Help with steering column
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 170
Likes: 22
From: Superior WI
Help with steering column
I'm new here but have been reading threads for a few weeks and the knowledge I've seen is fantastic! You guys (girls too) really know your stuff.
I just joined today because I can't find anything that sounds like my problem.
I have a 78 Vette, Corvette Red. The paint job is great and it only has 68K on it, (they told me.....yea right) but there seems to be a lot of little things wrong with it but nothing that can't be fixed. The steering column has the same problem as others here have had, it's loose (wobbles). I fixed one 25 years ago that went much better than the one I'm into now. I got into it and put loctite on the four bolts that were loose. Apparently when moving the tilt shaft part of the column around to get to those four bolts I must have moved the knuckle to one side to much because now it's stuck pointing to the 2:00 position and I can't figure how to get it straightened back out. A little help please.
I just joined today because I can't find anything that sounds like my problem.
I have a 78 Vette, Corvette Red. The paint job is great and it only has 68K on it, (they told me.....yea right) but there seems to be a lot of little things wrong with it but nothing that can't be fixed. The steering column has the same problem as others here have had, it's loose (wobbles). I fixed one 25 years ago that went much better than the one I'm into now. I got into it and put loctite on the four bolts that were loose. Apparently when moving the tilt shaft part of the column around to get to those four bolts I must have moved the knuckle to one side to much because now it's stuck pointing to the 2:00 position and I can't figure how to get it straightened back out. A little help please.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,240
Likes: 1,013
From: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
Is it a tilt/tele column? Do you have the tilt spring in or out? If not, pull that out with the column tilted in the full up position. I just finished assembling a 78 tilt/tele column to put in my 69 so it is pretty fresh in my mind at the moment. I locked one up as you describe once when I put the tilt spring in and it somehow slipped of the little nub on the bowl support. Did you pull the tilt pins as well? Post a couple of pics if you have it torn down and we can figure it out.
Bill
Bill
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 170
Likes: 22
From: Superior WI
Is it a tilt/tele column? Do you have the tilt spring in or out? If not, pull that out with the column tilted in the full up position. I just finished assembling a 78 tilt/tele column to put in my 69 so it is pretty fresh in my mind at the moment. I locked one up as you describe once when I put the tilt spring in and it somehow slipped of the little nub on the bowl support. Did you pull the tilt pins as well? Post a couple of pics if you have it torn down and we can figure it out.
Bill
Bill
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,326
Likes: 721
From: Marietta GA
My 73 had a similar problem, the joint was just plain worn out. I found a guy about an hour drive from my house who repairs steering columns. It cost me $ 300 and it took him about 45 minutes, he was talking on his cell phone the entire time. His shop was filled with all types of steering column parts and he obviously knew what he was doing. I had him install the key switch buzzer device since he was already way down in the column innards. I found him using the Google search.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,240
Likes: 1,013
From: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
Hard to see, but is it hung up on the ignition rack? If so, you ought to be able to remove the rack. Normally it would come out with the bearing housing but it stayed engaged on the ignition rod in your case. Interesting. So you can't move it at all? Maybe the next thing to do is to jack up the front and see if turning the front wheels a little will break it free. Another alternative would be would be to disconnect the lower column flange from the rag joint and see if maybe the shaft can move toward you, or at least be able to wiggle it to break it free.
BTW I don't see the lower bearings in your bearing housing.
BTW I don't see the lower bearings in your bearing housing.
Last edited by 69ttop502; Mar 1, 2025 at 07:24 AM.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 170
Likes: 22
From: Superior WI
Hard to see, but is it hung up on the ignition rack? If so, you ought to be able to remove the rack. Normally it would come out with the bearing housing but it stayed engaged on the ignition rod in your case. Interesting. So you can't move it at all? Maybe the next thing to do is to jack up the front and see if turning the front wheels a little will break it free. Another alternative would be would be to disconnect the lower column flange from the rag joint and see if maybe the shaft can move toward you, or at least be able to wiggle it to break it free.
BTW I don't see the lower bearings in your bearing housing.
BTW I don't see the lower bearings in your bearing housing.
Yes you are correct the ball bearings from both of the upper and lower bearings fell out during disassembly, I noticed there was not much grease in either of them which is most likely why the bearings fell out. Still need to make sure I can find all the ball bearings. This also didn't happen in my first rebuild 25 years ago.
I'm thinking that I might need to take the entire steering column out....maybe it will help in some way.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 170
Likes: 22
From: Superior WI
Sphil,
Thanks for the link, but I didn't find anything in there that addresses a locked knuckle. I'm going to degrease the knuckle and look inside the knuckle better to see what might be hanging up.
