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The turn signal pivot in my '79 failed the other night. (Also seems to be variously called a dimmer pivot bracket or headlamp dimmer switch actuator.) It's the part inside the steering column shroud that the turn signal arm plugs into. The pot metal casting has fractured and the obvious solution is to replace it. Apparently it is made of unobtainium. I have done a search on this forum and so far I have determined that the appropriate part number for my early '79 is GM#7833704. A thorough search of the internet turned up zero sources for the part at any price. Nor could I find the part for a late 79-82 which I believe to be GM#7833283.
I did run across a couple of references to adapting the pivot from another GM vehicle which I have to admit I did not fully understand.
I'm open to suggestions here.
The turn signal pivot in my '79 failed the other night. (Also seems to be variously called a dimmer pivot bracket or headlamp dimmer switch actuator.) It's the part inside the steering column shroud that the turn signal arm plugs into. The pot metal casting has fractured and the obvious solution is to replace it. Apparently it is made of unobtainium. I have done a search on this forum and so far I have determined that the appropriate part number for my early '79 is GM#7833704. A thorough search of the internet turned up zero sources for the part at any price. Nor could I find the part for a late 79-82 which I believe to be GM#7833283.
I did run across a couple of references to adapting the pivot from another GM vehicle which I have to admit I did not fully understand.
I'm open to suggestions here.
Is the pivot bracket pinned on or is there a shoulder bolt securing it? I do have some other part numbers if the plastic portion is still good.
Gm used this style of pivot bracket on many models including trucks. Give me about 1 hour and I can get you some part numbers.
Here are 3 different GM pivot brackets, as you can see the only difference between the 3 is the hole size on one end of the bracket.
The top bracket should work on 1977-early 1979 with a T&T column.
Here is a switch you could rob the pivot bracket from, just drive out the solid 1/8" pin, enlarge the one hole for a pivot bolt to 11/32" reinstall your black plastic turn lever assembly.
EBAY LINK: https://www.ebay.com/itm/33452428330...Bk9SR9SSqeGqYg:
Wow. That is an informative & impressive response. It's why I come here and ask things before going off half-cocked anymore.....
Originally Posted by bmotojoe
Here are 3 different GM pivot brackets, as you can see the only difference between the 3 is the hole size on one end of the bracket.
The top bracket should work on 1977-early 1979 with a T&T column.
Here is a switch you could rob the pivot bracket from, just drive out the solid 1/8" pin, enlarge the one hole for a pivot bolt to 11/32" reinstall your black plastic turn lever assembly.
EBAY LINK: https://www.ebay.com/itm/33452428330...Bk9SR9SSqeGqYg:
Is the pivot bracket pinned on or is there a shoulder bolt securing it? I do have some other part numbers if the plastic portion is still good.
Gm used this style of pivot bracket on many models including trucks. Give me about 1 hour and I can get you some part numbers.
Thanks for the response. I was hoping you'd read my post. I searched this forum and the most informative postings on the subject were yours, so it would appear you are the go to guy for this.
Spent the last nine hours in the workshop. As it works out, I happen to have a spare column for my car. I changed the column many years ago for reasons that elude me now. So, I pulled the spare column apart to get the pivot bracket out of it. The one in the car has the shoulder bolt. The one in the spare column had the pin. I drilled out the pivot from the spare column to fit the shoulder bolt and installed it. Pretty sure it doesn't surprise you that it worked.
So now I would like to rebuild the spare column since I think it would be a lot easier to replace the entire column the next time something like this happens. Plus now that I've had the column that far apart, I'm curious to see what else is in there.
What pivot bracket would you recommend that I could modify to work in the column that originally had the pin retained bracket?
The pivot bracket from the switch on that e-bay link I posted above is the pin on style.
You would only need to drive out the 1/8" solid pin securing the switch assembly in the bracket and replace it with a 1/8" x 1" long roll pin or use the solid pin that came out.
Personally I like the roll pin method vs the solid pin.
$35.00 plus some shipping is not a bad deal for that bracket...
Turn signal pivot
