Steering wheel has an excessive 'dead zone'
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 164
From: Nashville TN
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
Steering wheel has an excessive 'dead zone'
An odd issue developed today-the steering wheel has developed a dead zone. The first 5 degrees I turn it (in either direction) does nothing, then it catches and turns like normal. It almost feels like something isn't tightened down properly, although I thought the wheel was splined so it couldn't slip?
To describe better what is happening:
I'm driving down the road, and need to make a right turn. I turn the wheel to the right. The first 5 degrees or so that I turn the wheel, the car does nothing, then the wheel 'catches' and continues to turn to the right like normal. As I come out of the turn, I begin to turn the wheel to the left (to straighten the front wheels). The first 5 degrees or so I turn the steering wheel, it slips, then catches and continues to work. There's a feeling like the steering wheel itself is loose, and once it hits a certain amount of pressure it will slip slightly within the same 5 degrees. I don't think it will slip more than that, but it still concerns me that the wheel feels loose. I don't want it to work itself loose while I'm driving. I hope this makes sense?
To describe better what is happening:
I'm driving down the road, and need to make a right turn. I turn the wheel to the right. The first 5 degrees or so that I turn the wheel, the car does nothing, then the wheel 'catches' and continues to turn to the right like normal. As I come out of the turn, I begin to turn the wheel to the left (to straighten the front wheels). The first 5 degrees or so I turn the steering wheel, it slips, then catches and continues to work. There's a feeling like the steering wheel itself is loose, and once it hits a certain amount of pressure it will slip slightly within the same 5 degrees. I don't think it will slip more than that, but it still concerns me that the wheel feels loose. I don't want it to work itself loose while I'm driving. I hope this makes sense?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,330
Likes: 2,722
An odd issue developed today-the steering wheel has developed a dead zone. The first 5 degrees I turn it (in either direction) does nothing, then it catches and turns like normal. It almost feels like something isn't tightened down properly, although I thought the wheel was splined so it couldn't slip?
To describe better what is happening:
I'm driving down the road, and need to make a right turn. I turn the wheel to the right. The first 5 degrees or so that I turn the wheel, the car does nothing, then the wheel 'catches' and continues to turn to the right like normal. As I come out of the turn, I begin to turn the wheel to the left (to straighten the front wheels). The first 5 degrees or so I turn the steering wheel, it slips, then catches and continues to work. There's a feeling like the steering wheel itself is loose, and once it hits a certain amount of pressure it will slip slightly within the same 5 degrees. I don't think it will slip more than that, but it still concerns me that the wheel feels loose. I don't want it to work itself loose while I'm driving. I hope this makes sense?
To describe better what is happening:
I'm driving down the road, and need to make a right turn. I turn the wheel to the right. The first 5 degrees or so that I turn the wheel, the car does nothing, then the wheel 'catches' and continues to turn to the right like normal. As I come out of the turn, I begin to turn the wheel to the left (to straighten the front wheels). The first 5 degrees or so I turn the steering wheel, it slips, then catches and continues to work. There's a feeling like the steering wheel itself is loose, and once it hits a certain amount of pressure it will slip slightly within the same 5 degrees. I don't think it will slip more than that, but it still concerns me that the wheel feels loose. I don't want it to work itself loose while I'm driving. I hope this makes sense?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 164
From: Nashville TN
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,330
Likes: 2,722
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 164
From: Nashville TN
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
My next question is, for now, do I need to be worried my steering is going to suddenly go out on me? Do I need to immediately garage the thing until this is fixed, or can I just deal with it for now?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 164
From: Nashville TN
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
Thanks for the help. I definitely want to fix it but it's friggin cold out there right now lol.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,330
Likes: 2,722
If the OE shields are still in place I believe it next to impossible to do the visual and maybe also the 'feel' but it's been many years since I've been there. I helped a friend a very long time ago and I'm quite sure he did an '86 column with the intermediate shaft replacement at the same time.
It seems there's a spline/pinch-bolt difference '84/'85 to the '86 - '89 column. There's I'm sure a couple choices for a repair. If I had the intermediate shaft on the bench to check there's maybe a way I'd consider BUT I don't so ...................
If someone says they've been there and 'done that' then I'd have to evaluate what they did, how many miles ago and if they would maybe consider a different approach again.
