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Old 02-07-2005, 11:52 PM   #1
LT!freak94
 
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steering

i dont know whats wrong with my steering wheel but when i would pull on it it would go down and to the left about an inch any ideas would be helpfull
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Old 02-08-2005, 09:47 AM   #2
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If it was just moving down I would say that your tilt mechanism is messed up, but i've never heard of one moving side to side....

- Justin
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Old 02-11-2005, 11:19 AM   #3
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the steering columns actually loosen up inside, ive seen a few where they were so bad, the cars wouldnt even start anymore. There is a way to dismantle it and repair it but i never tried. You may be better off to buy a replacement column and swap it out entirely, which isnt hard at all, I can do one in 15 min. A lot of the 3rd gens had the problem you are describing, after a while of getting worse, it will feel like the wheel and the front of the tilt section are about to just fall off the rest of the column.
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Old 02-11-2005, 12:00 PM   #4
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i dont know about swaping the whole column i mean thats alot of work for me i never did that befor but thanx for the info i will see how bad it gets i think the kid that i bought it off of said that it was worse so i dunno but thanx
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Old 02-16-2005, 07:09 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tru2Chevy
If it was just moving down I would say that your tilt mechanism is messed up, but i've never heard of one moving side to side....

- Justin
The old OSU student projects tow truck is a 454 c1500 with a steering wheel that honestly scared the crap out of me. The column has been rebuilt twice before but it still comes loose (typical) and each time the steering wheel would be so loose that you could almost swear it was going to fall off in your lap like an old Laural & Hardy movie. When they come loose in the right place they'll move side to side just as much as up and down. Moral of story, DIY or get burned because I've yet to hear of ANY shop that's rebuilt a column correctly. I helped with a friends 87 c1500 and it was annoying, maybe 4 hours of work. If you've got directions it's not as hard. Also, replacing the steering column isn't difficult. It's actually easier than rebuilding it. 1 bolt holding it to the shaft, 3 to the firewall, 2 on the dash and then there's the plastic crap that's gotta get pulled off. The rest if like big wire connectors and a couple small ones.
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Old 02-17-2005, 08:29 PM   #6
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On my old bird i could pull it down and it would skip all the positions and go to the bottom. I have a fix in word format that "Vader" posted a long time ago on TGO. I could send it or post it if you want.
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Old 02-18-2005, 08:59 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by deadtrend1
On my old bird i could pull it down and it would Â*skip all the positions and go to the bottom. Â*I have a fix in word format that "Vader" posted a long time ago on TGO. Â*I could send it or post it if you want.
Post it up....I'm sure it could help someone out

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Old 02-18-2005, 05:38 PM   #8
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Lets see if it works ....
This is straight from Vaders post word for word ....
------------------------------------------------------------------
Your car will be a little easier if there is no VATS wiring and SIR coil/wiring/gas bag. If you have VATS, there are only two more wires that need to be handled. With SIR, you have an entire additional procedure to remove and reassemble the system. You really should have a service manual in hand for that procedure.

Start by centering the steering wheel, so that the wheel can be replaced in exactly the same position on the shaft easily. The steering shaft is both marked and keyed, but centering the wheel makes the job easier to "eyeball", and keeps the turn signal canceling cam out of the way in later steps.

Next, remove the hazard flasher knob on the lower right side of the steering column. There should be a small (#0) Phillips screw holding the knob in place. Find the release clip or bolts for the horn sounder pad and remove it. As the pad is removed from the wheel, unplug the horn wire from the connector on the pad. Remove the horn sounder wire and the insulator that guides the wire through the steering wheel. The insulating sleeve needs to be pushed inward slightly, twisted ¼ turn anticlockwise, and removed from the wheel. There is a light spring in the sleeve, so make sure all the parts are removed together.

Remove the safety clip from the steering shaft, then remove the nut. You might have to have an assistant help hold the wheel while you turn the nut loose. Install the bolts from your steering wheel puller into the tapped holes in the wheel, and turn the puller screw to release the wheel from the steering shaft.



