steering column issues
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 37
Likes: 2
steering column issues
My 81 C3 has steering column issues. The steering wheel will move side to side about 1 1/2 inches and up and down over 2 inches pivoting at the tilt pivot. Is there an OEM replacement or can this one be rebuilt? any help is appreciated
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
There are 4 screws that hold the lower tilt bowl to the upper mast jacket. They get loose and the steering wheel gets sloppy.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?cat=5
Everything you ever wanted to know about a steering column is in that link.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?cat=5
Everything you ever wanted to know about a steering column is in that link.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,850
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Or your issue could be these three lower screws.. shown above.. but again I doubt it...
If you look at the top left picture below you can see the lower column plate is retained by the tube.... but when this tube tears you'll have to remove it and have it repaired.... The four bolts in this picture below are usually the culprit but... if they are left alone and the entire column wobbles, over time they will cause the jacket to tear as shown in A. below.
You can message Jim first and if you don't get an answer or can't figure it out I've had these columns apart for the last 30 years so I'm sure I can offer some assistance,,, just post back.
Willcox
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Nov 16, 2018 at 09:35 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
My late shark column in my '72 was reported to have been in a wreck back when I bought it in '95 or so....the 4 bolts are tight, but over the years it's wobbled a lot, and of course the ignition switch does not go acc position any more, not that I care, and the turn signal don't cancel on left turn, not that I care, but the right turn works fine.......I have made several feeble attempts over the years to find that wobble, but no go....hate to disable the car forever while waiting for parts.....
GENE
GENE
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,850
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
My late shark column in my '72 was reported to have been in a wreck back when I bought it in '95 or so....the 4 bolts are tight, but over the years it's wobbled a lot, and of course the ignition switch does not go acc position any more, not that I care, and the turn signal don't cancel on left turn, not that I care, but the right turn works fine.......I have made several feeble attempts over the years to find that wobble, but no go....hate to disable the car forever while waiting for parts.....
GENE
GENE
Why not pull the column out and send it to me over the winter months.... I'm sure I can fix it. Oh wait a minute.. your in Florida... there isn't much of a winter there... lol... But if you wish the option is there. I can have it back to you in a couple of weeks.
Ernie
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Nov 17, 2018 at 02:35 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Gene,
Why not pull the column out and send it to me over the winter months.... I'm sure I can fix it. Oh wait a minute.. your in Florida... there isn't much of a winter there... lol... But if you wish the option is there. I can have it back to you in a couple of weeks.
Ernie
Why not pull the column out and send it to me over the winter months.... I'm sure I can fix it. Oh wait a minute.. your in Florida... there isn't much of a winter there... lol... But if you wish the option is there. I can have it back to you in a couple of weeks.
Ernie
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,850
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
If the column wiggles left to right then most likely the issue is either the four bolts or the upper collar is torn. I put lock tight on the four bolts when I install them, if you don't they'll back off over time.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
I need fix a lot of junk in that column, so once I start in, it's a project.....
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
On one occasion I actually had the steel that is a part of the main mast jacket tube....that holds the odd shaped nut plate that the four bolts for the tilt knuckle to screw into actually tore. It was fun to repair but I got it. Hopefully it is not that due to what it takes to tear the column down to that point to fix it.
DUB
DUB
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Ernie
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 57
There are 4 screws that hold the lower tilt bowl to the upper mast jacket. They get loose and the steering wheel gets sloppy.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?cat=5
Everything you ever wanted to know about a steering column is in that link.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?cat=5
Everything you ever wanted to know about a steering column is in that link.
Thanks
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,850
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Diagnosing this issue means a complete tear down.... and as you know... I mean complete. Welding it is easy, the tear down is the time eater.
E
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Nov 18, 2018 at 07:05 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,850
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Willcox
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
Heck even replacing the tilt pivot knuckle with a new one with fresh new pivot pins can be a challenge due to the lower bearing on the column and the integrity of the steering column shaft that is trying to slide through the lower bearing.
DUB
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
The mast jacket that holds the flat plate is steel... easy fix if you have the thing apart. Like Dub said, that jacket can tear if the bolts are loose and that's how I got the picture I posted above. The customer drove this car for years with four loose bolts. We just V grooved the tear, filled it with weld and then ground it down so that it would hold the flat plate. I hate to say it but when you have all the neat tools and toys it's easy, when you don't it's a royal PITA finding someone to weld things.
Ernie
Ernie
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Charlotte NC
Not that this applies to the potential problem that has been discussed it his thread dealing with a torn mast jacket tube.
But I also know many certified welders who can weld anything....but when they go to do welding and body work like welding on a body panel. Due to them often times working with such thick metal most of the time...they seem to forget that they can easily warp body panels if they do not know what they are doing. They get into it too much in an area and do not consider the heat transfer. I have seen it MANY times. Perfectly new good panels destroyed due to incorrect welding. Or welding in holes in a body panel where stainless trim was and is now being removed to customize the car and those panels are buckled.
Does not always happen but it can. But on this mast jacket tube if it is needing to be welded...I would not really fear any major distortion because it is a tube and not a flat panel.
DUB
But I also know many certified welders who can weld anything....but when they go to do welding and body work like welding on a body panel. Due to them often times working with such thick metal most of the time...they seem to forget that they can easily warp body panels if they do not know what they are doing. They get into it too much in an area and do not consider the heat transfer. I have seen it MANY times. Perfectly new good panels destroyed due to incorrect welding. Or welding in holes in a body panel where stainless trim was and is now being removed to customize the car and those panels are buckled.
Does not always happen but it can. But on this mast jacket tube if it is needing to be welded...I would not really fear any major distortion because it is a tube and not a flat panel.
DUB