I'll sure let everyone know because this seems to be a one-off problem
Thanks for the link, but I didn't find anything in there that addresses a locked knuckle. I'm going to degrease the knuckle and look inside the knuckle better to see what might be hanging up.
I'll sure let everyone know because this seems to be a one-off problem
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 170
Likes: 22
From: Superior WI
I have been thinking about your idea to jack up the front end and I'm going to try that because it might allow more movement to help free it up. At this point I'm grasping at straws because I'm out of options.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,240
Likes: 1,013
From: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
Then the only thing that it can be hung up on then is the little u spring between the plastic spheres. That little spring is catching on the fork arm of the steering shaft would be my guess. Should be able to free it by some wiggling. See if you can see any of the little spring exposed on either side and try to push it around. May have to turn your wheels to expose the back side. The spring looks like the one below and it preloads those plastic spheres into the knuckle.
I have about 100 of those little bearing *****, so if you lose a few, I would be glad to send you what you need. Taking the column out is no big deal, but shouldn't be necessary. Can't imagine that thing won't break free though.
Looking at your picture again, instead of trying to straighten the shaft, can you push it toward 3:00? If you can, at 90 degrees it should come off the steering shaft.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/223991770197
I have about 100 of those little bearing *****, so if you lose a few, I would be glad to send you what you need. Taking the column out is no big deal, but shouldn't be necessary. Can't imagine that thing won't break free though.
Looking at your picture again, instead of trying to straighten the shaft, can you push it toward 3:00? If you can, at 90 degrees it should come off the steering shaft.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/223991770197
Last edited by 69ttop502; Mar 1, 2025 at 01:39 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 170
Likes: 22
From: Superior WI
Ok...after jacking up the front end and turning the tires so that the tilt shaft was aligned to the 12:00 position I was able to take the knuckle apart. Now I need to understand the correct way to assemble it again. There is a clip between the two halves of the knuckle and that clip seems to be getting in the way of a smooth knuckle operation and is most likely why it locked up when I was taking it apart in the first place.
Thanks for the tip to turn the steering column by jacking it up and turning the wheels by hand.
Thanks for the tip to turn the steering column by jacking it up and turning the wheels by hand.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,240
Likes: 1,013
From: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
Glad you got it. You will see a channel on the inside of those two halves where that clip sits. Then grease it up real well, put the halves together with the clip in its channel, and install it in the removed half of the shaft first. Then hold it at a flat 90 degrees to the yoke on the steering shaft and turn it in. The clip might catch on the yoke when trying to close it, like how yours got stuck, but fiddle with it until it goes on. Make sure the short flat on the upper shaft is at 12:00 as well as the flat on the lower end of the steering shaft when the wheels are straight. If you align it with the longer flat, your turn signals will not cancel correctly.
Bill
Bill
Last edited by 69ttop502; Mar 1, 2025 at 08:26 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 170
Likes: 22
From: Superior WI
Almost ready to reinstall the tilt portion. bearings are greased and ready. components are installed and ready.
I have one question before trying to install it.....where to position the rod. not sure what it's for but I can provide you a picture.
I have one question before trying to install it.....where to position the rod. not sure what it's for but I can provide you a picture.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 170
Likes: 22
From: Superior WI
[img alt="Not sure what the rod is for or where it should be positioned for installation
"]https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.corvetteforum.com-vbulletin/2000x1504/steering_rod_52d9da98cb684342c712c6bcacb 3e5890eb1864a.jpg[/img]
Not sure what the rod is for or where it should be positioned for installation
"]https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.corvetteforum.com-vbulletin/2000x1504/steering_rod_52d9da98cb684342c712c6bcacb 3e5890eb1864a.jpg[/img]
Not sure what the rod is for or where it should be positioned for installation
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,240
Likes: 1,013
From: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
Kevin, picture does not show up for me. Is it the rod that is captured by the ignition rack you are talking about? See the top of page 12 and the left picture of that link I posted above. When you install the bearing housing back on, extend the rack down a little so it captures that little button on the top of the rod. Make sure the rod is at the top of its slot in the bowl support first. Some grease in the slot will hold it there during assembly. Pull the tilt lever as you capture that rod and push the bearing housing on. I assume that is the rod you are talking about.
Bill
Bill
Last edited by 69ttop502; Mar 2, 2025 at 01:50 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 170
Likes: 22
From: Superior WI
Don't know why the picture does not show up, but we don't need it now since I figured it out. Things are going together good at least for now because I'm waiting on a plastic piece and will address the rest of the build after it comes in. Thanks for all your help, you don't know how valuable it was, so thank you again.