Tilt Column Problems

[72k20Farmtruck]

Hi I’ve got an 82 K20 with a tilt column that is terribly wobbly. It’s a company truck and nobody seems to know “what happened” to it. Anyways i tore it down to the three torx head bolts to tighten it down, except they were already tight. What is wrong please help. Thanks in advance.

[74CustomK20]

My ranger has this problem, and there was a bearing inside that had wollered loose and some of it was missing. I know it's pretty common on these trucks...

[abig84]

There should be 4 of them. You have to move the plastic piece out of the way, take off the turn signal lever and hazard switch along with the ignition cylinder.. did you go that far into the column? There are 3 torx screws that you have to re move to get to the 4 that are deep into the column you need like a 6 inch extension too get to

I just redid mine like a month ago, tightened them like 9 years ago and don't look like I used locktite. I only tighten the 2 that are easy to get too, have to tear into the column more to get to the other 2

[72k20Farmtruck]

Originally Posted by abig84

There should be 4 of them. You have to move the plastic piece out of the way, take off the turn signal lever and hazard switch along with the ignition cylinder.. did you go that far into the column? There are 3 torx screws that you have to re move to get to the 4 that are deep into the column you need like a 6 inch extension too get to

I just redid mine like a month ago, tightened them like 9 years ago and don't look like I used locktite. I only tighten the 2 that are easy to get too, have to tear into the column more to get to the other 2

I must have totally missed that step then! I’ll dig further into it this week some time and I’ll let ya know what i find! Thanks!!

[v30crewcab]

I had one where the top of the column broke so you couldn't tighten it. had to replace the whole thing.

[Ski-me]

Yea, I'd say the 4 are deeper. Also, you can replace the bearings too.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...79WGIB6T&psc=1

First and Second Pics, the 4 torx screws. Use red threadlock.

Third pic, part of the bearings.

[SunSoaked]

Originally Posted by 72k20Farmtruck

Hi I’ve got an 82 K20...It’s a company truck...

That's awesome!

[72k20Farmtruck]

Originally Posted by SunSoaked

That's awesome!

Thanks!! Yeah it’s an old 6.2 Diesel truck that ran away, had a turbo 400 and np208, we dropped in a 99 vortec 454 and 4l80e, adapted it to the tcase, machined a vss into the tailshaft of the tcase and used a 91 suburban electronic speedometer, put a factory tach in, and made the a/c work . Definitely was a fun project! Equpped with flowmasters makes it a great electrical service truck.

[CSHADES]

If all 4 screws aren't tightened, it wont stay tight. I had a guy in 1 time that had his blazer in to the chevy dealer twice for the column looseness. They told him the column was junk and needed to be replaced. He came to me to put a used column in, I tried to tell him I could fix the one he had but he insisted I replace it. So after I replaced it I tightened the screws in his old one and put it in my 41 chevy coupe. That was 20 years ago and I have never had a problem with it.

[oltronj]

I have seen these crack where the tilt pivot pins are also. It is just cast aluminum and if people pull themselves into the truck by the steering wheel there is a lot of side load leverage on all that in there and it is not designed for that.

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by oltronj

I have seen these crack where the tilt pivot pins are also. It is just cast aluminum and if people pull themselves into the truck by the steering wheel there is a lot of side load leverage on all that in there and it is not designed for that.

He pretty well nailed it right there. Add to that I have had to repair so many tilts that I lost count because my wife who is 4' 10" grabs the wheel to pull herself up to reach the key and is really rough on tilt columns. One or the other or both are what tear tilts up.