Play in the steering column?

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Aug 6, 2002 | 10:19 PM

Ozman

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From: Edmond OK

Play in the steering column?

I had my turn signal fixed and while everything was apart, I had the mechanic fix the steering column, which had some play in it. He said he tightened up the 4 bolts, but that the column will still move some. I tested it by pulling down on the wheel and it still has some movement in it, down and to the left. Is it really supposed to be like this?

Also, I did the fix on the lumbar support for the sport seats as suggested in tech tips. However, the driver side doesn't fully inflate. I took the seat apart and blew into the tubes myself, and they all inflated. I hear the motor working , but yet only the middle part of the seatback inflates. Is it time for a new motor?

Thanks

Aug 6, 2002 | 11:44 PM

TomH91

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From: St. Louis

Re: Play in the steering column? (Ozman)

Wish I could tell you exactly how the column works, but can't. I had been putting off the column repair in my 91 despite being cautioned not to let it go too long. Issue was forced when turn signal pivot switch broke. Apparently the knuckles on the tilt mechanism get loosened up along with the bolts you mention. Do *not* wait too long - a buddy's car has the column out right now because he kept driving it - plastic and metal bits fell out the bottom of the tilt area when it finally went and now he's had to pull the entire column and ship it out to be rebuilt. The problem seems to be that if things work too loose the bolt holes get stretched from the play and the column cannot be made as tight again afterward. I paid about $250 to have mine reworked by a trusted Corvette mechanic, but another buddy got clipped for $1k on his ZR-1 by a dealership. I work on my own car quite a bit but sent it out to play it safe with the airbag.

Aug 7, 2002 | 12:05 AM

JonM

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From: X

Re: Play in the steering column? (Ozman)

Unless he went deep into the column, he didn't tighten it up. The bolts that need tightening up are not near the turn signal switch.

http://www.aros.net/~rbuck/column/tiltcol.html

http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/susp..._steering.html

Aug 7, 2002 | 06:29 AM

93 ragtop

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From: Manassas VA

Re: Play in the steering column? (JonM)

I took mine to the dealer about 1 year ago for the same problem. They tightened the bolts and it helped but still has some play. They told me that the bowl needs to be replaced and it was going to be an additional 500 plus dollars. There is a co. in NY that will rebuild the colum for you, and I believe the price they quoted me was $150.00 plus parts. I was thinking about pulling the colum and sending it to them this winter, but then again pulling the colum might be as much work as fixing it in the car.

Aug 7, 2002 | 09:15 AM

JonM

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From: X

Re: Play in the steering column? (Red 86 4+3)

Red....don't let removing the column frighten you. Its real simple. Its a matter of a couple bolts under the hood, a couple under the hush pad and a few plugs on the column itself. Shouldn't take you more then a half hour to remove.

Here are a couple sites you can inquire about price.

http://www.empiresteering.com/

http://www.corvettesteering.com/

http://columnsgalore.com/

I used the last guy because he got the shaft and by the end of the day it was shipped back to me. Two days it to from removal to reinstall.

Aug 7, 2002 | 09:21 AM

Team Owner

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From: Phila., PA burbs

Re: Play in the steering column? (JonM)

I see a lot of posts regarding play in the column, but I'm not sure if the problem I have is the same. I don't have any movement from right to left or even any diagonal movement. My problem is if you put enough pressure on the top of the steering wheel you can get the column to tilt without using the tilt lever. Is the fix for this problem the same as the one listed in the above posts or is my problem related specifically to the tilt mechanism??? :confused:

Aug 7, 2002 | 10:56 AM

Ozman

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From: Edmond OK

Re: Play in the steering column? (JonM)

Quote:

Unless he went deep into the column, he didn't tighten it up. The bolts that need tightening up are not near the turn signal switch.

Yes, the guy said he did this. He even mentioned the fact that GM has had a problem with their tilts in the past. The column moves maybe a quarter to
half an inch. May be my imagination, but it feels better than before. I just thought that there wouldn't be any play at all. Could it be that the lower housing is cracked?

Aug 7, 2002 | 11:00 AM

Ozman

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From: Edmond OK

Re: Play in the steering column? (TomH91)

Quote:

Issue was forced when turn signal pivot switch broke.

That's why I decided to have my column fixed. Even after repair, the turn signal still doesn't feel real solid. Almost like the pivot switch could break again at any moment.