I have an '86 coupe that I am restoring. I have a loose steering wheel problem that, while remeding some wiring issues created by the previous owner, figured I would tackle the loose steering wheel while I had all the trim taken off. The ignition lock was a pain to remove the key...always had to fool with it. Got the thing apart and found the key warning buzzer altogether was missing...only the metal clip remains....someone had obviously been inside the thing and either did not reassemble it correctly and/or left out a part(s). I have done many searches to see if anyone has had a similar issue. I could only find problems relating to the pivit pins associated with the tilt mechanism. My problem is closer to the steering wheel....the tilt is nice and tight. The upper bearing seems to just wobble around in the column's housing. The bearing and race seem to be in good condition, and it looks like there is a really thick type washer on top of the bearing that has a bevel which centers the bearing on the shaft...but suspect there is something that is supposed to center/stabilize the bearing to the column's housing. My FSM has an exploded view of the entire thing, but the illustration is so small that I cant tell what the parts look like. I am sure it has to be something simple. Can any of you remember(if you have had your steering column apart) what it is that I should be looking for? Thanks much in advance!

 

Anyone???

 

Are you using this post as a guide?
Usually the pins are bad, or the 4 bolts at the housing are loose.
Chris May? and a chevy dealership sent an exploded view with parts etc for the dealer which is much better than the FSM. Get ahold of him for that view. I dont have it though.
http://domesticmisfits.net/forums/vi...ring+clumn+fix

 

Thanks Steve, I sent him a pm...but as I stated in the first post, the tilt is nice and tight...it's a missing part in the upper bearing right behind the turn signal switch that's making mine wobble around. Thanks though...

 

Can you post a pic of where the part is missing. Since I am going to tackle this tomorrow, I want to make sure I anything.

 

The beveled washer thing I believe is a part that someone substituted because they lost the correct one...the inner bearing race in the diagram looks like it has cogs that fit into similar cogs in the housing(see picture). This is the part I need...

 

Thanks

 

It's a great feeling knowing that my Tech Tips are still helping people

 

I'm fairly well sure that the "cogs" you speak of are actually failed bearing retainers. If that is the case you may be able to use bearings from another Chevy tilt steering column.

 

Hey That beveled washer comes in this kit here, GM # 26059718
I have one in hand. It is part of the pin replacement kit.

 

I edited this post and removed the pics. I don't have what I believe you need and that's the upper bearing inner race, the same part you mentioned in a previous post. I have the upper race if you think the one you have was substituted. I also have the ignition key warning buzzer parts you're missing. I looked at another website that disassembled a different GM column and the upper bearing inner race is seen in the pic. Here's the link...

http://elcaminocentral.com/article95.html

Where it says "Once the pins are removed, remove the upper steering shaft bearing race and retainer". There is a pic right below it that shows the part. I think you still need that upper race that you mentioned might have been substituted. If you click on the pic it will enlarge the pic where you can see the race and retainer.

The upper bearing inner race is part number 7804909 and was used in many GM columns with tilt. Do a search for "7804909 bearing" and you'll see it on Davies website. It's also on Fleabay right now under Corvette tilt column seat as a "Buy it Now".

Art

 

Much thanks Art! Thats exactly what I was looking for!


Turns out it was a part that was missing after all...thanks

 

I don't know........I just got the part #7804909 in the mail today and it was the same part that I already have. It's still in the original GM envelope and it is the beveled looking washer...except its plastic! I am beginning to think that this is not the original steering column because I don't see any retainer listed in the FSM and there is way too much slop around the bearing...between a 1/16 and an 1/8 inch. Probably was left out cause something wouldn't fit right or something. Anyone know where I can get one of these retainers???or ever seen one out of a vette steering column? If not, I will just have to fabricate something like a thin slice of a piece of pipe that has the same inner diameter as the outer diameter of the upper bearing...

 

Before you spend anymore money or fabricate anything, call Kerry Jamison here at this shop. They are awesome people and can get you in touch with a guy that does nothing but steering columns. Maybe he has some parts, or at lest can help you out.
My part number was different and has the beveled washer. Anyways, give kerry a call, tell him Steve Sumner sent ya. Great southern people.
http://www.jamisoncustomcorvette.com/