Street Rat

I recently went through an extensive steering column rebuild. I had to replace the rack. I replaced the two bearings. It is best described as looseness at the steering wheel in the most extended telescoped position. I just looked at it internally and see no issue. With your suggestions I will disassemble the thing again and look for any errors that I may have made.

corvgreg

The tilt bowl screws were tightened down? Is there any play in the wheel with the telescoping all the way in? The telescoping shaft fit snugly in the upper yolk? I dont see what else would cause looseness, other than the fact that the wheel will have slightly more play the further it is telescoped out.

And also recheck the upper lock housing bearing to make sure it is seated correctly and has the two pieces on top of it before the spring under the turn signal plate.

Street Rat

Tilt bowl screws blue loctited in.
There is play with the telescoping all the way in. Not as much though.
The shaft fit tightly in the yoke.

I'll go further into the column this next time. Something just isn't right.

A8skyhawk

I'm sure you've checked this, but since it happened to me it's worth mentioning. After I rebuilt mine and had it mostly back in the car I was shocked by how much play was there... in my typical haste I was about to tear it all out when I decided to actually stop, walk away, and think about it... that's when I realized I hadn't finished reassembling the upper part of the column yet - without the star screw installed and the telescoping mechanism tightened down there is a lot of play... once you "lock" the tilt mechanism the play goes away. Hopefully your issue is as simple as that. If it's not, then you could go back to Mr. Shea's papers and use his troubleshooting method. Did you replace the plastic ball joint?

Street Rat

Thanks for the response.
Yes. The star screw is installed.
No I didn't replace the plastic ball joint. It looked perfect.

TimAT

IS the play up and down or all around? Up and down the tilt shoes may be worn.

Street Rat

I'm beginning to wonder if I got those tilt shoes installed correctly. It's up and down play.

TimAT

I don't know if it's possible to install them wrong, Maybe they are left and right? Other than that, the teeth would have to be worn slick, or there's not enough spring under them to bite.

Street Rat

Maybe the pawls aren't pushed fully in?

I'll find out this morning.

Street Rat

The new bearings that in installed in the upper housing are falling apart.

I must not have got them installed correctly. I know that a race goes in a certain side of the bearing. So I don't understand how this happened.

Street Rat

What are the two pieces on top of the bearing under the turn signal plate?

Do you have a picture of these. I assume one is the race. The other?

corvgreg

Yes, one is the inner race and the other is a shorter version of it with a split in it that the spring will sit on.

With the lock housing bearings, make sure the plastic sleeve that houses them is in the right way, the larger diameter section faces down and all the small ball bearings should be snug.

It's the piece in the lower left in the photo.

DUB

'corvgreg' is SPOT ON...that part in his photo at the lower left is CRITICAL.

With that being said..here are some of my experiences in restoring/rebuilding steering columns.

Even though the pivot knuckle is secure and blue Loctite used...it can be bad. I recently repaired a 1993 Corvette column (which is just about the same) ...and what I found was the holes for the two pivot pins were wallowed out...thus...the pivot knuckle needed to be replaced along with the bearing housing.

On another column I have seen the teeth that hold the tilt feature were worn and having free-play on the pin or pins that are made into the pivot knuckle.

And on only two columns in my career...where the nut plate is locked into the main shaft tube of the column...so the pivot knuckle can be secured...I have seen the actual metal at the end of the mast tube tear and need to be repaired. That one I would not wish on anybody.

Also..make sure your lock ring for your steering wheel lock is correctly installed WITH the lower horn contact. These two parts can only be installed correctly one way. the raised inner collar on the steel lock ring must be facing you when installed...so the plastic horn lower contact sits flat against the backside of the lock ring.

DUB

Street Rat

I don't have the part in the lower left of the picture. My car is an '81. I know that GM did some changes during the years. I didn't have that part when I took the column apart. DUB says it's critical so I guess I better hunt one down.

corvgreg

I am sure I have an extra one I can give you. Just PM me your address.

Street Rat

I just ordered one that I found on the internet.

Thank you.

Street Rat

Darn parts won't be here until Saturday to fix the column.

Guess I'll find something else to tear apart today.

TimAT

You sure seem to spend a lot of time looking for something other than what you're working on to tear apart

Street Rat

It's just that I have other parts to install. Other modifications.

I've got a Pypes exhaust system that I need to get started on.

Just like all of my projects...

I try to get to all of them. Then I end up finishing none of them.

TimAT

Me too. I can back up and find 10 other things that I could do. It just never ends.