Steering Column Alignment
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Roseville NSW
Steering Column Alignment
My Steering column seems to be mounted out of centre (twisted), the ignition and indicator stem are not parallel to the dash. Before I pull everything apart any suggestions on what I need to do to align things correctly>
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
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From: Saginaw Michigan
The 1969 through 1982 Corvette steering columns (both non-adjustable and T&T versions) have a welded bracket where the two vertical bolts hold the column up into the dash structure.
So it would seem difficult that any adjustment can be made to change the rotational attachment of the column to the instrument cluster.
This scan of a straight on view of a 1977 T&T Corvette column shows the turn signal and the tilt levers to be horizontal. This 1977 picture is typical of all the other C3 steering columns.
Jim
So it would seem difficult that any adjustment can be made to change the rotational attachment of the column to the instrument cluster.
This scan of a straight on view of a 1977 T&T Corvette column shows the turn signal and the tilt levers to be horizontal. This 1977 picture is typical of all the other C3 steering columns.
Jim
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
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From: Dayton, Ohio
The 1969 through 1982 Corvette steering columns (both non-adjustable and T&T versions) have a welded bracket where the two vertical bolts hold the column up into the dash structure.
So it would seem difficult that any adjustment can be made to change the rotational attachment of the column to the instrument cluster.
Jim
So it would seem difficult that any adjustment can be made to change the rotational attachment of the column to the instrument cluster.
Jim
Its possible the welded bracket was removed and reinstalled or not connected at all. It could be improperly installed in some way, something stuck between the bracket and mount for instance.If the column has been apart ,its possible the upper housing is not clocked correctly,this would not be good because to do so probably damaged something.
I think to help much more we would need more info after you have removed the bottom trim and investigated a bit.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
There should be two aluminum capsules (one on each side of the steering column.) The vertical column installation bolts pass through the capsules and attach them to the dash structure. The capsules were designed to slide off of the steering column mounting bracket in a severe frontal collision and allow the column to collapse on itself and absorb energy. Is it possible that one of the capsules is missing and Bubba just clamped the bracket to the dash structure causing it to tip to one side?
I doubt that the upper bracket on the steering column has been removed. It was typically welded pretty securely because it was constructed of fairly thick material. The thin sheet metal bracket down by the floor pan probably could be removed or rotated by grinding the spot welds.
I hope that your car was not in a severe enough collision so that the dash structure was damaged and caused the problem.
Jim
I doubt that the upper bracket on the steering column has been removed. It was typically welded pretty securely because it was constructed of fairly thick material. The thin sheet metal bracket down by the floor pan probably could be removed or rotated by grinding the spot welds.
I hope that your car was not in a severe enough collision so that the dash structure was damaged and caused the problem.
Jim
Last edited by Jim Shea; Jun 15, 2012 at 11:06 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
This is from the 1976 Corvette AIM but it is very close (or the same) as all of the C3 column installations. You can see two big stamped brackets (A and C). Those two brackets can be shifted around so as to make the steering column concentric to the hole in the instrument cluster. I haven't really ever played with repositioning those two brackets. And I am not really sure that they would have any affect on causing the steering column to be tipped to one side or the other.
Jim
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 35
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From: Roseville NSW
Hi Jim, thx .. there are no signs of collision damage. The only signs are of a break-in (damage around door lock, glass fragments inside door) .. I had suspected the twist was caused by someone trying to break the steering coloum lock by reefing on the steering wheel).
Alan
Alan
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
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From: Saginaw Michigan
Oh, a thief possibly was reefing on the steering column head or on the steering wheel. My gosh, maybe that could explain the slight amount of rotation of the upper end of the steering column!
There are four screws that hold the support to a lock plate that is supposed to be cam locked into the upper jacket. I would suggest a tear down of the steering column head to determine if the lock plate has been disengaged from the opening in the upper jacket.
jim
There are four screws that hold the support to a lock plate that is supposed to be cam locked into the upper jacket. I would suggest a tear down of the steering column head to determine if the lock plate has been disengaged from the opening in the upper jacket.
jim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
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From: Saginaw Michigan
The driver side and the passenger side wings on the steering column mounting bracket should be in-line with each other. The wing on the driver side is noticeably bent. Here is your answer as to why your turn signal and tilt levers are not horizontal.
I'm surprised that someone could reef on the steering wheel so hard that they could bend that ear. I don't know how you are going to be able to bend the driver side ear back to straight. Maybe you can stack some shims, use a longer bolt and get the column with its levers back to a horizontal position.
Jim
I'm surprised that someone could reef on the steering wheel so hard that they could bend that ear. I don't know how you are going to be able to bend the driver side ear back to straight. Maybe you can stack some shims, use a longer bolt and get the column with its levers back to a horizontal position.
Jim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
I scaled one of my assembly drawings and it appears that the left (driver side) mounting capsule is about 0.10 inch lower than the right side capsule. From your pictures it does appear that the left side is quite a bit lower than just 0.1 inch. So disregard my previous statement that the two capsules were in-line.
Jim
Jim