Hi-

I just replaced a broken horn/turn signal cam and carefully put everything back together, and when I put steering wheel back on, I find it is "sloppy".
I thought torquing in the wheel would bring everything back to normal. Everything went well with the removal, replacement and reassembly. Nothing was moved. What is not seating properly that makes the center shaft wobble so much?

Thanks to all,

Ivan

 

I think I might have got myself into some serious trouble. I have removed many steering wheels in the 60s and 70s, by using a wheel puller and a gentle couple of taps on the puller with a hammer. Big mistake on the newer cars! I see in the shop manual it specifically says never to hammer on the shaft end (page 3F4A subsection C). "This could loosen the plastic injections which maintain column rigidity."

If this is the case and I have loosened the plastic injections, how do I go about removing the top shaft connecting the steering wheel to the tilt universal joint? I did this when the wheel was tilted in the upmost position, so I'm hoping if I did damage any delicate plastic injections, they would be the ones on this piece of steering shaft.

Please explain how to remove this part of steering shaft so that I can inspect it for damage.

Thank you,

Ivan

 

I think the plastic is part of the collapsible feature of the column. If you broke the plastic brads injected when new, it's time to buy another column.

 

Coupeguy-

When you refer to column, are you speaking of the actual shaft connected to the steering wheel? How can I remove this column/shaft for inspection?

Thanks,
Ivan

 

I solved the problem and found the cause!

When I removed the shaft lock plate, exposing the broken signal cam/horn assembly, I was able to easily pull it off, leaving the spring safely in place. I located a Dorman replacement part (#83232), placed it over the spring and proceeded to install the shaft lock plate. Using the same tool that I used to remove the lock plate, I was unable to compress the spring enough to allow clearance for the round lock clip. I took the locking plate off again, and this time when I took the Dorman horn/cam out, the spring was stuck in it. It pulled the spring out, and along with it, the cup washer that seated against the bearing. I assumed that the spring went in the cup end of that washer, since it just fell out in my hand and I had no visual reference.

I got a genuine GM Delco signal cam/horn part and reassembled the whole thing without a problem, until I noticed the unusual slop and side to side play. I was baffled that it reassembled so normally, yet was so lose. I disassembled everything again and realized that I had put the lower cup washer on the spring backwards! No harm done. I turned it around, so that the cupped end faced the bearing and the flat end was against the spring. I reassembled everything , torqued in the steering wheel, and installed the SIR. Everything is working fine. Just wanted to post this, in the hopes that it might help someone in the future.

Ivan