Steering wheel Q... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

GMCjunkie · 03-28-2004, 04:45 PM

Is it "normal" to pull on the steering wheel and have about 1/2 inch of "play"?? Havent really noticed it much before, just wondering.
Thanks
junk

junkyardjohn · 03-28-2004, 04:55 PM

NO JODIE IT'S NOT. DO YOU HAVE TILT STEERING , OR A STANDARD NON-TILT COLLUMB?? JOHN

*racedvl* · 03-28-2004, 04:58 PM

I have the same problem. . . . . . .

71swb4x4 · 03-28-2004, 08:03 PM

I pulled my wheel last weekend to put a new spring on the cancel-cam to fix the blinker and noticed that my wheel does the same. Its a non-tilt. It looks like there is some sort of rubber bushing thing where the column housing ends just inside the engine compartment, and that was moving back and forth quite a bit when I had my wife pull on the wheel.
I was going to put a tilt column in to fix mine, told my wife it would cost the same

Shawn

JimKshortstep4x4 · 03-28-2004, 09:24 PM

You can pull the wheel up about 1/2" because there is a spring an the lower end of the shaft that holds the bearings in tension.
You can pull on the wheel and collapse the spring.

If the spring is missing then that is a different problem.

Jim

GMCjunkie · 03-28-2004, 10:01 PM

JYJohn, mine is the original non tilt steering column,

Thanks for the comments yall.

junkyardjohn · 03-28-2004, 10:55 PM

JODIE .. HERES A PIC OF WHAT THE BOTTOM END OF YOUR COLLUMB, WHERE IT HOOKS ON TO YOUR SECTOR SHAFT SHOULD LOOK LIKE, RIGHT UNDER YOUR MASTER CYLINDER. IF YOUR MISSING THE SPRING OR THE WASHER, IT'LL CAUSE YOUR PROBLEM.

JOHN

Longhorn Man · 03-29-2004, 12:44 AM

All 3 of my trucks came with non tilt coluns, and they all had that spring, yet they were all sloppy...real sloppy. (I won't compair it to anything, all my annaligys are coming up rated R..think high school cheer leaders)
In reality Jodie, you could do a van tilt swap pretty cheaply in an afternoon, and this will also fix your shifter that I'm willing to bet is binding a bit too. (another very common problem with this collumn)

Longhorn Man · 03-29-2004, 12:48 AM

Oh...and a dirty PM sent too.

GMCjunkie · 03-29-2004, 06:00 AM

Thanks again John, pics are a wonderful thing!!

Andrew,,, Dirty PM received!!

Longhorn Man · 03-29-2004, 07:54 AM

heh heh heh I even cleaned it up a bit.

jorgensensc · 03-29-2004, 11:40 AM

Mine does the same thing, kinda sucks when I take off hard and the steering wheel feels like it is coming off in my hands. I was planning on the tilt swap to cure my problem too. Or is that just an excuse to work on the truck?

jewels. · 03-29-2004, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Longhorn Man
Oh...and a dirty PM sent too.

i thought you only sent those pics to me, andy!

good info in this post, guys! thanks!

jewels.

*67Fleetsidedream* · 03-29-2004, 06:55 PM

My truck doesn't have any slop in the steering. Actually the spring is for the shifter. Without the spring the shifter would not have any tension. In these trucks the steering column was designed to "crush" in to the firewall during an accident. If you look under the hood and look at the steering rod you will see 2 flat spots. On one of the flat spots you will see 2 holes. The holes were injected with plastic to keep the slip joint tight, but not so tight that it wouldn't slip during an accident. The slip joints often loosen after years of driving.

junkyardjohn · 03-29-2004, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 67Fleetsidedream
My truck doesn't have any slop in the steering. Actually the spring is for the shifter. Without the spring the shifter would not have any tension. In these trucks the steering column was designed to "crush" in to the firewall during an accident. If you look under the hood and look at the steering rod you will see 2 flat spots. On one of the flat spots you will see 2 holes. The holes were injected with plastic to keep the slip joint tight, but not so tight that it wouldn't slip during an accident. The slip joints often loosen after years of driving.

