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'91 Steering Column threading

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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 11:12 AM
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Default '91 Steering Column threading

Hey guys, does anyone know what size bolt goes into the '91 steering column to pull the steering wheel?

I've been referencing this since I am having the same issue with the turn signals and high beam:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...nal-stalk.html

Pulled the airbag out and went to put the bolts in to pull the steering wheel. The bolts I have are English (5/16) and I know most of the other bolts in the corvette are metric. Do I need to pick up metric bolts for it? I did not see a metric steering wheel puller at Autozone yesterday when I picked this one up.

Thanks in advance!
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 02:33 PM
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Not sure, but I do know that the bolts that came in my puller kit did NOT fit my '91. I had to find some bolts I had laying around to do the job.

As a side note, I have some spare parts from my old '91 column if you happen to need something...
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 04:26 PM
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Okay guys, this is what I have. It appears the multi-function switch is working properly, but does not activate when using the turn signal stalk. I'm not sure what to do from here to fix the limp stalk.

http://www.justanswer.com/chevy/24pe...o-diagram.html

(#11)

http://i41.tinypic.com/f9l1s2.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/w8w7xx.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/fmtct1.jpg

We found this plastic piece roughly 2 weeks ago when we began to inspect it after the right turn signal didn't work. After we got it out from the back, the high beam switch no longer worked. Does anyone have an idea as to its purpose or location?
http://i42.tinypic.com/jt5rg8.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/2aeqibc.jpg
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 04:55 PM
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Looked at it a bit more. I'm assuming the signal switch arm rides inside the small plastic piece we found. I can't figure out how it's positioned or what it's supposed to be connected to.
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 05:00 PM
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The plastic piece you found links the high beam pivot to the high-beam linkage. In you picture of it, the right side (the curved side) goes into the column first, to fit against the upright metal bar/link.
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 05:14 PM
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Bit bored, so I updated your picture. You will probably have to remove the multi function pivot/base dohicky in order to get the plastic piece in there.

I dont have a good picture when I rebuilt my column (got pictures of just about everything else.......go figure) but in one of the pics I do, I circled the end of the plastic lever (it has way too much grease on it).






Back to your original problem, perhaps the metal Y-shaped arm isnt completely seated in the multifunction base? I had that problem, a slight tweaking/bending of it, made sure that the Y-arm was completely in the groove. Did that make sense?

Last edited by Gear Jammer; Dec 11, 2011 at 05:16 PM. Reason: more info
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 05:20 PM
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Is the plastic piece I've got broken off? Or will it just sit in there? I assumed it was broken, but saw no stress marks where the plastic would have broke.

And right above your top arrow in the photo on the steering column, any idea where that metal rod connects to? It's got some wiggle room and I don't remember feeling it before the plastic fell out.
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 05:29 PM
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You plastic piece is ok, it just sits on the metal arm. The outer column housing will sorta hold it in place until everything is put back together, may take a coupla tries before you get it all seated together.

Upper end of the metal rod doesnt connect to anything - it cant, because the curved end of the plastic piece (that fell out) seats over the rod.

The other end of the metal rod sits in the dimmer switch socket, down at the base of the column. Will have to remove the lower dash hush panel to gain access.



Last edited by Gear Jammer; Dec 11, 2011 at 05:30 PM. Reason: added pic
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 05:56 PM
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Okay so the plastic piece pretty much connects the "dimmer" rod to the signal arm lever?

Would that cause my issues, or is there something else? Issues being no right turn signal click, no high beam control, and as of today, no left turn signal click. I would assume so since the signal arm lever was pretty much disconnected.

Back to your original problem, perhaps the metal Y-shaped arm isnt completely seated in the multifunction base? I had that problem, a slight tweaking/bending of it, made sure that the Y-arm was completely in the groove. Did that make sense?
You mean the metal piece that sits atop the multi-function switch? It screws in there perfectly fine, no issue. I've got it out right now. I did notice it's got a metal pin sort of thing on the back, which I thought was to ride on the plastic piece. Does something connect to that metal pin in the back of it?

Last edited by cwisler; Dec 11, 2011 at 05:59 PM.
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 06:21 PM
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Originally Posted by cwisler
Okay so the plastic piece pretty much connects the "dimmer" rod to the signal arm lever?

Would that cause my issues, or is there something else? Issues being no right turn signal click, no high beam control, and as of today, no left turn signal click. I would assume so since the signal arm lever was pretty much disconnected.
The plastic piece that fell out only affects the high beam operation. You can test the highbeam switch, just actuate the switch with your hand (removing the hush panel is required).

