Tighten up tilt column

[72Mountaineer]

I found a tilt steering column from a early 80s van at the local U-pullit, it fits good in my '53 3100, but after installing and tightening up everything, the "head" section seems rather loose. Is there a way of snugging up this problem? Is it a nasty process (as far as dismantling the column)? maybe easier looking for another column?

[Russell Ashley]

I think that would be very similar internally to the tilt column that was in my 87 Chrysler 5th Avenue, as I have read that virtually all of the tilt mechanisms were made by GM. If it is the same style mechanism, and yours has the same problem mine had, then yes, it can be a nasty problem as you put it. I had to completely disassemble mine to get down to four small Torx screws that held the mechanism to the lower column. It might not be too bad if your ignition switch, turn signal lever, wiper switch, cruise control, and dimmer is not built into it. Also, there is a snap ring that you need a compressor to remove.

[Highsider]

Good call Russell.
Same thing happened to me in the early eighties.
Our "young family" sedan was a 71 Sedan de Ville and tightening the allen bolts fixed it right up.

[mr48chev]

Yuppers it is a common problem. I got pretty good at fixing them as my wife pulls herself up by the steering wheel all the time and that loosens the tilt up.

Russel pretty well described the process. It's best to pull those screws out one at a time and locktite them too.

[55dude]

easy fix! the info is online!

[Daze57]

been there done that - loctite is the way to go

[OrrieG]

I have been as deep in mine as the lock cylinder using online instructions too. I also took photos of each step as I went. instructions will reference special tools but muscle and hand tools worked fine for me. I remember shoving small pieces of ripped fabric down under the small screws as I worked on it, if them fall down into the column can be a challenge to remove and if I think they could get lodged in bearings below and do damage or lock up the column.

[72Mountaineer]

Thanks for the good advise. There seems to be 2 different pin removal tools from Lisle, are they used for the same thing? They look so much different.

[1project2many]

For many years I just used a small slide hammer and a machine screw for the pins. Eventually I bought the "correct" tool just to have it although I never officially retired the slide hammer. When the correct tool puller bolt strips it's nice to have a backup.

I seem to remember using a 1/4" six point socket on the inverted Torx bolts that held the head on the column. I agree 100% that loc-tite makes for a much more effective repair.

Interesting trivia: All the '96 old body style G vans have tilt columns. If the vehicle wasn't ordered with tilt then the tilt lever and matching opening in the column housing were omitted.

[Mac the Yankee]

Opened my van tilt a while back, only to find both ball bearing races nicked and gouged- guess I'll be buying a rebuild kit... any ideas on finding a good kit at a good price?

[mr48chev]

Outside of a GM parts dealer parts counter I don't know if they are available. Older pieces may not be available through them either. They are only required to have parts available (able to order from warehouse) for something like either 7 or 11 years back. I've got a stack of old tilt columns but doubt that any are good enough to rob parts from.