Steering column advice requested

Chase Race · Post by **Chase Race** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 6:44 pm

One of my customers has the "floppy steering column" problem only worse. I believe that the normal problem is that some bolts that hold the column together get loose. If that's the case then his bolts have completely backed out. You can now grab the outer shell of the column (the part that the ignition switch and blinker lever are attached to) and rotate it. Not good.

I've never had a column apart far enough to repair this problem but I've heard it's a pain. I assume it would be even more of a pain doing one that has already disassembled itself inside so I can't see how it fits together. It seems like the best route to take at this point would be to swap out the whole column. Anybody disagree?

If anybody has done this do you have a ballpark time estimate? Swapping the wheel and lock cylinder from the old column to the new one will be easy, I've done that.

Anybody have a manual trans tilt column for sale?

p8ntman442 · Post by **p8ntman442** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 7:06 pm

I've swapped columns before, when my car was stolen. Very easy, And if you can do the lock cyl, thats deffinatly the best route. make sure to get your customer the tilt column that does or dosent require the key release to match the old one. I know I didnt have the option and I hate having to press the lever to get the key out.

The Dark Side of Will · Sun Jul 30, 2006 12:20 am

I don't think it's that hard. I've done it on multiple occasions. It's a bit tedious the first time and there are lots of small parts to keep track of, but I wouldn't call it hard.

You'll need to fab a tool to remove the snap ring from the column lock plate and another to pull the pivot pins out of the tilt column mechanism, but you shouldn't have any problem with that. In a pinch a stack of washers and a screw can be used to pull the pins.

Go to a junk yard and get a Caddy tilt/telescope column and swap the parts above the pivot pins into the customer's car. I'm going to to this and I'm very much looking forward to the adjustability of driving position that the telescoping column will give me.

Tha Driver · Post by **Tha Driver** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:06 pm

:salute:
sayonara

Kohburn · Post by **Kohburn** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 9:03 pm

The Dark Side of Will wrote: Go to a junk yard and get a Caddy tilt/telescope column and swap the parts above the pivot pins into the customer's car. I'm going to to this and I'm very much looking forward to the adjustability of driving position that the telescoping column will give me.

if someone does this they better make a build thread because that is awesome

The Dark Side of Will · Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:58 am

I'll take some pics, but I don't currently see any problems with it being a plug/play operation.

The tilt columns were optional in high-end GM cars of the same vintage as Fieros... early '80's through early '90's when GM was using that basic column design. The only way I know of to find the telescoping column is to go through a junk yard looking at cars... mostly Caddies. The telescope column can be identified by the locking level for the telescoping mechanism sticking out of the top of the steering wheel hub.

Post by **eHoward** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:26 pm

I have an auto column in my basement.