'75 telescoping column reassembly...star screw won't thread
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,309
Likes: 24
From: Coastal Georgia
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
'75 telescoping column reassembly...star screw won't thread
I'm reassembling the end of the steering column in my '75, where the horn contacts and steering wheel bolt up. My column had been apart for several months while I was doing an LS1 swap, but I bagged and tagged everything so I had it all ready to go today.
Everything was in the bag marked "steering column/horn" as it should be. I get everything in place, and go to thread the star screw in so I can set the adjustment on the telescoping. The screw won't even begin to thread. It looks way too big for the hole...like a size too big. I figure I'm crazy at this point...the column came apart, it should go back together the same way....
It's been months since I took this thing apart, so I don't remember if it was screwed up or not when I took it apart. I do remember the horn not working, which it does now. Anyways, on either side of the threaded hole where the star screw threads in, there are two additional threaded holes in the hub itself. The star screw threads perfectly into both of these holes. Here's a pic to show what I'm talking about...
Am I just messed up or what? I know the star screw should thread into the center of the column.
Ideas?
Everything was in the bag marked "steering column/horn" as it should be. I get everything in place, and go to thread the star screw in so I can set the adjustment on the telescoping. The screw won't even begin to thread. It looks way too big for the hole...like a size too big. I figure I'm crazy at this point...the column came apart, it should go back together the same way....
It's been months since I took this thing apart, so I don't remember if it was screwed up or not when I took it apart. I do remember the horn not working, which it does now. Anyways, on either side of the threaded hole where the star screw threads in, there are two additional threaded holes in the hub itself. The star screw threads perfectly into both of these holes. Here's a pic to show what I'm talking about...
Am I just messed up or what? I know the star screw should thread into the center of the column.
Ideas?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
Do a Google search for Jim Shea paper on the '75 column. You are trying to screw it into the wrong place. I think you need a few more pieces installed before the star goes in. If you have the shop manual for your car it will be there too. I always take plenty of pics when taking things apart as it helps tremendously on reassembly. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,309
Likes: 24
From: Coastal Georgia
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
And I didn't use a steering wheel puller?
I think maybe it's either the threads in the hole, or the bolt itself...
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
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From: Dayton, Ohio
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Pretty common for either types of removal. In future put a temp allen socket head bolt in there.
Star bolt is good if it easily threads into other holes.
Just chase the thread with a starter tap.
Your steering wheel and shaft stake mark don't line up, may want to check that.
Star bolt is good if it easily threads into other holes.
Just chase the thread with a starter tap.
Your steering wheel and shaft stake mark don't line up, may want to check that.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
I recommend in my T&T Disassembly & Repair Paper #1 that you cover the threaded hole in the upper steering shaft with a penny or other piece of metal when you use a puller to remove the steering wheel hub. I think that you are going to need a 5/16-18 UNC tap to run down into the upper steering shaft. Somehow you most likely buggered up the very first female thread(s) in the upper steering shaft. Don't ask me how I discovered this problem.
This is from my T&T Disassembly & Repair Paper #1, page 5.
"Tip! Since the upper steering shaft has internal threads to accept the “star” screw, you might try placing a metal spacer on top of your steering shaft to prevent the puller from damaging the threads."
Here is a link to the entire paper if your are interested:
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...v25FE20122.pdf
Good luck,
Jim
This is from my T&T Disassembly & Repair Paper #1, page 5.
"Tip! Since the upper steering shaft has internal threads to accept the “star” screw, you might try placing a metal spacer on top of your steering shaft to prevent the puller from damaging the threads."
Here is a link to the entire paper if your are interested:
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...v25FE20122.pdf
Good luck,
Jim
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,309
Likes: 24
From: Coastal Georgia
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
Thanks guys. I never took the column apart that far to where I pulled the hub off, but that doesn't mean it hadn't been taken off before. I just took it down enough to get the steering wheel off...
I will see if I have a 5/16-18 tap to run through...
I will see if I have a 5/16-18 tap to run through...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,309
Likes: 24
From: Coastal Georgia
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
Pretty common for either types of removal. In future put a temp allen socket head bolt in there.
Star bolt is good if it easily threads into other holes.
Just chase the thread with a starter tap.
Your steering wheel and shaft stake mark don't line up, may want to check that.
Star bolt is good if it easily threads into other holes.
Just chase the thread with a starter tap.
Your steering wheel and shaft stake mark don't line up, may want to check that.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Here is your steering wheel/steering hub/upper T&T column steering shaft. I have added a red arrow to the chizel mark that is indented into the end of your upper steering shaft.
If you remove the steering wheel hub nut you should find another chizel mark indented into the hub as well. The two marks should be in line with each other.
You also should find that with your front wheels pointing straight down the road, the two indentations should both be at 12 o'clock
Here is a paper on steering system centering. I think that you are going to need to review your steering system connections.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?p=1033
Jim
If you remove the steering wheel hub nut you should find another chizel mark indented into the hub as well. The two marks should be in line with each other.
You also should find that with your front wheels pointing straight down the road, the two indentations should both be at 12 o'clock
Here is a paper on steering system centering. I think that you are going to need to review your steering system connections.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?p=1033
Jim
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,309
Likes: 24
From: Coastal Georgia
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
Jim, just wanted to let you know I really appreciate your link to the paper. I went through it last night and everything lines up just as it should...I just happened to have the steering wheel bolted up into the wrong position when I took the pic that I posted in this thread.
I ended up running a tap back through the star screw hole, and now it threads in just as it should.
Thanks again everyone!
I ended up running a tap back through the star screw hole, and now it threads in just as it should.
Thanks again everyone!