ACTUALLY THE PICTURE THAT I POSTED IS OF A 4 SPEED STEERING COLLUMB, SO THERE IS NO SHIFTER ON THE COLLUMB. THE SPRING IS TO HOLD TENSION ON THE BEARINGS & HOLD THEM IN PLACE.(LIKE JIMKSHORTSTEP SAID) THIS BULL SH!T ABOUT THE PINS BECOMING LOOSE AFTER YEARS OF DRIVING IS JUST THAT .. BULLSH!T. THERE IS NEVER ANY TENSION OR WEAR ON THESE PINS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE SECTOR SHAFT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE CONNECTED TO THE STEERING BOX FOR THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE NICE & TIGHT.

IT WOULD BE KINDA NICE OF YOU TO LEARN A LITTLE ABOUT HOW THESE COLLUMBS OPERATE BEFORE GIVING ADVISE.

JOHN

*67Fleetsidedream* · 03-29-2004, 07:31 PM

Dang John???? You ok? Pins?

*67Fleetsidedream* · 03-29-2004, 07:33 PM

Also it is not healthy to be so outraged so easly.

Spoof · 03-29-2004, 07:47 PM

Damn Junkyardjohn, you been holding it in too long I think, go too your happy place.
I don't want to be pedantic, and I don't know the inner workings of it but it's actually called a steering "column" I don't know what a "columb" is but please don't come to my house and beat like a pinata with it!

junkyardjohn · 03-29-2004, 07:57 PM

NAW ... YOU GUYS GOT ME ALL WRONG. I DIDN'T GET UPSET AT ALL.

I JUST HAVE A HARD TIME IGNORING INCORRECT ADVICE. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S ABOUT ONE OF THE FEW SUBJECTS THAT I ACTUALLY KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT .
THE PINS I WAS REFERRING TO ARE THE PLASTIC INJECTION MOLDED SHEAR PINS IN THE SECTOR SHAFT,(THE SECTOR SHAFT IS THE THING YOU REFER TO AS THE STEERING ROD) PUT THERE AT THE FACTORY SO IN THE ADVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THEY WOULD SHEAR ON IMPACT, & THE SECTOR SHAFT WILL COLAPSE. (67 & 68 TRUCKS HAD A ONE PIECE STEERING SHAFT) THESE DID NOT EFFECT THE STEERING COLUMN IN ANYWAY. OH & WHAT THE H@LL IS A PENDANTIC ANYWAY???

JOHN

Longhorn Man · 03-30-2004, 12:45 AM

John is correct, the spring basicly sets the load on the bearings. We have to mess with these all the time at work in the P30 chassis step vans. This column was used well into the 80s on the P30 and busses, and C40 and larger trucks.

Jeepster376 · 03-30-2004, 09:56 PM

This is just the subject I was looking for, I just so happened to get a rejection sticker today trying to get a sticker on my newly acquired 72 4x4 with factory tilt. After spending the whole week getting all lights, brakes, and engine good enough for a sticker, I get failed for the wiggle in the steering wheel. I hadn't thought much of it, but now obviously it's a priority for me to fix asap. My tilt mechanism has some considerable up and down play when locked in position, and the wheel also has a small amount of wiggle to it as well. So looks like I'll be diving into the column tomorrow, but I have no Idea what I may find or what parts I may need.

Any Ideas?

WRMZ71 · 03-30-2004, 10:09 PM

call me crazy but isn't there a top and bottom bearing in the steering column? Mine did the exact same thing and when i took that column out to put in a van tilt i found the upper bearing to be pretty much banged up. I always remember pulling on the steering wheel and trying to tighten up the nut to try to get rid of that slop in there

Seems there was just a dumb nut behind the steering wheel.

03-28-2004, 04:45 PM	#1
GMCjunkie Dude...I'm a CHICK Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lakeland Georgia Posts: 6,192	Steering wheel Q... Is it "normal" to pull on the steering wheel and have about 1/2 inch of "play"?? Havent really noticed it much before, just wondering. Thanks junk __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* "The unexamined life is not worth living" -Socrates ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* '71 GMC Suburban 4x4

03-28-2004, 04:55 PM	#2
junkyardjohn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SOMERSET KY. Posts: 6,427	NO JODIE IT'S NOT. DO YOU HAVE TILT STEERING , OR A STANDARD NON-TILT COLLUMB?? JOHN __________________ junkyardjohn 69 1 TON TOW TRUCK // 84 4WD CUCV BLAZER// 85 1 TON 4WD STAKE TRUCK// 86 M1031 5/4 TON 4WD CUCV// ALOT OF OLD TRUCKS FOR ONE OLD MAN TO DRIVE. THERES ROOM FOR ALL OF GODS CREATURES RIGHT NEXT TO MY MASHED POTATOES// LIFE MEMBER OF P.E.T.A (PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS) DON'T RENT U-HAUL ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH IT WILL AMAZE PART OF THE PEOPLE & ASTONISH THE REST

