Steering problem (with video)
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 382
Likes: 8
From: Wellington
Steering problem (with video)
I am just rebuilding my steering after a replacement interior, but after putting the steering wheel back on I have found that the column is loose inside as shown on this video
Can anyone advise what has gone wrong?
Cheers
Kev
Can anyone advise what has gone wrong?
Cheers
Kev
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,417
Likes: 336
From: Texas
you need to ask Jim Shea, looks like a loose, or bad upper bearing.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...ev25my2009.pdf
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...ev25my2009.pdf
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 109
it is loose because you don't have it assembled yet. it needs the spring,and the other parts connnected so it will have two bearings holding it when you are finished.
not to hi-jack this now
I would like to see how you put it together from this point to because I also have one apart,and am having some problemswith finding a picture that shows how these things go together.
Before anyone chimes in I have all the information from Jim Shea,and every other source I can find,seems to me that all I have looked at are just a general guide as to whats in the column,not a specific corvette column.The more I research the more parts I find that are missing.I think I am missing only two more parts the spring/horn spring and the bumper for the tele part as you slide it forward so it will not hit metal to metal.other then that it is looking pretty good.
The internet and this site has been very helpful.
not to hi-jack this now
I would like to see how you put it together from this point to because I also have one apart,and am having some problemswith finding a picture that shows how these things go together.
Before anyone chimes in I have all the information from Jim Shea,and every other source I can find,seems to me that all I have looked at are just a general guide as to whats in the column,not a specific corvette column.The more I research the more parts I find that are missing.I think I am missing only two more parts the spring/horn spring and the bumper for the tele part as you slide it forward so it will not hit metal to metal.other then that it is looking pretty good.
The internet and this site has been very helpful.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
it is loose because you don't have it assembled yet. it needs the spring,and the other parts connnected so it will have two bearings holding it when you are finished.
not to hi-jack this now
I would like to see how you put it together from this point to because I also have one apart,and am having some problemswith finding a picture that shows how these things go together.
Before anyone chimes in I have all the information from Jim Shea,and every other source I can find,seems to me that all I have looked at are just a general guide as to whats in the column,not a specific corvette column.The more I research the more parts I find that are missing.I think I am missing only two more parts the spring/horn spring and the bumper for the tele part as you slide it forward so it will not hit metal to metal.other then that it is looking pretty good.
The internet and this site has been very helpful.
not to hi-jack this now
I would like to see how you put it together from this point to because I also have one apart,and am having some problemswith finding a picture that shows how these things go together.
Before anyone chimes in I have all the information from Jim Shea,and every other source I can find,seems to me that all I have looked at are just a general guide as to whats in the column,not a specific corvette column.The more I research the more parts I find that are missing.I think I am missing only two more parts the spring/horn spring and the bumper for the tele part as you slide it forward so it will not hit metal to metal.other then that it is looking pretty good.
The internet and this site has been very helpful.
Rick B.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 382
Likes: 8
From: Wellington
it is loose because you don't have it assembled yet. it needs the spring,and the other parts connnected so it will have two bearings holding it when you are finished.
not to hi-jack this now
I would like to see how you put it together from this point to because I also have one apart,and am having some problemswith finding a picture that shows how these things go together.
Before anyone chimes in I have all the information from Jim Shea,and every other source I can find,seems to me that all I have looked at are just a general guide as to whats in the column,not a specific corvette column.The more I research the more parts I find that are missing.I think I am missing only two more parts the spring/horn spring and the bumper for the tele part as you slide it forward so it will not hit metal to metal.other then that it is looking pretty good.
The internet and this site has been very helpful.
not to hi-jack this now
I would like to see how you put it together from this point to because I also have one apart,and am having some problemswith finding a picture that shows how these things go together.
Before anyone chimes in I have all the information from Jim Shea,and every other source I can find,seems to me that all I have looked at are just a general guide as to whats in the column,not a specific corvette column.The more I research the more parts I find that are missing.I think I am missing only two more parts the spring/horn spring and the bumper for the tele part as you slide it forward so it will not hit metal to metal.other then that it is looking pretty good.
The internet and this site has been very helpful.
http://blog.scottsvettetalk.com/2008...n-rebuild.aspx
I am taking some photos as I go and I will put the dimensions of the rubber hose/tube/bumper as soon as I figure out where it goes
Let me know what details you need and I will post them if I can.
Cheers
Kev
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
This pdf blowup of a 1970-76 Corvette T&T column is the best blowup that I have found. The 1969 T&T is just a little bit different in the order that the insulated locking plate and canceling cam spring go together and the lack of a plastic C-clip retainer.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...prev26de09.pdf
One of the basic problems is that the above blowup shows all of the parts that Saginaw assembled into a T&T column. It does not show the steering wheel, telescope lock, and horn parts that Chevrolet supplied. You need the AIM book for those steering wheel parts.
The following steering wheel, telescope lock, and horn parts picture is from a 1977-82 AIM.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...sRev08AU04.doc
The steering wheel may be different but the rest of the parts are accurate for the 1969-1975 and 1977-1982 Corvette T&T columns.
Sorry this one is still in Microsoft word.doc format. I just haven't had time to convert it to pdf format.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...sRev08AU04.doc
These are the best pictures of the upper end.
