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Hey guys. So I finally decided to fix the looseness in my column. Long story short, it wasn't the tilt pins causing the problem but rather the 4 bolts holding the knuckle. So that's a win. Also had parts come flying off at me because I didn't realize you need a special lock plate compressor... anyway I broke the horn clip thing that holds in the C-clip behind the contacts... I was able to push the retainer plat back in by hand and work the clip in with the help of my sister. So that was fun. Now I get to buy a nice 13$ piece of plastic before I can drive my car again.
This has been your weekend update. or weekday update.
Photo of the carnage.
Also, I am not doing oversized pins and I bent the freaking bolts for the extractor I built to pull them out lol. And really had to hammer them back in too. So I would say the housing isn't worn.
Update 3: had a column out an S-10 in my scrap pile. Being it wasn't a telescoping one though, it more than likely doesn't have the little protector thing in it. Oh well. It was beer o clock when I started and I probably would've been much happier had I started then lol.
Was the looseness due to the common corvette problem that develops over the years as people use the steering wheel as a push-off bar to exit the car? Or is this an issue specific to the c4?
Was the looseness due to the common corvette problem that develops over the years as people use the steering wheel as a push-off bar to exit the car? Or is this an issue specific to the c4?
I would think it was from using the wheel to push out but I don't do that and it has gotten worse. My gues is the bolts just started to loosen and then all the vibrations loosened them up more. Re tightening resulted in no more looseness.
The C4 specific issue is the tilt pin housing is aluminum and pushing results in an ovaled bore eventually. This one does not have that problem.
I thought the looseness in my '84 was because of those four bolts, but the real reason those bolts got loose was because the housing below that plate with the four bolts was cracked. I was able to repair the cracked housing so those bolts would have a firm surface to pull against. That plastic insulator is available from Davies Corvette.
I thought the looseness in my '84 was because of those four bolts, but the real reason those bolts got loose was because the housing below that plate with the four bolts was cracked. I was able to repair the cracked housing so those bolts would have a firm surface to pull against. That plastic insulator is available from Davies Corvette.
Two of the bolts were just laying in there. I could not visually see anything wrong with the lower housing. Hopefully I didn't miss it.
That plate and those 4 bolts/screws are only used in Corvette through '86. Actually likely in '86 only in coupes (Y07). Later GM columns only used that plate & bolts/screws in columns that actually have column shift. Many people look for hours and tear way deeper into disassembly than required when looking for column tightening. I've never compared 'known' '86 columns 'side by side' but GM SPO catalogs certainly don't display the plate & bolts/screws in the 'vert (Y67) column parts listings and they're not in any '87 and later C4 column parts. In nearly every GM that had a 'loose tilt' the plate & 4 bolts were the 'go to' for a fix before going elsewhere.
**A friend told me the elimination of the plate & bolts/screws is what created the 'support/housing/pins' wear looseness issues. I've no reason to doubt that.
OP - From time to time the 'drive type' is debated for the screws. What socket did you need to use for the task.
That plate and those 4 bolts/screws are only used in Corvette through '86. Actually likely in '86 only in coupes (Y07). Later GM columns only used that plate & bolts/screws in columns that actually have column shift. Many people look for hours and tear way deeper into disassembly than required when looking for column tightening. I've never compared 'known' '86 columns 'side by side' but GM SPO catalogs certainly don't display the plate & bolts/screws in the 'vert (Y67) column parts listings and they're not in any '87 and later C4 column parts. In nearly every GM that had a 'loose tilt' the plate & 4 bolts were the 'go to' for a fix before going elsewhere.
**A friend told me the elimination of the plate & bolts/screws is what created the 'support/housing/pins' wear looseness issues. I've no reason to doubt that.
OP - From time to time the 'drive type' is debated for the screws. What socket did you need to use for the task.
Fixing my steering column...