03-28-2004, 08:03 PM	#4
71swb4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 10,497	I pulled my wheel last weekend to put a new spring on the cancel-cam to fix the blinker and noticed that my wheel does the same. Its a non-tilt. It looks like there is some sort of rubber bushing thing where the column housing ends just inside the engine compartment, and that was moving back and forth quite a bit when I had my wife pull on the wheel. I was going to put a tilt column in to fix mine, told my wife it would cost the same Shawn __________________ Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

03-28-2004, 10:01 PM	#6
GMCjunkie Dude...I'm a CHICK Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lakeland Georgia Posts: 6,192	JYJohn, mine is the original non tilt steering column, Thanks for the comments yall. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* "The unexamined life is not worth living" -Socrates ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* '71 GMC Suburban 4x4

03-28-2004, 10:55 PM	#7
junkyardjohn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SOMERSET KY. Posts: 6,427	JODIE .. HERES A PIC OF WHAT THE BOTTOM END OF YOUR COLLUMB, WHERE IT HOOKS ON TO YOUR SECTOR SHAFT SHOULD LOOK LIKE, RIGHT UNDER YOUR MASTER CYLINDER. IF YOUR MISSING THE SPRING OR THE WASHER, IT'LL CAUSE YOUR PROBLEM. JOHN Attached Images __________________ junkyardjohn 69 1 TON TOW TRUCK // 84 4WD CUCV BLAZER// 85 1 TON 4WD STAKE TRUCK// 86 M1031 5/4 TON 4WD CUCV// ALOT OF OLD TRUCKS FOR ONE OLD MAN TO DRIVE. THERES ROOM FOR ALL OF GODS CREATURES RIGHT NEXT TO MY MASHED POTATOES// LIFE MEMBER OF P.E.T.A (PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS) DON'T RENT U-HAUL ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH IT WILL AMAZE PART OF THE PEOPLE & ASTONISH THE REST

03-28-2004, 04:58 PM	#3
racedvl Account Suspended Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Woodstock, IL Posts: 7,020	I have the same problem. . . . . . .

03-28-2004, 09:24 PM	#5
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	You can pull the wheel up about 1/2" because there is a spring an the lower end of the shaft that holds the bearings in tension. You can pull on the wheel and collapse the spring. If the spring is missing then that is a different problem. Jim

03-29-2004, 12:44 AM	#8
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	All 3 of my trucks came with non tilt coluns, and they all had that spring, yet they were all sloppy...real sloppy. (I won't compair it to anything, all my annaligys are coming up rated R..think high school cheer leaders) In reality Jodie, you could do a van tilt swap pretty cheaply in an afternoon, and this will also fix your shifter that I'm willing to bet is binding a bit too. (another very common problem with this collumn)

03-29-2004, 12:48 AM	#9
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Oh...and a dirty PM sent too.

03-29-2004, 06:00 AM	#10
GMCjunkie Dude...I'm a CHICK Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lakeland Georgia Posts: 6,192	Thanks again John, pics are a wonderful thing!! Andrew,,, Dirty PM received!! __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* "The unexamined life is not worth living" -Socrates ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* '71 GMC Suburban 4x4

03-29-2004, 07:54 AM	#11
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	heh heh heh I even cleaned it up a bit.

03-29-2004, 11:40 AM	#12
jorgensensc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cypress, Tx Posts: 4,005	Mine does the same thing, kinda sucks when I take off hard and the steering wheel feels like it is coming off in my hands. I was planning on the tilt swap to cure my problem too. Or is that just an excuse to work on the truck? __________________ 1972 C20 Suburban- Big Blue Betty '56 Chevy Bel Air Sedan- Frame up Restoration -What would you attempt to achieve if you knew you could not fail?- -I Refuse To Tiptoe Through Life, Only To Arrive Safely At Death's Door- R.I.P. EAST SIDE LOW LIFE

03-29-2004, 06:55 PM	#14
67Fleetsidedream Wiseass secured himself a BAN Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: MOON!!! Posts: 2,282	My truck doesn't have any slop in the steering. Actually the spring is for the shifter. Without the spring the shifter would not have any tension. In these trucks the steering column was designed to "crush" in to the firewall during an accident. If you look under the hood and look at the steering rod you will see 2 flat spots. On one of the flat spots you will see 2 holes. The holes were injected with plastic to keep the slip joint tight, but not so tight that it wouldn't slip during an accident. The slip joints often loosen after years of driving.

