Loose column

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Jan 26, 2022 | 07:33 PM

Bribr

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Joined: Jan 2019

Posts: 51

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From: Omaha

Loose column

Steering column is very loose on my 86
how to fix ?

Jan 26, 2022 | 10:18 PM

CorvetteRules

Drifting

Joined: Nov 2018

Posts: 1,801

Likes: 579

From: Mays Landing, NJ

Are you talking about just the steering wheel or the column itself????

Jan 26, 2022 | 10:20 PM

Arg0413

Drifting

Joined: Feb 2015

Posts: 1,440

Likes: 1,031

From: Baton Rouge Louisiana

I had just had bad wobble in the column in my 1990. Marc Haibeck sells an oversized column in for $50, and it takes 30 min to install. Greatly improved it for me.

Jan 26, 2022 | 11:54 PM

Bribr

Thread Starter

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Joined: Jan 2019

Posts: 51

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From: Omaha

Quote:

Originally Posted by CorvetteRules

Are you talking about just the steering wheel or the column itself????

the column moves quite a bit it was just wobbleing a little then it made a bang noise and got way worse

Jan 27, 2022 | 07:07 AM

CorvetteRules

Drifting

Joined: Nov 2018

Posts: 1,801

Likes: 579

From: Mays Landing, NJ

Did you remove the knee pad and metal panel under it to check the two bolts that hold the column ?

Jan 27, 2022 | 12:06 PM

84 4+3

Le Mans Master

Joined: Aug 2017

Posts: 6,943

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From: New Jersey

If you grab the wheel and move it in a circle, does it just flop all around or does it kind of feel like it moves in a square manner?

Jan 27, 2022 | 04:46 PM

mike1111

Burning Brakes

Joined: Sep 2017

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could be the 4 bolts that come loose on gm columns. there's videos online.

Jan 27, 2022 | 04:52 PM

WVZR-1

Team Owner

Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 25,394

Likes: 2,741

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike1111

could be the 4 bolts that come loose on gm columns. there's videos online.

It 'could' but all '86 columns don't use that 'lock plate'. All 'verts have the later column and I understand that later coupes don't either. The 'verts being different is pretty well documented using GM SPO info but coupes it requires a 'look see'!

It would be the first inspection I believe. Buy the plastic wear parts in the upper housing and do that maintenance while looking deeper and securing the bolts to the lock plate you mentioned.

Last edited by WVZR-1; Jan 27, 2022 at 04:57 PM.

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Jan 29, 2022 | 04:59 AM

rhandle

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 765

Likes: 49

From: West Palm Beach,Florida

This happens on all C4s so be careful. If you use the steering wheel to pull yourself out of the car,you stretch the soft aluminum components in the column and destroy them. DON'TOUCH THE WHEEL. Use the A pillar instead to pull your self out