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

70 shorty · 03-24-2005, 02:05 PM

What's going on when the shaft that the steering wheel attaches to has some play up and down? Mine can be moved slightly up and down (it's not like it moves freely, it takes some effort). I'm assuming this is not normal.

**CPNE** · 03-24-2005, 02:09 PM

At the base of the column, on the engine side of the firewall, where the intermediate shaft attaches, there should be a heavy spring and large washer. This is designed to prevent the fore/aft slop you describe. I'd get a buddy to to move the column while you observe this area and see what's missing/loose.

70 shorty · 03-24-2005, 09:37 PM

Thanks CPNE, I'm pretty sure the column has been swapped out somewhere along the line. maybe somthing was missed along the way.

70 shorty · 03-26-2005, 09:48 AM

Ok update, it does move freely up and down, about 1/4 inch if you grab the wheel and lift up and down on it. I looked under the hood where the spring and washer are and it looks ok, I tried to move it from under the hood and it was tight. Aren't there some bearings in the column itself that the shaft rides on? I can also hear grinding when the wheel is turned. I'm wondering if there is a bearing that has disintegrated.

**CPNE** · 03-26-2005, 10:43 AM

Yes there are 2 bearings I know of. A lower bearing that sits behind that spring/washer, and an upper bearing where the horn and wiring are. I'm not sure why a bad bearing would allow movement fore/aft but it would account for the noise. It's probably a combination of things, all related to age/wear. You may not remove the problem entirely without rebuild the column stem to stern.

Question: Did that spring compress when you tugged on the wheel at all? If not the lower bearing may be nonexistent.

03-24-2005, 02:05 PM	#1
70 shorty Where's my beer? Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Glen Allen, VA Posts: 1,768	steering column question What's going on when the shaft that the steering wheel attaches to has some play up and down? Mine can be moved slightly up and down (it's not like it moves freely, it takes some effort). I'm assuming this is not normal. __________________ 70 C10, shortstep, .30 over 250,Hurst shifted 3 spd parts hauler. Holley 390, Clifford Intake, Header, ported cylinder head, unknown bigger cam. 79 Corvette L82, 4 spd, black, red interior, headers, flowmasters, and unkown bigger cam. '03 Grand Cherokee Laredo, 4.0 4x4 daily driver. 165K miles, and runs great '08 Tahoe LTZ 4x4 155K

03-24-2005, 02:09 PM	#2
CPNE Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: NH Posts: 6,664	At the base of the column, on the engine side of the firewall, where the intermediate shaft attaches, there should be a heavy spring and large washer. This is designed to prevent the fore/aft slop you describe. I'd get a buddy to to move the column while you observe this area and see what's missing/loose. __________________ Currently on or near the homestead: 67 Chevy SWB 2WD stepside 350/3 on tree (Pat's) 67 GMC SWB 2WD Fleet 402/auto (Brian's under construction) 67 Chevy 3/4 ton 2WD 402/auto (Business Hauler) 67 Chevy 1 ton dually 2WD 396/4 speed (Former business hauler, Needs TLC) 68 Chevy 1/2 ton Suburban 2WD 250 six/3 on tree (Brian's Needs TLC) 70 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD 350/4 speed (Pat's - Disguised as a 68 GMC) 71 Chevy SWB stepside (Crushed by tree - parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD (Parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD Suburban (Parts Donor) 72 GMC 3/4 ton 4WD 292 six/4 speed (Mine - Disguised as a 67 GMC) 81 GMC 4WD Dually Dump Body 350/4 speed (Business Hauler) 82 Camaro Z/28 355/Super T-10 (Pat's toy) 93 Caprice 9C1 (Brian's Cop Car) 02 Toyota Camry (Reliable but a souless steel and plastic hulk) 2011 2SS RS Camaro M6 Factory Hurst Shifter Maybe I need to sell some of this crap Yet another Bozo with a sawz-all

03-24-2005, 09:37 PM	#3
70 shorty Where's my beer? Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Glen Allen, VA Posts: 1,768	Thanks CPNE, I'm pretty sure the column has been swapped out somewhere along the line. maybe somthing was missed along the way. __________________ 70 C10, shortstep, .30 over 250,Hurst shifted 3 spd parts hauler. Holley 390, Clifford Intake, Header, ported cylinder head, unknown bigger cam. 79 Corvette L82, 4 spd, black, red interior, headers, flowmasters, and unkown bigger cam. '03 Grand Cherokee Laredo, 4.0 4x4 daily driver. 165K miles, and runs great '08 Tahoe LTZ 4x4 155K

03-26-2005, 09:48 AM	#4
70 shorty Where's my beer? Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Glen Allen, VA Posts: 1,768	Ok update, it does move freely up and down, about 1/4 inch if you grab the wheel and lift up and down on it. I looked under the hood where the spring and washer are and it looks ok, I tried to move it from under the hood and it was tight. Aren't there some bearings in the column itself that the shaft rides on? I can also hear grinding when the wheel is turned. I'm wondering if there is a bearing that has disintegrated. __________________ 70 C10, shortstep, .30 over 250,Hurst shifted 3 spd parts hauler. Holley 390, Clifford Intake, Header, ported cylinder head, unknown bigger cam. 79 Corvette L82, 4 spd, black, red interior, headers, flowmasters, and unkown bigger cam. '03 Grand Cherokee Laredo, 4.0 4x4 daily driver. 165K miles, and runs great '08 Tahoe LTZ 4x4 155K

03-26-2005, 10:43 AM	#5
CPNE Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: NH Posts: 6,664	Yes there are 2 bearings I know of. A lower bearing that sits behind that spring/washer, and an upper bearing where the horn and wiring are. I'm not sure why a bad bearing would allow movement fore/aft but it would account for the noise. It's probably a combination of things, all related to age/wear. You may not remove the problem entirely without rebuild the column stem to stern. Question: Did that spring compress when you tugged on the wheel at all? If not the lower bearing may be nonexistent. __________________ Currently on or near the homestead: 67 Chevy SWB 2WD stepside 350/3 on tree (Pat's) 67 GMC SWB 2WD Fleet 402/auto (Brian's under construction) 67 Chevy 3/4 ton 2WD 402/auto (Business Hauler) 67 Chevy 1 ton dually 2WD 396/4 speed (Former business hauler, Needs TLC) 68 Chevy 1/2 ton Suburban 2WD 250 six/3 on tree (Brian's Needs TLC) 70 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD 350/4 speed (Pat's - Disguised as a 68 GMC) 71 Chevy SWB stepside (Crushed by tree - parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD (Parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD Suburban (Parts Donor) 72 GMC 3/4 ton 4WD 292 six/4 speed (Mine - Disguised as a 67 GMC) 81 GMC 4WD Dually Dump Body 350/4 speed (Business Hauler) 82 Camaro Z/28 355/Super T-10 (Pat's toy) 93 Caprice 9C1 (Brian's Cop Car) 02 Toyota Camry (Reliable but a souless steel and plastic hulk) 2011 2SS RS Camaro M6 Factory Hurst Shifter Maybe I need to sell some of this crap Yet another Bozo with a sawz-all



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