Crappy Dorman 49300 turn singnal cams. Any alternatives?

[1774btcrew]

Let me start off by saying I am well versed at building steering columns. All of the columns I rebuild get new turn signal cams as they most often are brittle and split where the lever screws in. As of recently, the quality of the Dorman ones has went WAY down. They no longer cancel when using the left hand turn signal. The right side works fine. I have also found the retaining clips on the regular OEM turn signal only catch the lip of the cam on one side. This isn't critical but me being a perfectionist, it really bothers me. For some reason Dorman must have changed there molds. I have also tried different turn signal canceling cams in hopes they would work with Dorman's turn signal cam to no avail. I am at a loss! The only other alternative, is a complete turn signal switch. This is really too expensive to put in these columns for what I charge AND you can't get the correct lower plug for the 73-74 trucks. This annoys me as well. I now you can get an adapter harness but that isn't the cleanest way to go. That leaves me with having to unpin the newer plug and install the earlier plug. That isn't even that big of issue if I am doing an exchange for a customer but if not, I have to scramble to find a 73-74 plug. I just don't understand why Dorman cannot build the cams right. Are there any other alternatives?

[1774btcrew]

No one has any input or experience with these at all?

[83GMCK2500]

Looks like year one has some, not sure quality, but they seem affordable. LINK

[1774btcrew]

Originally Posted by 83GMCK2500

Looks like year one has some, not sure quality, but they seem affordable. LINK

Thanks for the link. I called them and they were already closed so I sent them an email asking for information making sure that they are NOT the Dorman brand. We will see what they have to say. I am at a loss and hate to think that I would have to stop rebuilding steering columns due to being unable to get quality parts

[1774btcrew]

I have checked and their shipping is excessive at almost the same cost as the items. I checked on getting 10 of them and the parts total was $69 and shipping was $38. Just sucks since they don't weigh anything to speak of

[tommy217xxx]

Hey man, not sure if u found any other cams but I got a catalog from the truck shop and they offer them. There website is truckandcarshop.com

[Katrina/10]

I bought one of those Dorman brand cams 20 years ago, and it didn't work right then, either.

[kdh454]

Rock Auto lists three brands that are not Dorman. Including one that is made in USA.

http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/c...ignal+cam,1572

[truckin 79]

Looks like you can buy a whole new turn signal switch with the wires for 34.00 from Autozone. I used one a long time ago on a Bronco and worked tons better than just replacing the cam itself.

[69heavychevy]

I've given up buying electrical parts from rockauto. I've had terrible luck with them. I ordered the entire turn signal switch, thats made in the USA btw, and the turn signal contacts are starting to act up after 6 months of very light use. The hazard light switch doesn't operate correctly.
Neutral safety switch went bad after one week.
Ignition lock went bad after one month.
I just by my electrical parts from oreillys now, I usually try to buy their BWD line which have a lifetime warranty.

[1774btcrew]

Originally Posted by truckin 79

Looks like you can buy a whole new turn signal switch with the wires for 34.00 from Autozone. I used one a long time ago on a Bronco and worked tons better than just replacing the cam itself.

The whole switch isn't needed as usually all that is bad is just the cam. I don't sell my rebuilt columns for enough to justify purchasing a complete switch. It seems like the Shee Mar are pretty decent. They just aren't easy to purchase locally.

[lilpoindexter]

Im not sure who makes it, but i one from Classic Industries this weekend. The turn signal lever was too narrow for the slot on the cam...instead of moving with the cam, the lever pivots on the screw a little, and then it starts moving the cam. i looked at the original part, and the width of the lever was a snug fit on the cam...so both moved together. I am going to build up the width of the original turn signal lever with some JB weld, then file it down to fit the width of the new cam. I don't know who makes the classic industries one....and yes...my OG cam was brittle, and had cracked right at the screw where the lever screws on....Only got 38 years of use out of it...lol

[1774btcrew]

I am not sure why it is so difficult to get good ones of these! As I build these for customers, it gets really frustrating to do top quality work on a steering column and then have problems with the signal cancelling. I have also tried to get Autozone and O'Reilley auto parts to contact Dorman about this problem but as expected no one has followed through.