Jim
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...prev26de09.pdf
One of the basic problems is that the above blowup shows all of the parts that Saginaw assembled into a T&T column. It does not show the steering wheel, telescope lock, and horn parts that Chevrolet supplied. You need the AIM book for those steering wheel parts.
The following steering wheel, telescope lock, and horn parts picture is from a 1977-82 AIM.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...sRev08AU04.doc
The steering wheel may be different but the rest of the parts are accurate for the 1969-1975 and 1977-1982 Corvette T&T columns.
Sorry this one is still in Microsoft word.doc format. I just haven't had time to convert it to pdf format.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...sRev08AU04.doc
These are the best pictures of the upper end.
Jim
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 109
Rick
I was going to make this part or at least a thin plastic washer just
to keep the (clunk) down. I read that some people leave this part out to gain a little extra clearence.I have a picture of one and it looks to be like you describe a short hose/rubber with a white plastic piece on each side of it.
Kev
Glad you got it,I have assembled and taken mine apart at least ten times in the last couple of days because I keep finding a new little part.I then go look at all of the pics/drawings I have and install that part.I have just found the correct location of the C-clip retainer.Thanks to both you and Jim.
Now to figure out the correct orientation of that piece.I think I just noticed another mistake I have on the key warning buzzer switch that I need to go back into again and double check.
Any pictures you post on your reassembly will be helpful to me.
By the time I get this column finished I will know it forwards and backwards.Also finding parts at a reasonable cost was my biggest hold up during this.For example paying $50.00 for a key warning switch is insane so I searched and searched and wasted at least twenty hours of time at a cost of ? ? but I found it for less then $20.00
Another item I did was the turn signal switch,at a cost of $70.00 plus for a new one.I bought three old NOS switches off fleabay and sat down and compared parts,ended up taking parts from the burnt switch and using on a different switch and came up with a solution.
Cost of some of the replacement parts
so I waited and looked.I found the column on flea bay,it supposedly came from a 1971 that had a fire,I do believe it did looking at the melted wiring and plastic.It may have taken me well over a year to piece this back together.I think I have less then $300.00 in the whole column.I also learned how to disassemble it without any special tools.( example ) the two pivot pins ?? I ended up using the small screw from the funny looking spring that holds the plastic sector, same threads as the pivot pins and believe it or not a claw hammer and a small piece of wood to get the correct leverage,worked very good.
Below are the sorces that I have used for parts,[U][B]CUSTOMER SERVICE[B][U] played the major reason in who I bought parts from.Both do not have a minumun purchase which I find is convenient when you only need a small item,and you then find out you need another small item.To me this is customer service
http://www.stolenandrecovered.com/index.php
http://www.corvetteparts.com/
and lastly but not least I want to thank you Mr.Shea for taking the time for all the information you have given to us corvette people/hobbyists who despise taking their projects to a (Corvette Speciality Shop) I have learned a valueable lesson THANKS TO YOU
it will last the rest of my lifetime
Now on to the steering box
I was going to make this part or at least a thin plastic washer just
to keep the (clunk) down. I read that some people leave this part out to gain a little extra clearence.I have a picture of one and it looks to be like you describe a short hose/rubber with a white plastic piece on each side of it.
Kev
Glad you got it,I have assembled and taken mine apart at least ten times in the last couple of days because I keep finding a new little part.I then go look at all of the pics/drawings I have and install that part.I have just found the correct location of the C-clip retainer.Thanks to both you and Jim.
Now to figure out the correct orientation of that piece.I think I just noticed another mistake I have on the key warning buzzer switch that I need to go back into again and double check.
Any pictures you post on your reassembly will be helpful to me.
By the time I get this column finished I will know it forwards and backwards.Also finding parts at a reasonable cost was my biggest hold up during this.For example paying $50.00 for a key warning switch is insane so I searched and searched and wasted at least twenty hours of time at a cost of ? ? but I found it for less then $20.00
Another item I did was the turn signal switch,at a cost of $70.00 plus for a new one.I bought three old NOS switches off fleabay and sat down and compared parts,ended up taking parts from the burnt switch and using on a different switch and came up with a solution.
Cost of some of the replacement parts
so I waited and looked.I found the column on flea bay,it supposedly came from a 1971 that had a fire,I do believe it did looking at the melted wiring and plastic.It may have taken me well over a year to piece this back together.I think I have less then $300.00 in the whole column.I also learned how to disassemble it without any special tools.( example ) the two pivot pins ?? I ended up using the small screw from the funny looking spring that holds the plastic sector, same threads as the pivot pins and believe it or not a claw hammer and a small piece of wood to get the correct leverage,worked very good. Below are the sorces that I have used for parts,[U][B]CUSTOMER SERVICE[B][U] played the major reason in who I bought parts from.Both do not have a minumun purchase which I find is convenient when you only need a small item,and you then find out you need another small item.To me this is customer service
http://www.stolenandrecovered.com/index.php
http://www.corvetteparts.com/
and lastly but not least I want to thank you Mr.Shea for taking the time for all the information you have given to us corvette people/hobbyists who despise taking their projects to a (Corvette Speciality Shop) I have learned a valueable lesson THANKS TO YOU
it will last the rest of my lifetime
Now on to the steering box
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
Quite frankly, mostly you just set the telescope to a distance that is best for you. You rarely, (if ever) telescope the steering wheel to the extremes where it would hit the end of travel and make a "clunk". Eliminating the piece of hose will actually give you a slight amount of extra travel.
Jim
Jim