steering slack - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

awedel · 09-29-2013, 11:57 AM

Hi all,
Before I start tearing into my steering column blindly I hope there is someone that knows whats happening here. First off it a 72 Blazer 4x4. If you are sitting in the driver seat and pull on the steering wheel toward you, it will move probably one good inch, then you can push it back to where everything is flush (steering wheel against column with little gap). In the engine compartment, it looks like the bearing with the arrow pointed to it is probably the culprit. The picture shows the bearing out of the housing. When the bearing is out of the housing the steering wheel is flush with the column. When you pull the steering wheel toward you and get the 1 " gap the bearing fits snug in the housing. But when the bearing is in the housing you have the 1" gap from the steering wheel to column.
Any ideas?

Chulisohombre · 09-29-2013, 05:19 PM

I had almost the same but it was collapsed and broke the upper bearing. I didn't know how to repair it so I found another one and replaced the whole column. Check that bolt under the bearing and loosen it msybe you can extend the lower shaft to get it lined back up the tighten it back down.
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awedel · 09-30-2013, 10:10 AM

Thank you for the reply. Replacing the column with a new is a last resort of mine. Probably start today on trouble shooting the problem.

Chulisohombre · 09-30-2013, 11:34 AM

Luckily I found one in the junkyard but that place is long gone now. They crushed everything and became a heavy equipment sales and rental place. If I would have known they were doing that I woulda got all the good parts off of them beforehand for scrap price. I think I got my column for 15 bucks. Had a good steering wheel on it too. Mine was a old beat up grant so it was nice to get one complete and intact.
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**jaros44sr** · 09-30-2013, 01:21 PM

Does your column have the retaining clip/ring for the bearing housing....

**john** · 09-30-2013, 04:34 PM

Make sure they didn't leave any parts out when the aftermarket wheel was installed. You need to pull the steering wheel and take a pic of the parts in the column.

Chulisohombre · 09-30-2013, 07:19 PM

I didn't even think of the retaining ring is it still there or missing. It holds that bearing into the housing inside the top of that shaft.
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awedel · 10-01-2013, 10:53 AM

This Blazer has had several owners and at times very mind boggling on what they were thinking...I'll check to see if there is a retainer clip. From my research all parts are there from the steering wheel to the turn signal switch.

IlliniK5 · 10-05-2013, 10:33 PM

Retaining ring missing is my bet. I hate to admit it but when I put on my grant wheel I forgot it at first and had the same issue.

awedel · 02-19-2014, 05:45 PM

so I ordered a new lower bearing which came with a new metal housing. I also ordered a bearing retainer as well. Heres when it gets weird. I looked at two of my buddies stock steering setups. Where the two shafts connect you have a hard metal clip that has a bolt running through it. Then from there you have the large washer followed by the spring, then the new bearing and the new bearing housing which is then encompassed by the thin metal with multiple screws that hold everything in-line. I can't find anywhere to put the retainer nor did it look my friends had them either. I tried my best to push the new bearing into the metal housing but theres still some slack. Does it need to be press fitted on? Went up to the steering wheel with the new bearing installed and still have play in the steering shaft. (towards and away from you) I took the steering wheel off and re-adjusted the upper bearing back on the shaft and into its housing but still have play. I hope this makes sense.

09-29-2013, 11:57 AM	#1
awedel Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: santa barbara ca Posts: 78	steering slack Hi all, Before I start tearing into my steering column blindly I hope there is someone that knows whats happening here. First off it a 72 Blazer 4x4. If you are sitting in the driver seat and pull on the steering wheel toward you, it will move probably one good inch, then you can push it back to where everything is flush (steering wheel against column with little gap). In the engine compartment, it looks like the bearing with the arrow pointed to it is probably the culprit. The picture shows the bearing out of the housing. When the bearing is out of the housing the steering wheel is flush with the column. When you pull the steering wheel toward you and get the 1 " gap the bearing fits snug in the housing. But when the bearing is in the housing you have the 1" gap from the steering wheel to column. Any ideas? Attached Images

