Steering column
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,166
Likes: 2
From: Las Vegas NV
Re: Steering column (mike79)
Past the turn signal switch, and the steering lock plate are some bolt that need to be tightened. common problem with ALL GM tilt steering columns. Of course the tilt / tele columns are more involved than standard tilt columns.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 49,198
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From: All in!
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'10
Re: Steering column (DaBo)
Past the turn signal switch, and the steering lock plate are some bolt that need to be tightened. common problem with ALL GM tilt steering columns. Of course the tilt / tele columns are more involved than standard tilt columns.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
Re: Steering column (mike79)
Go to http://www.corvettefaq.com and look under Suspension and Steering. Go to Tilt & Telescoping Disassembly Instructions; a Column Blow Up Picture; and three pages of sketches on how to disassemble the column.
You can do it with the column still in the car. But it is major surgery to get at the four bolts that hold the column head in place. This is a common problem with the GM tilt and T&T steering columns. The instructions are quite complete.
The standard columns don't seem to have the problem.
JIML82@aol.com
You can do it with the column still in the car. But it is major surgery to get at the four bolts that hold the column head in place. This is a common problem with the GM tilt and T&T steering columns. The instructions are quite complete.
The standard columns don't seem to have the problem.
JIML82@aol.com
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,166
Likes: 2
From: Las Vegas NV
Re: Steering column (Jim Shea)
Go to http://www.corvettefaq.com
The standard columns don't seem to have the problem.
JIML82@aol.com
The standard columns don't seem to have the problem.
JIML82@aol.com
I don't understand why they didn't Locktite them at the factory.
Thanks for the web site.....I have an explanation and a breakdown in a Haynes manual but it would not scan so that anyone could read it.
I have repaired the standard tilt columns, but have not done a Tilt/Tele yet.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 49,198
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From: All in!
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'10
Re: Steering column (DaBo)
Just took a look through the haynes manual and found the section.
That looks like an amazing pain in the butt to do. :eek:
I've gotta get in there someday and fix the turn signal cutoff too...I guess I'll have to hit both at the same time.
That looks like an amazing pain in the butt to do. :eek:
I've gotta get in there someday and fix the turn signal cutoff too...I guess I'll have to hit both at the same time.
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Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,166
Likes: 2
From: Las Vegas NV
Re: Steering column (Chris Fowler '80)
Yeah I know....my 76 only has about 1/4" travel, couldn't imagine much more.
Had an 83 chevy pickup that had so much travel, it would tilt up and down without using the lever.
I have an 80 Vette that I am selling for a friend, and it moves about 1/2"....I was going to fix it until I pulled out the book....guess I will have him deduct a few $$$ from the price.
Had an 83 chevy pickup that had so much travel, it would tilt up and down without using the lever.
I have an 80 Vette that I am selling for a friend, and it moves about 1/2"....I was going to fix it until I pulled out the book....guess I will have him deduct a few $$$ from the price.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
Re: Steering column (DaBo)
DaBo,
If you have repaired a GM tilt column, you know how to do 90% of the work. A T&T column is really just a tilt column with a telescoping upper steering shaft. There is more hardware on the steering wheel but the column is very much the same.
If you have repaired a GM tilt column, you know how to do 90% of the work. A T&T column is really just a tilt column with a telescoping upper steering shaft. There is more hardware on the steering wheel but the column is very much the same.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,166
Likes: 2
From: Las Vegas NV
Re: Steering column (Jim Shea)
Jim,
I could see that, but the 76 is not that bad yet, and there seems to always be something else to work on. :yesnod: :) :yesnod:
As far as the 80 goes, I am hoping to sell the car for my friend this weekend,
and it decided to get cold here this week. With no heat in the garage, I probably won't do it. If I don't sell it this weekend, and it warms up, I will most likely do it.
If I do, I'll post the results and maybe some pictures.
Thanks,
I could see that, but the 76 is not that bad yet, and there seems to always be something else to work on. :yesnod: :) :yesnod:
As far as the 80 goes, I am hoping to sell the car for my friend this weekend,
and it decided to get cold here this week. With no heat in the garage, I probably won't do it. If I don't sell it this weekend, and it warms up, I will most likely do it.
If I do, I'll post the results and maybe some pictures.
Thanks,
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Tyrone, Pa
Re: Steering column (DaBo)
I just did this repair with my Brother's guidance in my 87 Trans AM. He suggests tightening the bolts as tight as possible, and using high strength lock tight on the bolts to prevent them loosening again.
Hope the surgery goes well.
Be Cool
"TEACH"
PS . Little Brother has done this common repair sooo many times, that he only charges $20 to do it when he needs a few fast funds!
Hope the surgery goes well.
Be Cool
"TEACH"
PS . Little Brother has done this common repair sooo many times, that he only charges $20 to do it when he needs a few fast funds!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
Re: Steering column (73 Teach's Pet)
As you can tell from the threads, the tilt and T&T head loosening is a fairly common problem.
What really happens with the four bolts that hold the tilt support to the column jacket is this. The support is a die casting. With time the metal under the head of the four bolts begins to yield. The tension in the bolt is then lost and the bolt is now "loose". It then begins to back out and you have more and more play in the connections.
By locktiting the bolts in place, you prevent them from backing out and the connection feeling loose. This problem usually takes years of temperature cycling and years of use to show up. It was never discovered in the laboratory or in the high mileage (but short time duration) GM Proving Ground durability tests. The bolts are now loctited when they are assembled at the manufacturing plant in Saginaw.
What really happens with the four bolts that hold the tilt support to the column jacket is this. The support is a die casting. With time the metal under the head of the four bolts begins to yield. The tension in the bolt is then lost and the bolt is now "loose". It then begins to back out and you have more and more play in the connections.
By locktiting the bolts in place, you prevent them from backing out and the connection feeling loose. This problem usually takes years of temperature cycling and years of use to show up. It was never discovered in the laboratory or in the high mileage (but short time duration) GM Proving Ground durability tests. The bolts are now loctited when they are assembled at the manufacturing plant in Saginaw.
