I went in to get my safety inspection today and I failed because, apparently, my steering wheel is loose and that is too dangerous. It took me awhile to figure out what they were talking about. What it is, is that if you push decently hard on the top of the steering wheel down towards the floor, the upper part of the shaft with the wheel connected to it rotates down about half an inch. When you let go, it springs right back up. It's moving right where the joint is when you pull the tilt lever in to change the angle of the wheel. You know how when you pull the tilt lever in and the wheel springs up, and then you have to push the wheel down to the spot that you want and then let go of the lever and it locks in place? Yea, well once it's locked in place, you can still push the wheel down a little bit, but it springs back up to the locked position once you let go. It has always done this and I have not had any problems passing inspection before. Is it supposed to be this way? Any suggestions on a fix? I will probably take it to another place, but I wanted to see what you guys thought.

 

Apparently, this is a common problem on old GM cars. I took it in because I really didn't have time to figure it out myself and the guy said there are three bolts that hold the tilt mechanism to the column and those become loose over time causing slop. He fixed it and it's all good now.

 

I failed too a couple years ago, but I had let my get so bad, it could be flopped side to side! There are 3 bolts that loosen. 2 of mine were out & the 3rd held on by only 2 threads! Had it come out, I would have had zero steering wheel control.

I paid a shop $100 & a few hours later, it was done. It was that, or buy special tools & try it myself. They already knew how to do & had done it before. It was WAY worth the $100 to have them do it!

https://www.thirdgen.org/steeringcolumn

 

This is a very common problem in the F-body cars. People use the steering wheel to get out the car and over the years, it wears out the joint. My T/A and my camaro both had this problem and even though I tightened the screws in the tilt mechanism, it still wobbled. I eventually replaced the column in the camaro and replacement column is doing the same thing (). I have learned to stop pulling on the steering wheel when I get out fo the car.

 

I have an opportunity at a column from a 4th gen car and have a question. Will they swap over without any modifications?

 

I also had this problem in my first Camaro. I ended up buying a parts car and swapping out the steering column myself. Took about 2 hours, and didnt require anything more advanced than an 8in extension on my 3/8 drive socket wrench.

In total, 6 bolts hold it in place, along with 2 wire connectors, and the ignition switch, which has three small bolts holding its cluster on.

no need to pull the wheel off. 5 10mm bolts and a 1/2 inch if memory serves.

Good luck

 

4th gen columns dont swap, i tried that already... mines broken so badly that the turn signals dont work anymore and the entire tilt mechanism will move in every direction and slide toward the driver 3 inches exposeing the inner shaft of the column...i think it might be beyond repair.

 

Thanks for the help... Bummer it won't work.

 

89Camaro89MI - What steps did you take to correct this without taking the steering wheel out? I need to tighten mine up.

 

He didn't. He swapped out the ENTIRE steering column.

The only reason he mighta pulled the steering wheel, would have been to keep it if the new one was bad or he didn't like it.

 

Yeah, its a pretty easy procedure.

The steering wheel is relatively easy to get off, too. You just need a steering wheel puller. It's a $20 dollar tool at any local parts store, or you can rent one, usually for about 5 or 10 bucks.

To get the wheel off, unbolt the airbag (if applicable) by the 4 torx screws in the back and disconnect the yellow wire. BE CAREFUL not to set the thing off! Then screw the two bolts on the puller into the the two threaded holes on the wheel, and use the third puller bolt and a wrench to get the wheel off.

If it's the tilt mechanism that's dead (up and down free flopping of the wheel) the column really needs to be replaced.

Three bolts hold it to the inside of the firewall, behind the brake pedal. There's one more connecting it to the linkage in the engine bay, sort of tangled under the brake lines by the Master Cylinder. The last two bolts are under the dash. Once those are out, disconnect the two wire connectors and the airbag wire (if applicable) and yank the sucker out!

When you get the last two out, the column should drop a few inches with the wheel, or the bottom of the column, resting against the seat. At this point, you just pull.

