problem. This is with the turn signal lever and/or the dimmer pivot. First of all, you have a 1978 Vette. Is the turn signal lever straight or does it have a bend in it? Do you have cruise or not?
The turn signal lever has a metal end that "plugs into" the plastic (or die cast) dimmer pivot. The lever is held in place with a spring loaded ball that is part of the pivot. You should be able to pull directly on your current lever to make it come out of the pivot.
There were two different combinations of dimmer pivots and turn signal levers that occurred during (or around) 1978. You are going to need to determine which vintage dimmer and lever that you have. Here it goes (to the best of my knowledge).
1977 had the dimmer, turn signal, and windshield wash/wipe all on the same lever. 1978 was new because it got rid of the windshield wash/wipe switch.
1978 Early had a dimmer pivot that was held in place in the turn signal housing (Corvette Central #563002) by means of a big screw. It also had a lever w/cruise (ZIP SC-337 or Doc Rebuild #2897116) with a bend in it because the dimmer had a lever hole that was at a shallow angle (32 degrees) and the lever needs to bend toward the steering wheel rim so that you can easily reach the cruise button on the end. The T&T turn signal lever w/o cruise was ZIP SC-333 or Doc Rebuild #2897118. I do not think that it had a bend in it.
1978 Late - Now I think that the T&T lever w/cruise stayed the same (a bend in it) but the dimmer pivot was retained in the steering column housing by a pressed-in pin. (Corvette Central #563001) So I think that you will need to know if your housing is threaded for the screw or does it have a hole for the pressed-in pin.
Now you will note that I have referenced two dimmer pivots that are sold by Corvette Central. That is the only place that I have found that lists these two only pivots.
Good luck,
Jim
The turn signal lever has a metal end that "plugs into" the plastic (or die cast) dimmer pivot. The lever is held in place with a spring loaded ball that is part of the pivot. You should be able to pull directly on your current lever to make it come out of the pivot.
There were two different combinations of dimmer pivots and turn signal levers that occurred during (or around) 1978. You are going to need to determine which vintage dimmer and lever that you have. Here it goes (to the best of my knowledge).
1977 had the dimmer, turn signal, and windshield wash/wipe all on the same lever. 1978 was new because it got rid of the windshield wash/wipe switch.
1978 Early had a dimmer pivot that was held in place in the turn signal housing (Corvette Central #563002) by means of a big screw. It also had a lever w/cruise (ZIP SC-337 or Doc Rebuild #2897116) with a bend in it because the dimmer had a lever hole that was at a shallow angle (32 degrees) and the lever needs to bend toward the steering wheel rim so that you can easily reach the cruise button on the end. The T&T turn signal lever w/o cruise was ZIP SC-333 or Doc Rebuild #2897118. I do not think that it had a bend in it.
1978 Late - Now I think that the T&T lever w/cruise stayed the same (a bend in it) but the dimmer pivot was retained in the steering column housing by a pressed-in pin. (Corvette Central #563001) So I think that you will need to know if your housing is threaded for the screw or does it have a hole for the pressed-in pin.
Now you will note that I have referenced two dimmer pivots that are sold by Corvette Central. That is the only place that I have found that lists these two only pivots.
Good luck,
Jim