03-29-2004, 07:31 PM	#16
67Fleetsidedream Wiseass secured himself a BAN Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: MOON!!! Posts: 2,282	Dang John???? You ok? Pins?

03-29-2004, 07:33 PM	#17
67Fleetsidedream Wiseass secured himself a BAN Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: MOON!!! Posts: 2,282	Also it is not healthy to be so outraged so easly.



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03-29-2004, 07:47 PM	#18
Spoof Registered User Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Victoria,BC, Canada Posts: 1,300	Damn Junkyardjohn, you been holding it in too long I think, go too your happy place. I don't want to be pedantic, and I don't know the inner workings of it but it's actually called a steering "column" I don't know what a "columb" is but please don't come to my house and beat like a pinata with it! __________________ 71 GMC 1500 LWB

03-29-2004, 07:57 PM	#19
junkyardjohn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SOMERSET KY. Posts: 6,427	NAW ... YOU GUYS GOT ME ALL WRONG. I DIDN'T GET UPSET AT ALL. I JUST HAVE A HARD TIME IGNORING INCORRECT ADVICE. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S ABOUT ONE OF THE FEW SUBJECTS THAT I ACTUALLY KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT . THE PINS I WAS REFERRING TO ARE THE PLASTIC INJECTION MOLDED SHEAR PINS IN THE SECTOR SHAFT,(THE SECTOR SHAFT IS THE THING YOU REFER TO AS THE STEERING ROD) PUT THERE AT THE FACTORY SO IN THE ADVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THEY WOULD SHEAR ON IMPACT, & THE SECTOR SHAFT WILL COLAPSE. (67 & 68 TRUCKS HAD A ONE PIECE STEERING SHAFT) THESE DID NOT EFFECT THE STEERING COLUMN IN ANYWAY. OH & WHAT THE H@LL IS A PENDANTIC ANYWAY??? JOHN __________________ junkyardjohn 69 1 TON TOW TRUCK // 84 4WD CUCV BLAZER// 85 1 TON 4WD STAKE TRUCK// 86 M1031 5/4 TON 4WD CUCV// ALOT OF OLD TRUCKS FOR ONE OLD MAN TO DRIVE. THERES ROOM FOR ALL OF GODS CREATURES RIGHT NEXT TO MY MASHED POTATOES// LIFE MEMBER OF P.E.T.A (PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS) DON'T RENT U-HAUL ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH IT WILL AMAZE PART OF THE PEOPLE & ASTONISH THE REST Last edited by junkyardjohn; 03-29-2004 at 10:12 PM.

03-30-2004, 12:45 AM	#20
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	John is correct, the spring basicly sets the load on the bearings. We have to mess with these all the time at work in the P30 chassis step vans. This column was used well into the 80s on the P30 and busses, and C40 and larger trucks.

03-30-2004, 09:56 PM	#21
Jeepster376 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 269	This is just the subject I was looking for, I just so happened to get a rejection sticker today trying to get a sticker on my newly acquired 72 4x4 with factory tilt. After spending the whole week getting all lights, brakes, and engine good enough for a sticker, I get failed for the wiggle in the steering wheel. I hadn't thought much of it, but now obviously it's a priority for me to fix asap. My tilt mechanism has some considerable up and down play when locked in position, and the wheel also has a small amount of wiggle to it as well. So looks like I'll be diving into the column tomorrow, but I have no Idea what I may find or what parts I may need. Any Ideas? Last edited by Jeepster376; 03-30-2004 at 10:10 PM.

03-30-2004, 10:09 PM	#22
WRMZ71 Cause the Chicks DIG IT!! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Beaufort SC Posts: 509	call me crazy but isn't there a top and bottom bearing in the steering column? Mine did the exact same thing and when i took that column out to put in a van tilt i found the upper bearing to be pretty much banged up. I always remember pulling on the steering wheel and trying to tighten up the nut to try to get rid of that slop in there Seems there was just a dumb nut behind the steering wheel.

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