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I can literally swivel the steering wheel like a swivel socket its that loose...How hard is it to get to the problem area of these columns??? Could it be as easy as being able to tighten up some loose bolts down in there?
How long have you owned the car? The number one reason for the steering wheel to be like that in a C4 is because the driver uses the wheel as a grab bar when getting out of the cockpit.
I just bought it. Its my first corvette and figured as much since that was my first intention to grab the wheel to get out.. Im 6 foot and learned to not touch the wheel when exiting..not much "Grab bar" left on it haaha
I believe there have been several threads on what steps have to be taken to repair the issue. Try doing a search to read up on it. I'm 6' 2 and 220 and on exiting swing my left leg out push off on the center console for balance.
Are you describing a rotational looseness, or a movement of the wheel up-and-down or side-to-side? Your description sounds more like the first situation. If so, the problem may be the anti-vibration coupler at the bottom of your steering column. The rubber internal sleeve may have fractured, allowing the steering wheel to rotate for a short distance, without turning the front wheels.
Look for this coupler where the steering column connects to the steering rack. There are pins in the coupler which prevent dangerous rotation, but will not be centered in the mounting holes. There should be a plastic shield over the coupler which will need to be removed for the inspection of the pins. Have a helper move the steering wheel while you watch this pin. The pin should be centered, and should not move in the hole.
I had a similar issue on the 84 that I purchased a few years ago. It was a common problem on mine as well. There are some small bolts that loosen and cause a lot of looseness in the upper column area. I disassembled the column and put locktite on the bolts and reinstalled. Been just fine for the last 7 years.
Here is a link to a thread that show more than one type of problem. Mine was the loose bolts as illustrated in the thread.
Update.. I rented a steering wheel puller,a lock plate depressor and had to buy a pivot pin puller and successfully got down to the 4 T8 torx bolts and tightened them up and successfully put it ALLLLL back together... im stoked!!! Dont get me wrong I ran into a few snags!!! First one was I pounded the pivot pins back in after I realized the Lock cylinder wasnt catching..Had to pull them out again and slide out the cowel then listen for it to snap in back there..No clue really what I did but it worked ugh.....
1984 Steering column so loose??????
