Steering column knuckle interchangeability
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 866
Likes: 22
From: Savannah GA
Steering column knuckle interchangeability
I'm curious, the 95 I just bought has the mount for the turn signal broken off in the column. How that happened is beyond me. I know some of the parts are interchangeable with fbody parts. What about the upper knuckle?
I'll already be replacing quite a bit of parts in the column like the cam, clockspring and ignition lock, so I'm trying to avoid a new knuckle if I can, there are tons of f bodies lying around!
I'll already be replacing quite a bit of parts in the column like the cam, clockspring and ignition lock, so I'm trying to avoid a new knuckle if I can, there are tons of f bodies lying around!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
I'm curious, the 95 I just bought has the mount for the turn signal broken off in the column. How that happened is beyond me. I know some of the parts are interchangeable with fbody parts. What about the upper knuckle?
I'll already be replacing quite a bit of parts in the column like the cam, clockspring and ignition lock, so I'm trying to avoid a new knuckle if I can, there are tons of f bodies lying around!
I'll already be replacing quite a bit of parts in the column like the cam, clockspring and ignition lock, so I'm trying to avoid a new knuckle if I can, there are tons of f bodies lying around!
If this link "sticks" you might click on "what this fits" > "more" and maybe limit your searches to these model GM's in JY. Visit a GM parts guy and ask confirmation. YOU NEED IN HAND CONFIRMATION!!! I assumed that your use of "knuckle" is this housing. If not post a snapshot of what you want or pick the item# from the link. Good luck!!
http://www.wholesalegmpartsonline.co.../26017468.html
Last edited by WVZR-1; Jan 18, 2017 at 06:11 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 866
Likes: 22
From: Savannah GA
I'll check that out.
The steering column is actually fairly solid. The problem is somehow the pervious owner broke the knuckle and that's keeping me from having a functional turn signal switch. I'll be tearing the column down today hopefully.
The steering column is actually fairly solid. The problem is somehow the pervious owner broke the knuckle and that's keeping me from having a functional turn signal switch. I'll be tearing the column down today hopefully.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,386
Likes: 534
Sounds like te column lock housing is what you're after. The early to mid 90s F body housings should be a good place to start. I replaced the column knuckle in my 85 column with a knuckle out of a 1995 F body. Only difference was the F Body knuckle had two bars for the tilt flanges to lock into versus one bar on the 85 knuckle. The column lock housing was identical to what I already had. GM kept things pretty predictable on the column designs of most 80-90s cars
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 388
Likes: 38
From: Madison CT
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
Sounds like te column lock housing is what you're after. The early to mid 90s F body housings should be a good place to start. I replaced the column knuckle in my 85 column with a knuckle out of a 1995 F body. Only difference was the F Body knuckle had two bars for the tilt flanges to lock into versus one bar on the 85 knuckle. The column lock housing was identical to what I already had. GM kept things pretty predictable on the column designs of most 80-90s cars
search nets this:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...terchange.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...terchange.html
I've done several Saginaw columns and have experienced maybe 3 different shoe/pin configurations. A person should ignore that reference in the link you posted and use "correct" parts for a quality repair. Later GM truck with a fixed column actually have tilt parts in them but without the tilt lock/latching and one of my easier fixes was cannibalizing one of those for the column that I was doing.
Last edited by WVZR-1; Jan 18, 2017 at 05:48 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 866
Likes: 22
From: Savannah GA
I'll take pictures when I get home. I drive for a living so sometimes it takes me a day or two.
The column lock cover is broken on the left side, but the part where the turn signal switch mounts is broken off...The aluminum part of it. Meaning right now I can't drive the car unless I hang my arm out the window as a turn signal. I'd rather fix it first and not be responsible for giving vettes a bad image.
Column actually has very little wobble in it.
Figured I'd put in a new switch, lever, cam, clockspring, lock and recover the wheel while I'm at it. Lubricate everything and repaint the new cover and make it nice.
