Steering column woes! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

FatGuy · 03-05-2004, 02:28 AM

My 1986 GMC Sierra was stolen before I had it a week. Luckily the police recovered it before I knew it was gone (I didn't find out that they had it until I had the sinking feeling for about 30 Minutes). Anyway enough rambling here is my question I need a new steering column and I need to know what will fit with out any modifications. I have already been told that I don’t want anything 83 or before due to the windshield wiper controls being on the dash but there are a few on eBay for trucks anywhere from '88-'91 will these work the pictures look similar but I need an easy swap. I don’t have the facilities so I will have to borrow them and cannot leave the truck in pieces while I find another column if the one I buy doesn’t work. LOHRTBT turned me on to this board and said that the members were very nice and helpful. I am in dire need of both right now.

Thanks

*1FaastC10* · 03-05-2004, 02:52 AM

why do you need a new culomn?

FatGuy · 03-05-2004, 02:58 AM

They busted the side out durring the heist. And broke a few parts that I don't know if I can replace. I thought it would be alot easier to replace the column. If not then let me know.

Russell · 03-05-2004, 03:04 AM

The theif probally smashed his column to bits.

If you can find any truck, suburban, blazer, or van that has the same setup at your local wrecking yard, you'll find yourself a column fairly cheap. If it isn't a complete column (say its missing the steering wheel) you can probally get it even cheaper, then just swap the parts from your current column over to the new one. It really isn't nearly as daunting of a task as it may seem, just take lots of pictures, or search for some topics about column rebuilds on this forum, you'll find tons of information. If your truck doesn't have a tilt column, now is a great time to upgrade

When I bought my truck, the column was already broken from years of farm abuse, it was one of the very first things I did on my truck. I was able to get it all to go together after building myself some tools (locking plate compressor, steering wheel puller, and tilt pin puller) in less than two nights. As it stands now, I can probally totally rebuild a column in a night, and probally get it installed too

Just make sure that the new column has the same shaft that connects to your steering box as the old one (some were bolt ones, some splined) and you won't have to go any deeper than just the signal light / wiper arm

Good luck, and welcome to the site! Its full of tons of helpful people who have helped me (I'm pretty young, 17) save tons of money, and get my old 80 GMC Sierra Classic on the road

LOHRTBT · 03-05-2004, 12:32 PM

Hey you know what I just thought of something. Steering column specialists in OKC off Agnew is really reasonable and has TONS of columns and such. They are super fast and nice too. they rebuilt my ignition and fixed my loose tilt column for like $60

Gibble · 03-05-2004, 12:36 PM

Oh, and a steering column is ussually a breeze to replace...it doesn't take long at all...ussually

03-05-2004, 02:28 AM	#1
FatGuy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Winchester, VA Posts: 37	Steering column woes! My 1986 GMC Sierra was stolen before I had it a week. Luckily the police recovered it before I knew it was gone (I didn't find out that they had it until I had the sinking feeling for about 30 Minutes). Anyway enough rambling here is my question I need a new steering column and I need to know what will fit with out any modifications. I have already been told that I don’t want anything 83 or before due to the windshield wiper controls being on the dash but there are a few on eBay for trucks anywhere from '88-'91 will these work the pictures look similar but I need an easy swap. I don’t have the facilities so I will have to borrow them and cannot leave the truck in pieces while I find another column if the one I buy doesn’t work. LOHRTBT turned me on to this board and said that the members were very nice and helpful. I am in dire need of both right now. Thanks __________________ FatGuy aka TINY '86 GMC SWB

03-05-2004, 02:58 AM	#3
FatGuy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Winchester, VA Posts: 37	They busted the side out durring the heist. And broke a few parts that I don't know if I can replace. I thought it would be alot easier to replace the column. If not then let me know. __________________ FatGuy aka TINY '86 GMC SWB Last edited by FatGuy; 03-05-2004 at 03:11 AM.

03-05-2004, 03:04 AM	#4
Russell Professional Grade Join Date: May 2003 Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta Posts: 7,915	The theif probally smashed his column to bits. If you can find any truck, suburban, blazer, or van that has the same setup at your local wrecking yard, you'll find yourself a column fairly cheap. If it isn't a complete column (say its missing the steering wheel) you can probally get it even cheaper, then just swap the parts from your current column over to the new one. It really isn't nearly as daunting of a task as it may seem, just take lots of pictures, or search for some topics about column rebuilds on this forum, you'll find tons of information. If your truck doesn't have a tilt column, now is a great time to upgrade When I bought my truck, the column was already broken from years of farm abuse, it was one of the very first things I did on my truck. I was able to get it all to go together after building myself some tools (locking plate compressor, steering wheel puller, and tilt pin puller) in less than two nights. As it stands now, I can probally totally rebuild a column in a night, and probally get it installed too Just make sure that the new column has the same shaft that connects to your steering box as the old one (some were bolt ones, some splined) and you won't have to go any deeper than just the signal light / wiper arm Good luck, and welcome to the site! Its full of tons of helpful people who have helped me (I'm pretty young, 17) save tons of money, and get my old 80 GMC Sierra Classic on the road __________________ 1995 Chevrolet 2 Door Tahoe (6.6L LBZ Duramax / ZF6 / NP241 with 1 ton solid axle swap)

03-05-2004, 12:32 PM	#5
LOHRTBT BeWarE tHe eViL CrAnkTOe! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Yukon, OK Posts: 3,605	Hey you know what I just thought of something. Steering column specialists in OKC off Agnew is really reasonable and has TONS of columns and such. They are super fast and nice too. they rebuilt my ignition and fixed my loose tilt column for like $60 __________________ ~Dave~ You can call me Mike, Mike Oxlong - 1986 Chevy SWB - Stock for now - *1986 Chevy Custom SWB* *Stolen 6/26/05* - 1985 Chevy SWB SOLD - 1999 T/A Some mods www.cardomain.com/id/ramairdave AIM Screenname - Jester84

03-05-2004, 02:52 AM	#2
1FaastC10 Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 6,399	why do you need a new culomn?

03-05-2004, 12:36 PM	#6
Gibble mmmm....Rye and Coke Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: MB, Canada Posts: 485	Oh, and a steering column is ussually a breeze to replace...it doesn't take long at all...ussually



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