Originally Posted by cwisler
You mean the metal piece that sits atop the multi-function switch? It screws in there perfectly fine, no issue. I've got it out right now. I did notice it's got a metal pin sort of thing on the back, which I thought was to ride on the plastic piece. Does something connect to that metal pin in the back of it?
The metal pin should ride in the groove (or slot or valley) of the metal multi-function pivot base. Its a fairly common occurrence that one of the "walls" breaks off. This is what happened to mine. The walls of the pivot base, slide and push either up (right turn) or down (left turn) on the metal pin (arm). The metal arm then in turn actuates the blinker switch. Also on my car, the metal pin didnt seat fully down in between the walls of the pivot, it was only about half way in. I bent the arm so the metal pin seats deeper in between the walls.
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 06:35 PM
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Thanks, I'll take a better look at it tomorrow when the sun comes back up and give you an update. I do know upon removing the lockplate, i tried the turn signal stalk and no mechanisms moved, including the signal arm. Im not sure if that helps you help me diagnose the problem. I will re-assemble the arm and multi-function to see if maybe there is something broken in the multifunction that I didnt notice at first or that maybe something wasnt seated right. I do have to take back the new multifunction since it doesnt have the bottom screw hole for the arm. I remembered one of the holes by the magnet in the old multifunction appeared to have a threaded metal sleeve in it?
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 06:50 PM
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Lets start over - what was the original problem? As a minimum, I know your high beams arent working.

Was your turn signal stalk flopping around? Could you hear the switch mechanisms/springs moving when you move the stalk?

Remove the metal pivot base from its pivot in the column and take a picture of it and post it. That will tell me if your base is broken or not.
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 06:59 PM
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It started close to 3 weeks ago. I was driving home from work one night and when i went to signal a right turn, i got no response. No click, etc. Just a flop of the stalk back down to the original position. Then my grandfather and I took a closer look at it about 2 weeks ago and pulled that plastic piec out because it felt loose. That stopped the high beams from working. Then today when preparing to pull the steering column (its been sitting in the garage since the high beam problem), it worked to signal a left turn about 2-3 times, then the stalk went limp altogether. No noise comes from the stalk, its just very loose. I will get a photo of the multi function switch shortly
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 07:13 PM
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Certainly sounds like your multifunction switch/base has a broken wall/tab.

Heres my broken multifunction switch/base. Notice the slight crescent shaped area - that is where it broke off.





Heres what a new one looks like:



The metal pivot in the Y-arm rides in the channel. Yours is either broken, or the pivot is no longer in the channel, or both. But Im just guessing without seeing what yours looks like

Last edited by Gear Jammer; Dec 11, 2011 at 07:15 PM. Reason: pic info
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 07:21 PM
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That is the gold piece on the bottom left of the steering column photos, correct? Sorry, I'm new to all this mechanical stuff. The only thing I've done beyond brakes and the norm are the injectors on this. Lol. I bought it as a backup vehicle and to learn more about vehicles.
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 07:55 PM
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Mine appears identical to your's. How do I go about removing it?



Can I get the replacement at an Auto Zone type store? That's where I purchased the multi-function switch but the switch did not come with that base or the arm, just the plastic pieces (yellow and black) in my very first photo.
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 08:04 PM
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It should simply lift off from its pivot, but I seem to recall theres not enough clearance to allow it to be removed completely, if so, you will have to remove the outer column housing to gain enough room.

Cant quite tell from your photo if your base is broken or not. Can you get a photo from the edge?
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 08:24 PM
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Here's a photo from the side. Tried to keep the camera as still as I could. There is a metal pin going through the center of mine. I don't think there's space behind it to knock it out. I'll attempt to get that metal pin out tomorrow, then it will probably pop right out. Thanks for all the help so far!

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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 11:05 PM
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Its very hard to tell, but it looks like that your switch base is broken - what is the almost vertical, light stripe in the above photo? Seems to me that is where the metal ramp has broken off
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 08:13 AM
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Originally Posted by Gear Jammer
Its very hard to tell, but it looks like that your switch base is broken - what is the almost vertical, light stripe in the above photo? Seems to me that is where the metal ramp has broken off
Yeah, from what it looks like, the bottom metal piece broke off of it. It's completely flat, so that white stripe is where it broke from.

Time to work on getting that pin out today.
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