The column lock cover is broken on the left side, but the part where the turn signal switch mounts is broken off...The aluminum part of it. Meaning right now I can't drive the car unless I hang my arm out the window as a turn signal. I'd rather fix it first and not be responsible for giving vettes a bad image.
Column actually has very little wobble in it.
Figured I'd put in a new switch, lever, cam, clockspring, lock and recover the wheel while I'm at it. Lubricate everything and repaint the new cover and make it nice.
Last edited by dhirocz; Jan 19, 2017 at 12:15 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
I'll take pictures when I get home. I drive for a living so sometimes it takes me a day or two.
The column lock cover is broken on the left side, but the part where the turn signal switch mounts is broken off...The aluminum part of it. Meaning right now I can't drive the car unless I hang my arm out the window as a turn signal. I'd rather fix it first and not be responsible for giving vettes a bad image.
Column actually has very little wobble in it.
Figured I'd put in a new switch, lever, cam, clockspring, lock and recover the wheel while I'm at it. Lubricate everything and repaint the new cover and make it nice.
The column lock cover is broken on the left side, but the part where the turn signal switch mounts is broken off...The aluminum part of it. Meaning right now I can't drive the car unless I hang my arm out the window as a turn signal. I'd rather fix it first and not be responsible for giving vettes a bad image.
Column actually has very little wobble in it.
Figured I'd put in a new switch, lever, cam, clockspring, lock and recover the wheel while I'm at it. Lubricate everything and repaint the new cover and make it nice.
Lock housing cover is NLA and these are maybe your potential JY finds that would work. If the information is correct there's much to choose from and I'd maybe try for the Bonneville applications. In the JY when you mention F-body $$$ it seems maybe rise.
http://www.wholesalegmpartsonline.co.../26035681.html
Post snapshots of what you've got but it sounds as if I'd leave the "knuckle" alone.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 866
Likes: 22
From: Savannah GA
Got it fixed. Sort of. Put in a new Delco switch and turn signal lever, now it works fine. What I notice now is two things...The dimmer switch actuator lever, that goes between the switch and the pushrod, is missing. Im seeing the black plastic actuator, Delco part #D844, and also another, which looks like it replaces my existing metal bracket that connects my wiper/washer switch to the turn signal cam.
Also, the new cover I bought doesn't have any means of securing to the column cover...Strange. I need to take some pics and post them up. I really need a schematic here so I know I'm ordering the right stuff.
It's getting there, little bit at a time. It's a bit different than the Camaros I'm used to.
Also, the new cover I bought doesn't have any means of securing to the column cover...Strange. I need to take some pics and post them up. I really need a schematic here so I know I'm ordering the right stuff.
It's getting there, little bit at a time. It's a bit different than the Camaros I'm used to.
Last edited by dhirocz; Feb 6, 2017 at 01:12 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
Got it fixed. Sort of. Put in a new Delco switch and turn signal lever, now it works fine. What I notice now is two things...The dimmer switch actuator lever, that goes between the switch and the pushrod, is missing. Im seeing the black plastic actuator, Delco part #D844, and also another, which looks like it replaces my existing metal bracket that connects my wiper/washer switch to the turn signal cam.
Also, the new cover I bought doesn't have any means of securing to the column cover...Strange. I need to take some pics and post them up. I really need a schematic here so I know I'm ordering the right stuff.
It's getting there, little bit at a time. It's a bit different than the Camaros I'm used to.
Also, the new cover I bought doesn't have any means of securing to the column cover...Strange. I need to take some pics and post them up. I really need a schematic here so I know I'm ordering the right stuff.
It's getting there, little bit at a time. It's a bit different than the Camaros I'm used to.
This Saginaw Column paper isn't an exact duplication of the later C4 but the cutaways of the upper column might help you understand the dimmer actuator.
http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...ck_Rebuild.pdf
Is this maybe the switch that you bought and replaced?
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from...36071&_sacat=0