[Dead Parrot]

Just finished replacing my switch. Looks to have been the factory original. It had the AC/Delco imprint on it. Went with the BWD from oreillys. #S3304 which their lookup says it the proper one for my 75. Switch works great. Installed fine.

Major problem with the electrical connector. Molding was not a match to the female connector on the truck. Since the switch was already installed, took a dremel to the new connector. Finally got it to go in only to find the last two contacts were spaced wrong. They were about a 1/2 contact width out of place. Wound up salvaging the original OEM connector housing from the bad switch and swapping it to the new switch. Then it plugged up great.

Don't know if Oreilly's lookup is wrong or BWD made it wrong.

Anyone know if there is a difference between the 75 signal connector and other years?

[Front Range]

Classic Parts sells just the switch cams

53-588 (73-76 with Tilt) 6.95 ea.

53-589 (73-76 without Tilt) and (77-91 All) 4.95 ea.

[1774btcrew]

Originally Posted by Dead Parrot

Just finished replacing my switch. Looks to have been the factory original. It had the AC/Delco imprint on it. Went with the BWD from oreillys. #S3304 which their lookup says it the proper one for my 75. Switch works great. Installed fine.

Major problem with the electrical connector. Molding was not a match to the female connector on the truck. Since the switch was already installed, took a dremel to the new connector. Finally got it to go in only to find the last two contacts were spaced wrong. They were about a 1/2 contact width out of place. Wound up salvaging the original OEM connector housing from the bad switch and swapping it to the new switch. Then it plugged up great.

Don't know if Oreilly's lookup is wrong or BWD made it wrong.

Anyone know if there is a difference between the 75 signal connector and other years?

The issue is the 75 and earlier squares do have a shorter plug. The columns are also designed for this. If you are lucky enough to be able to save your plug, it is relatively easy to unpin yours and use it on the new switch. I usually do one wire at a time to not mix them up. That being said, many of the new switches you buy come with an adapter harness to work with the 75 and earlier trucks. These are considerably higher than the basic switch

[1774btcrew]

Originally Posted by Front Range

Classic Parts sells just the switch cams

53-588 (73-76 with Tilt) 6.95 ea.

53-589 (73-76 without Tilt) and (77-91 All) 4.95 ea.

Thanks for posting this, do you happen to know what brand they are?

[Dead Parrot]

Originally Posted by 1774btcrew

The issue is the 75 and earlier squares do have a shorter plug. The columns are also designed for this. If you are lucky enough to be able to save your plug, it is relatively easy to unpin yours and use it on the new switch. I usually do one wire at a time to not mix them up. That being said, many of the new switches you buy come with an adapter harness to work with the 75 and earlier trucks. These are considerably higher than the basic switch

Thanks, mystery solved. The OReilly website lookup makes no mention of 75 and earlier being different, even though I had my 75 picked as the lookup vehicle. Swapping the pins was easy. And the 40 year old AC/Delco connector seemed in good shape. Before swapping one at a time, I also wrote the colors/letters down, just in case.

[Front Range]

Originally Posted by 1774btcrew

Thanks for posting this, do you happen to know what brand they are?

No I don't, but the phone number for Classic Parts is (1-800-741-1678).

[chrismoore701]

I bought mine at the Chevy dealer

[1774btcrew]

Originally Posted by Dead Parrot

Thanks, mystery solved. The OReilly website lookup makes no mention of 75 and earlier being different, even though I had my 75 picked as the lookup vehicle. Swapping the pins was easy. And the 40 year old AC/Delco connector seemed in good shape. Before swapping one at a time, I also wrote the colors/letters down, just in case.

Pins aren't bad to swap at all. The hard thing I find is coming up with early plugs. When I see them at the wrecking yard I grab them.