I know there are a lot of tilt steering threads but I haven't been able to find the answer to my question. The tilt column will move down about 1/4" to 1/2" when pressure is applied to the top of the steering wheel. It comes right back up to it's original position though. There is no side to side movement and it's not loose. I have had a bunch of GM's with tilt steering and I have never experienced this in any of the other vehicles. In all the exploded views of the steering columns there is a spring located in the tilt portion. It fells like this is what is allowing the movement. I'm wondering if this up and down movement is normal?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

 

Can anybody offer input on this? I'm debating whether or not to tear the steering column down. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

I have the very same problem on my '91Z. I don't notice it while driving, but if you pull down on the top of the wheel (like if you are shifting seating positions on a long drive), it feels like one side 'grabs' and the other side is loose. So I would also like to know the answer here. I also assume it is different than the 'loose steering column' issue often described. Hopefully this bump to the top will help us out...

www.coolcamaro.cz28.com

 

good possiblilty the 4 screws that secure the top part of the column to the lower part are loose. They are KNOWN to work loose. Had to repair them on mine 'bout a year ago. NOT fun but doable in an evening.

 

Don't assume it's different from a loose steering column. Your description pretty well fits. I've seen several that needed to be tightened and the up and down play was exactly as you described. Go ahead and open it up. Costs nothing but time and some effort.

 

I have the same problem with my bird. Wehn I either adjust my seat or move the slightest pressure on the wheel will bring it down.

I think thats a good project for this weekend.



Besides washing it again

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/t...ngcolumn.shtml

 

Follow the steps in the post from Lo-tec. I did and it worked great...

I did do one other thing tho...
I slightly tightened all 4 torx bolts (snugged them up) then pulled them out one at a time and put medium grade loc-tite on them as I put each back in and then tightened them WELL...

The loc-tite should keep it from happening again..

Just be sure you snug up all 4 then pull them ONE at a time to put loc-tite on....

 

I spent a few hours tearing down the steering column. I got all the way down to the four bolts. In this case they weren't the inverse torx. They had a hex head. It turns out that they were all tight. Just in case I removed them one at a time and applied some locktite. I reinstalled them and torqued them to factory specs. Unfortunately, this did not solve my problem. The same movement still exists in the steering column. I will likely have to tear the steering column down to replace the plastic piece that houses the high beam switch when I can locate one. If anyone else has any ideas they would be appreciated. Does anyone have any movement in the column even after the fix? I need to put this car on the road soon for my brother to drive daily and I want to make sure it is safe to drive.

Thanks for the help.

 

Gets a little more complicated now. Is the entire steering column moving up and down, or just the part after the tilt mechanism? If it's the whole column, check all of the mounting hardware and bolts under the dash. How did the tilt hardware look? Was it worn? How'd the locking lever look? Worse case is probably the bearings that support the shaft, if they're worn you may want to replace the column with a junkyard find. I wouldn't expect that with a later model, unless it's seen a lot of mileage and abuse.

Find out exactly where the movement is and go from there.

 

The movement is right at the tilt joint. It's only up and down movement and there is slight resistance. It does not move freely and it does not move in any other direction. That's what leads me to believe it is just the spring. However, if it doesn't happen on any other F-bodies than I will assume something is wrong. The bolts attaching the steering column under the dash are all tight. There was no noticeable wear in the column and the car has less than 100,000 miles on it. Mechanically the car is in decent shape so I wouldn't expect it to be worn. I might try to locate a used column but I've already been burned once by somebody on eBay for about $70 and I would prefer to just fix this one.

Thanks

 

My 92 does the same thing. If you didn't find anything loose, you're probably OK.

 

Same problem with my column.
Movement is down and slightly to the left.
I have a friend who is a mechanic.
He is so good on the GM tilt columns, he can tear one down and put it back together in 30 minutes.
He tore into mine a while back and tightened the screws.
It still did it. He tore it back down and tightened some more bolts that were way down onside. (Nothing was really loose)
Same movement.
There are two pins that are pressed in part of the column.
You have to thread a screw into them and hammer them out.
He pulled mine out by hand.
He would drive them im but they would seem to work loose.
He has had some oversized pins made.
We are going to try them within the next few days.
He also thinks that there may be a spring that is either broken or weak.
Will let you know what we find.
Just a note:
My last 91Z did the same.
I know of another 91Z, 91RS, 91 Formula, and a few Caprices doing the same thing. Columns are not loose, flopping around. Just the downward movement.
Seema alittle dangerous on the autocross course or running through the twisties.