The steering wheel on my '91 has been "loose" since I purchased her 5 years ago. Today I decided to tighten it up. I had done a search here and on the web, so armed with Andy Bogus's tech tip, Roy Bond's and Ray Buck's versions, I dove into pretty confident. All went well until I could not find the bolts everyone has indicated seem to be the problem.
I've taken some shots and put notations on them as well as Ray Bucks photo (I have rotated Ray's photo to the same orientation as my photos)
I have not removed the pivot pins as of yet, but have the tool to do so.
My challenges are these:
1-There is no bolt heads that match those indicated in anyone tech tip


Above photo from Ray Buck's SemiPosterior Method for fixing a loose tilt column





2-The bolts I did find were not loose enought to cause the "wobble" in my steering wheel



3-The "joint" that connects the steering wheel shaft to the steering column shaft seems loose



4-The inner race of the bearing on the steering wheel shaft came out when I removed the spring behind the lockplate



My questions are these:
1-Could the joint be worn out enough to cause the "wobble"?
2-Could the bearing, although it seems tight, not have enough press from the spring in front of it to cause the "wobble"?
3-Have I missed something?
I appreciate any info. I really need to get this fixed ASAP.

Thanks
Subman

 

The bolts (there are four of them) in your first picture are more often than not the culprit.

I have not disassembled a TT since 1979 (on my then 77 Corvette), but when I checked with every GM dealer in Pensacola, Florida (5 or 6 at that time if I remember correctly) to see if they had the tool for removing the pivot pins, each mechanic that I talked to told me they didn't have the tool because the only problems they had with TT columns were those four bolts coming loose (hence the floppy steering wheel) and they could get to the bolts without removing the pins. I would certainly try tightening these bolts before you assume the worst.

(I went ahead and made a tool to remove the pivot pins anyway as I was disassembling it for a different reason...)

Good luck and let us know how you resolve the problem.

GUSTO

edit: as I recall I used a standard 12 point box wrench to remove/tighten the bolts...

 

i had this problem a few years back and it really bothered me. never got an answer. i had the column torn apart and all screws tightened. had the pins replaced. still didnt help. in the process the mechanic i had trusted broke my turn signal switch.

4 years later i still have the problem. i bought a 95 column off ebay and was going to replace it but then someone that is working on my car now says gm has a replacement or 'repair kit' for it. i had him buy it and hes going to be installing it this coming week i hope. from what i remember he said it includes a whole new knuckle. have to wait and see

 

You mentioned that the inner race came out. There should be some ball bearings in the assembly. If those are missing then that will contribute to the loose column. Also, if the white plastic ball that holds the upper shaft to the lower shaft is damaged, it will cause a loose wheel.

Art

 

I pulled the pivot pins this AM and could find no wear on either the pins nor the holes.
Checked the last two bolts and they were pretty snug, not loose enough to cause the wobble in the steering wheel.
Checking the knuckle, I found about 3/16" play by pushing toward the front of the car and then pushing down on the steering wheel shaft.
Can I replace the 2 shafts with the knuckle, or am I gonna have to buy a whole column?
Thanks for all the responses.
Subman

 

I had a column that needed the knuckle. I believe the cost was somewhere between $70-$80. At that point it wasn't worth restoring the column. This was actually a column I removed from a car I dismantled. I wanted to sell it complete but ended up parting it out. I still have parts left over. If you're column needs one it can be repaired but I believe the entire column has to be dismantled to do it.

I also wanted to add that the bearing race/cage shouldn't be coming apart or separating. If it did then I would expect not to see any ball bearings in the assembly.

Art

 

Anyone have a PN for the repair kit? Looks like an intimidating job for sure. On the 90 it doesnt "flop", but you cn pull it down a bit, feels spring loaded.

 

I'd be interested in the P/N for the kit as well.

 

I've heard of steering wheels being loose and thats usually a worn out steering knuckle thingy (cant remember the name!), but have never heard of a wobbly steering wheel. Is this a problem on just Vettes?

 

I pulled the steering shaft Monday nite and took it to J&D Corvette. Unfortunately, the shaft and the plastic ball was not the problem. As mentioned in some of the replys, the knuckle is the problem.



By pulling on the steering wheel to get out of the car, we end up putting strain on the pivot pin, which eventually elongates to hole(s) in both parts of the knuckle.
I have not heard of (nor have I seen listed anywhere) a repair kit for these knuckles. If someone knows where to get one fast, I'd get to save a ton of cash for the 2 parts.
Now I go to the garage to start the re-assemble.
Subman