derek840378

my steering wheels is kinda wobbly. its a tilt wheel and the top half of the cloumn moves in all directions about an inch each way. any ideas what could be causing it? should i be concerned?

rebal

two things could be going on
#1 under the wheel lock are 4 alen head bolts...could be loose happened to mine.

#2 the top of the outter colum tube could have ed you need to check it out !!!!!
mine broke off completely after I let it go! and I lost all steering. because the spring that is in the tilt mech. will push the ujoint at the steering box apart .I looked long and hard to find a new colum (alaska).
If you pull your self up in to the truck with thw wheel it will take a toll on the colum!

hopefuly its just the 4 bolts....but check it out ASAP!!!!!!!!!

flashgordon

Ya my gess is the 4 bolt in the colum,and if i remeber right you can get to 2 of the bolt with just the stering wheel off, but the ethers you will have to go farther in to the colum..........or was that the cheby colums

Micaiahfied

flash, i just fixed an old suburban with the same problem. just pulling the steering wheel you can access 2 bolts, it fixed my problem so i didn't have to go any further.
derek, check it out if you need a column i know there are 3 first gens at the local parts yard. i'd gladly take a look and see what they have.

flashgordon

Ya, I was afraid that the ether 2 would come out and get bound in the sterring......Did you us lock tite so thay never come back out?

Micaiahfied

no, didn't think of that, lol

flashgordon

Thats ok it will probly last a fue year any ways

derek840378

ok, i've been lazy. just now getting around to fixing it. i've taken the steering wheel off and have tightened the top allen head and it has helped it considerably. i can see the second one at about 7 o'clock. i just need to get the lock plate off to get to it. i got the remover tool but cant figure out how to used it . any help?

derek840378

finally figured it out. got the lock plate off, then the turn signal cam and found 3 allen head bolts, one at 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, and one at about 7:30. tightened those 3 up as much as i felt comfortable, and i still have a good bit of play. any other ideas? after reading the previous posts is my next option a new column?

Chass

My moms astro van with a tilt wheel had a wobbly problem like that. She put off fixing it cuz she could still drive it. Eventually the tilt hinge fell appart and for some reason the steering lock locked as she was coming out of a corner and she was still turning just enough that she had to slam on the brakes to keep from running into the ditch. Pretty scary. She bought a new, tight column the next day and we towed the van home to put it in.

Steering columns suck to work on but I wouldn't drive it much till you get it fixed. I don't know what these look like inside but my moms pin had worn through the cast material onthe lower part of the tilt knuckle and the cast part actually broke so the steering column could move side to side.

Chass
ct

derek840378

come on guys, no one can help? i need to know if there's any hope or if i should make a trip to the boneyard.