loose steering column

[mcditalia]

My steering colum is loose and I'm trying to figure out how to correct it. The steering wheel itself isn't loose, but the column extension where the turn signal lever is at looks like it is. Consequently, I got some play in all directions with the wheel. The steering shaft inside the firewall looks properly buttoned down. I looked at an assembly manual, but it just talks about how tho get the steering wheel off and no insight to my problem. Any ideas? Never messed with the steering column.

 

[67HEAVEN]

Have you checked everything here?

 

[mcditalia]

67 Heaven,

Yes, everything on the firewall side is tight, the "shaft" that comes inside the car doesn't seem to move, but the area that I described is loose, not the steering wheel itself.

 

[67HEAVEN]

My steering colum is loose and I'm trying to figure out how to correct it. The steering wheel itself isn't loose, but the column extension where the turn signal lever is at looks like it is. Consequently, I got some play in all directions with the wheel. The steering shaft inside the firewall looks properly buttoned down. I looked at an assembly manual, but it just talks about how tho get the steering wheel off and no insight to my problem. Any ideas? Never messed with the steering column.

Is that still true?

 

[67HEAVEN]

My steering colum is loose and I'm trying to figure out how to correct it. The steering wheel itself isn't loose, but the column extension where the turn signal lever is at looks like it is. Consequently, I got some play in all directions with the wheel. The steering shaft inside the firewall looks properly buttoned down. I looked at an assembly manual, but it just talks about how tho get the steering wheel off and no insight to my problem. Any ideas? Never messed with the steering column.

Expand on that thought. "Looks" like it is????

 

[67HEAVEN]

Are the bolts holding the "upper column collar" still tight?

 

[mcditalia]

Yup the upper column collar is nice and tight, just the area that I described is loose. Does the column extension get tightened somehow from the inside before the steering wheel goes on?

 

[61 Silver]

Check your upper and lower steering shaft bearings.

Ray

 

[Geek's 65]

Expand on that thought. "Looks" like it is????

Didn't answer this one and I think Heaven hit it. Is the whole column loose or is it just the turn indicator housing that is moving around giving you the wheel movement? If the actual column is tight but the housing is moving, there are three "hooks" at the top of the column that a plate slips into the hooks and that plate is screwed to the turn indicator housing. If those screws are loose, then the housing could be loose while the column itself is tight and would mean the upper bearing isn't held right and your wheel moves around.

 

[mcditalia]

Yes, Thanks, I think you guys got it right, it was kind of hard to expalin. The column isn't loose but the housing is where the turn signal indicator is, making the steering wheel move around with it. Are these hooks on the inside of the housing, because I can't find them on the outside? Do I need to pull the steering wheel?

 

[Geek's 65]

Yes, Thanks, I think you guys got it right, it was kind of hard to expalin. The column isn't loose but the housing is where the turn signal indicator is, making the steering wheel move around with it. Are these hooks on the inside of the housing, because I can't find them on the outside? Do I need to pull the steering wheel?

The hooks are at the top of the column itself, inside the bottom of the housing and under everything in the housing. The wheel, the hub - all of it has to come out. I think you can remove the screws holding the turn indicator switch and move the switch around to get to the screws holding the plate to the hooks so you don't have to totally disconnect and remove it. It's a PIA to reach. Make sure you disconnect the battery before you do it. There are a couple wires in the column that have +12V on them - one is the horn and if you ground that wire - the horn honks and you jump.

 

[JohnZ]

The complete breakdown of that area (the "hooks", retaining plate and turn signal switch screws, turn signal housing, etc.) is shown in your Assembly Manual in Section 12, Sheet C1.

 

[mcditalia]

Thanks again to everyone.

I have a Chilton manual, so unless I overlooked it, it didn't break down the internals of the housing in the diagrams. I'm pretty sure that to pull the wheel I have to have a special tool, so maybe I need to outsource this one :ugh

 

[67HEAVEN]

Most auto supply stores have steering wheel pullers for sale inexpensively.

One more tool for your toolbox. One more learning experience if you do it yourself. One less bill to pay a shop to "maybe" do it right.

 

[paul67]

You can rent that tool at a local autoparts store. Things come apart very quickly.

 

[Geek's 65]

You can rent that tool at a local autoparts store. Things come apart very quickly.

Yours will look a hair different than Paul's cause his is a 67 with the emergency flasher there on the right. Your's is a 66 (at least in your profile) so no flasher. Which actually makes it easier since all you have to do is take those three screws out, lift the turn signal switch out of the way and there is the retaining plate. Heaven is so right about the puller. It's very inexpensive and easy to use. This isn't brain surgery either - it's harder to explain it than to do it. When it's back together there will be no doubt in your mind you got it done right.

Geek

 

[Charlie '64]

Just had the smae symptons with my '64. The "hooks" or metal tabs that are part of the column jacket itself were broken off (all but one). That allowed the retainer and turn signal switch and the housing to all move around or be loose. Eventually the retainer cut through some of the wire insulation on the turn signal switch and shorted out a rear brake light. Hope this is not your problem, hopefully just loose screws, but don't delay. Pull the steering wheel and turn signal switch and you should be able to see where your problem is.

 

[mcditalia]

Thank you all for the replies.

I bought a steering wheel pull kit form a local parts store to give it a try.

Problem is when I got to threading the bolts in the two holes of my wheel, none of them fit. The 1/4 " bolts were too small and the 5/16" bolts were too big. Anyone know what size bolts fit in there so I can look for a kit with the right size?

 

[paul67]

That's strange. I checked mine and it is 5/16". You may be running into a fine vrs coarse thread issue. (Or you have metric bolts?) Perhaps someone with more knowledge than me can advise.

 

[LUCKY13]

Steering column

I just completed replacing my entire column for my 65 (all the parts!) and I still have side to side play in my wheel. I have tracked the problem to the upper bearing. I bought two of these bearings because the first new bearing had side to side play between the balls and the race. I thought I had bought a replacement bearing (not NOS) that had too much clearance between the balls and the race so I purchased a second bearing from another Corvette supplier. This bearing has the same clearance. I'm stuck here. As long as the bearing itself has this slop, I see no way to get the steering wheel tight, side to side. I even bought the screw and wedge from Dr. rebuild but the problem still exists. Any help would be appreciated.