09-29-2013, 05:19 PM	#2
Chulisohombre Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Bangor pa Posts: 1,223	Re: steering slack I had almost the same but it was collapsed and broke the upper bearing. I didn't know how to repair it so I found another one and replaced the whole column. Check that bolt under the bearing and loosen it msybe you can extend the lower shaft to get it lined back up the tighten it back down. Posted via Mobile Device

09-30-2013, 10:10 AM	#3
awedel Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: santa barbara ca Posts: 78	Re: steering slack Thank you for the reply. Replacing the column with a new is a last resort of mine. Probably start today on trouble shooting the problem.

09-30-2013, 11:34 AM	#4
Chulisohombre Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Bangor pa Posts: 1,223	Re: steering slack Luckily I found one in the junkyard but that place is long gone now. They crushed everything and became a heavy equipment sales and rental place. If I would have known they were doing that I woulda got all the good parts off of them beforehand for scrap price. I think I got my column for 15 bucks. Had a good steering wheel on it too. Mine was a old beat up grant so it was nice to get one complete and intact. Posted via Mobile Device

09-30-2013, 01:21 PM	#5
jaros44sr Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Philadelphia, Pa. 19454 Posts: 9,766	Re: steering slack Does your column have the retaining clip/ring for the bearing housing.... __________________ Semper Fi...Uncle Sam, you da man All parts offered to help are free, unless otherwise noted Dont try this stuff in my build thread, unless you have 55 years of mechanical OTJ training SAFETY FIRST AS usual, off topic They say your mind goes second, can't remember the first Jim Last edited by jaros44sr; 09-30-2013 at 06:24 PM.

09-30-2013, 04:34 PM	#6
john member #16 Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Yuba City Ca. Posts: 3,618	Re: steering slack Make sure they didn't leave any parts out when the aftermarket wheel was installed. You need to pull the steering wheel and take a pic of the parts in the column. __________________ john http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showgroups.php board vendors http://www.flickr.com/photos/1745471...7602865984234/ Last edited by john; 09-30-2013 at 04:39 PM.

09-30-2013, 07:19 PM	#7
Chulisohombre Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Bangor pa Posts: 1,223	Re: steering slack I didn't even think of the retaining ring is it still there or missing. It holds that bearing into the housing inside the top of that shaft. Posted via Mobile Device

10-01-2013, 10:53 AM	#8
awedel Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: santa barbara ca Posts: 78	Re: steering slack This Blazer has had several owners and at times very mind boggling on what they were thinking...I'll check to see if there is a retainer clip. From my research all parts are there from the steering wheel to the turn signal switch.

10-05-2013, 10:33 PM	#9
IlliniK5 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Swansea, IL Posts: 22	Re: steering slack Retaining ring missing is my bet. I hate to admit it but when I put on my grant wheel I forgot it at first and had the same issue. __________________ 1970 CST K5. 350/TH350/205. Dana60/14FF. 2" rear/1" front lift. 33" Cooper AT3s on MT Classics black powdercoated. 4 wheel disk.

02-19-2014, 05:45 PM	#10
awedel Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: santa barbara ca Posts: 78	Re: steering slack so I ordered a new lower bearing which came with a new metal housing. I also ordered a bearing retainer as well. Heres when it gets weird. I looked at two of my buddies stock steering setups. Where the two shafts connect you have a hard metal clip that has a bolt running through it. Then from there you have the large washer followed by the spring, then the new bearing and the new bearing housing which is then encompassed by the thin metal with multiple screws that hold everything in-line. I can't find anywhere to put the retainer nor did it look my friends had them either. I tried my best to push the new bearing into the metal housing but theres still some slack. Does it need to be press fitted on? Went up to the steering wheel with the new bearing installed and still have play in the steering shaft. (towards and away from you) I took the steering wheel off and re-adjusted the upper bearing back on the shaft and into its housing but still have play. I hope this makes sense.



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