Re-assembly is the reverse of this. If the new column gives you trouble getting into the linkage by the brake wires, try sanding it down a bit and greasing it up. Just be sure to put a drop of loc-tight on the bolt that holds it there.

If you have any trouble, PM me and I'll try and get back to you within a day or so with an answer.

Good Luck!

 

I believe the 4th gens use rack and pinion which is probably why they don't swap

 

Sounds like I might have the same problem. I have a 1989 camaro RS and the streeing wheel moves in all direction I pruchase the car like that need to take the car in for state inspection scare it wont pass will like to try and fix it my self any pointers.

 

Yea, so, btw, my problem was the left pin that holds the upper column on to the lower column... I think.

When I failed the inspection, I took the car to another guy and he fixed the problem.

Anyway, sometime last year, one of the upper column bearing's cage disintegrated and I then had a super wobbily wheel. When I dove in to the column to replace it, I had to take the upper shroud off. When I put everything back, the column was wobbily up and down, just like in my first post. I took everything off again and found the pin that was messing everything up. I pushed it back in, but it didn't fix it completely. So my wheel is wobbily again, but it's cool.

Long story short, check that pin. There are two on each side of the column right underneath the bottom of the upper column shroud. They are frankenstein style; one on each side. It's a pita to get to, but that's what my problem was/is.

 

If anyone needs this done in the sacramento ca area i will do it for $30. It takes me about 1 hour.

 

Swap out a whole new column and do it yourself. The parts are relatively easy to find, and it's a pretty simple to do as a whole (already wrote a procedure on this thread). Trying to fix a floppy column is just such a pain, it's absolutely worth the extra 25-75 bucks to replace the whole assembly.

 

This guy is selling a whole cloumn for $50 bucks with keys thinking of purchasing it the only thing it came off a 1986 camaro do you know if this will work?

 

Make sure that the key codes match if you have the pass code key system

 

Yes. If possible, try and get the little black box out of the same car. I didn't and had to bypass mine manually (which is probably easier than swapping boxes).

Basically, the pass key box looks for a resistor in the key. Pull the Orange (most cars) line from under your column and splice a resistor onto it that matches your current key and you're all good.

 

If it's stubborn about going into the connector piece between the column and the gearbox, you might need some sandpaper and a negotiator (rubber mallet). As far as I know, the columns were the same for the whole generation. The dash bolts are different on 2nd gen and the electronics are different on 4th gen - if memory servers.

Brake lines wrap around that area, and are a pain to deal with. Be careful, and label your bolts as you take them out.

 

Just push the resistor out of your key & the new key then put your resistor in the new key. Real simple solution.

It isn't easy to fix the floppy column problem......https://www.thirdgen.org/steeringcolumn

 

I disagree with the "not easy to fix" part. once I got a steering wheel puller, only took me 4 hours, mostly because the first time I do something, I tend to go "Really" slow.

 

I know I am bumping this back up, but I don't have much time at home on leave, and was wondering if I can get this done in a day without special tools... I have an aftermarket steering wheel, so I won't need a puller... Basically if I can get it done in a day, I will be able to drive around for a few days before I head to England.

 

One word of advice, bring all the tools you can think of with you, and don't trust anyone over here to be able to fix your car.

get to know the guys on Pontiac Owners Club, and Robin Grey down at "AutoPontiac" in london. He's the only guy I'd trust to work on our cars over there.

Best of luck to ya!

 

My firebird is staying in California. I am taking my Typhoon to England.

So do I need any special tools to do this myself. I never trust my bird with shops... Even in California.. Hence why I built my engine with some help, and did everything myself.

 

the only special tool i needed to tighten my steering column was a pivot pin puller

you can make one out of a few washers and a bolt

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...er=265106_0_0_

it only took me 2 hours to get mine tight again the first time, if i had to do it again it would be done in about an hour

 

You'll get a lot more looks in the 'Bird!

One good thing is the base hobby shop there absolutely rocks! Good people, decent tools and everyone is friendly.


Tightening the steering wheel is simply to remove the steering wheel down until you can see the torx or screws that are holding it together. You need to break it down fairly far to get to them but it's not difficult, just time consuming.