It seems there's a spline/pinch-bolt difference '84/'85 to the '86 - '89 column. There's I'm sure a couple choices for a repair. If I had the intermediate shaft on the bench to check there's maybe a way I'd consider BUT I don't so ...................
If someone says they've been there and 'done that' then I'd have to evaluate what they did, how many miles ago and if they would maybe consider a different approach again.
Last edited by WVZR-1; Jan 3, 2018 at 12:53 PM.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 164
From: Nashville TN
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
One thought-I do have a complete donor car sitting right next to this one-might it be a good idea to just lift the column from the donor and drop it in here? I've never done any steering column work before (on ANY car), so guidance on that job would be appreciated.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,953
Likes: 550
From: Mission Viejo CA
It's also an easy repair. There is a shield at the top of the intermediate shaft, but it's easy to remove. The two bolts at the top and bottom of the shaft need to be completely removed, then the slip joint allows you to pull the shaft off of the splines, and it's out!
This pin should stay centered in the hole at all times:
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 164
From: Nashville TN
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
Thanks-that makes it sound easy. I'll take a look at the car at some point and ask questions then. That actually looks pretty straightforward.
The donor car I have was in a front-end collision, would that mean I shouldn't use this part?
The donor car I have was in a front-end collision, would that mean I shouldn't use this part?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,330
Likes: 2,722
This is very easy to check. There are no "shields" in place to see this problem. It's directly below your alternator. This intermediate shaft design is '84-'85 only. The '86 is different.
It's also an easy repair. There is a shield at the top of the intermediate shaft, but it's easy to remove. The two bolts at the top and bottom of the shaft need to be completely removed, then the slip joint allows you to pull the shaft off of the splines, and it's out!
This pin should stay centered in the hole at all times:
It's also an easy repair. There is a shield at the top of the intermediate shaft, but it's easy to remove. The two bolts at the top and bottom of the shaft need to be completely removed, then the slip joint allows you to pull the shaft off of the splines, and it's out!
This pin should stay centered in the hole at all times:
There's a 7843500 on eBay that resembles what I recall completely with the GM 'Saginaw' crimps that secured the slip-yoke section to the splined shaft. There's of course an adhesive used along with the crimps. I really believe it's easier to 'feel' the failure than visually see the pin alignment. The collapsible section that creates the slop I thought was above the yoke/spline. The crimp I thought for Saginaw to determine effective length while assembly then lock it. The pin centering actually I thought was for Saginaw assembly also.
Last edited by WVZR-1; Jan 3, 2018 at 03:53 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,953
Likes: 550
From: Mission Viejo CA
If there's any possibility it's good, I'd try using it. If it doesn't work out, you will have learned how easy it is to do the job again! It's not un-safe to have this problem, as you have already learned.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,953
Likes: 550
From: Mission Viejo CA
Yep, it looks like I'm missing that bottom shield. It makes sense there should be a shield at that spot. My car isn't an NCRS primo. At thirty four years old, and 240,000 miles, and who knows how many previous owners, that's no surprise!
The collapsible section is in the center of the shaft, and is separate from the vibration isolation section. It's the vibration isolation section that has the rubber insert that fails, causing the off-center problem.
The collapsible section is like a "double D" configuration.
The collapsible section is like a "double D" configuration.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,330
Likes: 2,722
You can't immediately go to the intermediate shaft but for '84 - '85 it's certainly the 1st thought and maybe most likely.
If you had a failed lower mast jacket bearing you could also notice a 'similar' feel.
If you had a failed lower mast jacket bearing you could also notice a 'similar' feel.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,720
Likes: 1,625
From: Fairfax Virginia
Boy am I glad at least one of my Corvettes has the old style "Rag Joint" in the steering column!
It looks like we in the Southeastern part of the United States is getting a bit of a reprieve on the weather front. It is finally back in the 30's around here.
Enjoy the warm spell out there guys.... Spring will be back in roughly 3 months and then we can "Enjoy" our Corvettes on the road again!
It looks like we in the Southeastern part of the United States is getting a bit of a reprieve on the weather front. It is finally back in the 30's around here.
Enjoy the warm spell out there guys.... Spring will be back in roughly 3 months and then we can "Enjoy" our Corvettes on the road again!