Depress the notched wheel locking plate and remove the locking ring located at the center of the plate. There is a special tool for holding the wheel locking plate while the snap ring is removed, and it will be worth the $15.00 you'll pay for it. It can be done without the tool, but it is an exercise in frustration unless you are an octopus. I've done it several times using the "Armstrong" method, now I have the tool and use the "Brainstrong" method instead.



When the wheel locking plate is removed, you can look at the left lower side of the turn signal switch and see a pan head Phillips screw that hold the turn signal lever in place. Remove this screw and plate, then move the lever out of the way. There are three more pan head screws that hold the turn signal/hazard lamp switch to the upper column. Remove those and lift the turn signal switch out of the way. You may need to feed some extra wire from under the column to allow the switch to clear the steering shaft and move out of the way completely.



Once the turn signal/hazard switch base is out of the way, you should see another pan head screw on the upper right side of the column. This screw holds the lock cylinder in place. Before you remove the lock cylinder, make sure you hold the plastic/metal foil contact assembly in place so you don't lose it down the column when the lock is removed. This switch assembly is what actuates the key warning buzzer/chime. If you have VATS, there should be an additional pair of wires to umplug and feed down along the column.



Remove the column tilt release lever by unscrewing it. Set it nearby since you will need to reinstall it after the upper bowl trim jacket is removed. Remove the turn signal / multifunction lever shaft by carefully pulling it out of the switch. Unplug the cruise control wire harness (if equipped). Remove the remaining upper bowl trim screws and lift the upper bowl off the column. Find the column tilt release lever and thread it back in hand tight for now.

Remove the upper steering shaft bearing nut and retainer clip. Remove the upper bearing set. Remove the actuator rod link from the rack/sector that operates with the lock cylinder. Disconnect the link from the clip in the lower column.



Remove the balance spring cap with a #2 or larger Phillips driver or larger square drive. This will allow the upper column fall to the lowest tilt position.

Remove the pivot pins from either side of the upper column using an 8-32 screw and nuts as a puller. Assemble the parts as shown, fully bottoming the screw by hand (to get the maximum thread bearing strength), then back it off a turn or two in case the bolt snaps later. Once the screw thrread is set, run the nut down with a wrench to jack the pivot pin out of the column die casting. It the screw snaps, there should be adequate material to back it out by hand (which is why you didn't bottom it out to begin with). Usually, the pin will pull easily once it starts moving and deforms the stakes that were retaining it.



Once the pins are removed, operate the column tilt release lever and remove the upper column half. Note the routing of the ignition switch linkage rod(s) when you remove the upper column half. Tilt the upper stub shaft and universal joint to allow the joint to be separated.

At this point, you should be viewing the top of the lower column half and four Torx cap screws. Remove these screws one at a time, clean the threads, and apply a light coating of LocTite 242 or an equivalent medium strength removable thread locker. Tighten the bolts by hand until all four are reinstalled. Torque these bolts to 180 in/lb.

Reassemble the upper column half in reverse order. Take time to clean and grease all the moving parts so you can have another ten years of reliable operation. Every moving part, including the turn signal switch and cancelling cam, should be cleaned and lubricated with white lithium grease.

When assembly is complete, torque the steering wheel nut to 35 ft/lb. There are already enough loose nuts behind steering wheels on our roadways....

There is a possibility that some of the pan head screws are Torx instead of Phillips. I believe this was more common on 1985 and later cars, but yours may have them as well.
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Old 02-19-2005, 11:03 PM   #9
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thanx for the help everyone but i will test my luck and if worst comes to worst i will take it to my uncle who hates chevys i know he will fix it
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Old 02-20-2005, 01:51 PM   #10
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funny thing is that if GM used locktite bac kwhen they assembled the column, it would most likely still be fine/.
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