Loose steering wheel

[po_bird]

Can anyone tell me how to tighten up my steering wheel on my 74 c10. It was missing the lock plate but now i just put it all back together and its still loose.

[cableguy0]

Is it a tilt wheel? Is the column loose or just the steering wheel?

[po_bird]

It is tilt. Its just the steering wheel thats loose

[Edgel82c10]

I would bet its the large keeper nut down deep inside the column that keeps a bearing tight, they are bad to back off and they are a pita to get to and tighten.

[po_bird]

Thats exactly where i thought it was coming from. Because if i move the wheel in the right spot and push it in it feels like its suppose to and if i pull it put its loose again. So how do i tighten it.

[Edgel82c10]

I done mine about 12 yrs ago I cant walk you thru it but after you remove the wheel, theres a keeper ring on the steering stem and If memory is correct its under the turn signal cam.

[po_bird]

Ok. Its the steering stem that is loose. It wasnt like that until i removed the steering wheel and after i put it back together i couldnt get it to tighten back up.

[burntove]

check out this article in super chevy mag
http://www.superchevy.com/tech/sucp_...umn/index.html

[shloopter]

There's a really good video on Youtube. The guy is working on a Camaro and it's the same exact process for our trucks. You need three special tools. I don't have the link but if you search, you'll find it. Oh, make sure to locktight the screws like he says. I didn't and it came loos in a few weeks.

[westofb]

Originally Posted by po_bird

Can anyone tell me how to tighten up my steering wheel on my 74 c10. It was missing the lock plate but now i just put it all back together and its still loose.

Without the lock plate (assuming you are referring to the steel plate that engages to column locking pin) you will never get it tight. The locking plate is held in place with what I would call a snap ring, it requires a special tool to remove and install it. I would suggest you go to the parts store and get a steering wheel puller and the locking plate removal tool, then go to a local junk yard and get the parts you need to put it back as it should be, if it were me I would just grab a complete steering column so you would for sure have all the needed parts to fix yours.
If the entire tilting part of the column is loose, you will have to dig a little deeper to get to the loose bolts and it wil require another tool, tilt column pin puller tool. Regardless, you need the locking plate and if you pick up even all three of the mentioned tools, they won't set you back about $30-40. Hope this helps, good luck.

[68 TT]

Some have a flat washer under the retaining nut holding the steering wheel in place and some don't. There are not enough threads on there to tighten down the nut without the washer in some cases. I found this out the hard way on a car I was working on when I left off the flat washer.

Since you just had it apart it is possible you left off the flat washer if yours had one.

Make sure the nut is tight against the steering wheel and the wheel doesn't move in & out from under the nut when you push on it.