1st Gen. Ram - All Topics Discussion for all Dodge Rams prior to 1994. This includes engine, drivetrain and non-drivetrain discussions. Anything prior to 1994 should go in here.

wobbly steering wheel

Old Apr 19, 2006 | 12:04 AM
  #1  
derek840378's Avatar
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From: Crosby, TEXAS
wobbly steering wheel

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?
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Old Apr 19, 2006 | 12:20 AM
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From: Yuba city Kalifornia
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!!!!!!!!!
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Old Apr 19, 2006 | 08:50 AM
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From: WY
Originally Posted by 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!!!!!!!!!
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
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Old Apr 20, 2006 | 07:23 AM
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From: Springfield, TN
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.
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Old Apr 20, 2006 | 07:31 AM
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From: WY
Originally Posted by 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.

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?
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Old Apr 20, 2006 | 08:06 AM
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From: Springfield, TN
no, didn't think of that, lol
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Old Apr 20, 2006 | 08:45 AM
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From: WY
Thats ok it will probly last a fue year any ways
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Old Aug 10, 2006 | 11:53 AM
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From: Crosby, TEXAS
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?
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Old Aug 10, 2006 | 12:55 PM
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From: Crosby, TEXAS
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?
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Old Aug 10, 2006 | 01:00 PM
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From: Eugene, OR
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
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Old Aug 10, 2006 | 02:32 PM
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From: Crosby, TEXAS
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.
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