ok before i get a post i read the tech article lol

https://www.thirdgen.org/steeringcolumn

step 17 says "There are four inverse torx (size E8) bolts in there. Just tighten the heck out of them.. they'll stay.. Don't take them out cause there's a plate on the other end. If you pull out the bolt to loctite it, the plate will fall off and you'll have to pull the whole column to get the plate back in. If you've got the steering column out of the car, then I guess this isn't an issue but there isn't a need. My column has stayed tight for a year now"

i see where it says dont take the bolts out, by that does he mean all at once or dont take out one at a time also, i was thinking it wouldnt hurt to remove one at a time, loctite it, repace it, and tighten it repete that 3 times for each other bolt, will that work or is that a no no and i just need to tighten them??

 

i think that will work

 

i think your right DJ, if i tighten all them up, than remove one at a time and loctite it we will be ok, now just wish someone out there that actually did it can tell us if that worked out for them, id hate to mess it up and remove the whole thing, and since you will be here with me when i do it, i know you dont want to go through that to


anyone know about step 15, ihow hard it is using a screw and not the tool

"Now you need a tilt steering pin remover. These things are hard to find.. I know the MAC man and the Snap-on man have them and those are the only two I know of that have them. (I borrowed a snap-on one from a mechanic at a shop I used to work at. You can use a screw and thread it and then pull on it with pliers but that's a pain in the butt.. I've heard one guy use a dent puller and it worked fine."

 

i took one out at a time and red threaded it, solid as original now.

 

cool

 

My column feels like it is about to fall off, I also read the tech article and it looks like a PIA. I only drive my car about once a month so I think it would be easier for me to get a JY column and swap that over. Just some thoughts here because I can probably get a tight column for $25. How involved was it for you to tighten it on your own and is it worth it if you can just swap another one over?

 

i think it may be easier to tighten......plus you will have to use your old ingnition key and tumbler due to the VATs, or disable the VATs is you are in a VATs camaro, i do agree it looks like a PIA but so can swaping the whole thing, and plus 90% of all old GM tilts get sloppy like that so even if you found a tight one, you may have to tighten it down the road

 

i think itd be super pain in the *** to swap a whole column no thanks already

 

Vats are already disabled, another key on the key ring, no problem?

 

I tightened mine up few months ago. I did what you are asking, just took one bolt out at a time, loc -tite and put it back. Mine was scary loose. It's a whole lot better now, but the parts are worn, or I needed to take it apart furth to tighten up the ball assembly. I have another column I'll probably just swap in place.

AS for the tilt pin, I just bought a bolt at Lowes and made a makeshift puller for it. Vader did a better write up of the whole process, which is where I got the idea for the screw.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...int-loose.html

Also I messed up the key in ignition buzzer thing. I couldn't figure out how it went back in and had left over parts I forgot the trim plate too.

 

As for the tighten vs swap... I'd say it's easier to swap. Just unplug the connectors, unbolt from the dash, unbolt from the firewall.. and the one bolt at the steer rod under the hood. The only real pain is trying to get the column lined up with the rod and then back in. It's a tight fit. I took a Dremel and cleaned the surfaces, deburred and put a nice chamfer on the edges to make it slide in a little easier.

 

I have repaired literally hundreds of the GM tilt columns over the years. If you want to be lazy about it you don't have to pull the pin. you can get to and tighten both of the right bolts and the upper left. I don't recommend it though. Best to take it all the way down and yes pull one bolt at a time and lock-tite them. That was GM's only mistake with this column. I have never had one come loose again after the repair. We get 2 hours of labor for this job at my shop (about 130.00).

A nice thing to know is that no matter what, the column will never come apart on you while driving. I have had some that made it extremely hard to turn a corner in though.

 

Tightened my column and it's fine now. Did 1 bolt at a time.Thats the way to go.