Tightened up my tilt mechanism, new problems surface
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Car: 1989 Pontiac GTA/2007 TrailblazerSS
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Tightened up my tilt mechanism, new problems surface
So my tilt mechanism was quite loose for some time. I finally gathered up the tools and bit the bullet and attempted this repair myself. It wasn't actually too bad. Having the correct tools and a steady hand really help
however, after getting things back together, other issues came about. My wheel still wobbles. although i was only able to access 2 of the 4 bolts that become loose, the column is still pretty tight. pretty sure it's the shaft itself that is now moving around. not sure if a piece broke as i was taking things apart and i didn't notice, or it has always been like that but never noticed due to the column being loose.
either way, how does one repair a loose shaft? all i know is that there was some sort of collar that went around the shaft and then the spring retainer that the lock plate spring sat in.
also my ignition is now hard to turn, and takes extra force to turn all the way to start or to turn to acc. then once it is to acc, it is extremely hard to turn it back passed off or to run. suppose the rod is being obstructed by something?
and now my steering wheel lock rod does not fully extend. not sure what would have happened there.
however, after getting things back together, other issues came about. My wheel still wobbles. although i was only able to access 2 of the 4 bolts that become loose, the column is still pretty tight. pretty sure it's the shaft itself that is now moving around. not sure if a piece broke as i was taking things apart and i didn't notice, or it has always been like that but never noticed due to the column being loose.
either way, how does one repair a loose shaft? all i know is that there was some sort of collar that went around the shaft and then the spring retainer that the lock plate spring sat in.
also my ignition is now hard to turn, and takes extra force to turn all the way to start or to turn to acc. then once it is to acc, it is extremely hard to turn it back passed off or to run. suppose the rod is being obstructed by something?
and now my steering wheel lock rod does not fully extend. not sure what would have happened there.
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Re: Tightened up my tilt mechanism, new problems surface
anything?
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Re: Tightened up my tilt mechanism, new problems surface
Really hard to say with out knowing what you did.
I did mine a few weeks about and had a problem with the acc but I caught a wire re-installing it. Easy fix.
I did mine a few weeks about and had a problem with the acc but I caught a wire re-installing it. Easy fix.
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Re: Tightened up my tilt mechanism, new problems surface
Where does it wobble, at the top? It could be either the bearing at the top or the one half way down the column. They have plastic rings to hold the ***** in place and it is quite easy to lose the ***** out of the race.
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Re: Tightened up my tilt mechanism, new problems surface
I had a similar probelm with a wobble & after disassembling the column, I found the bolts to be tight. It was the area where the side pivot pins went in. Apparently someone was pulling themselves out of the car by the steering wheel & stretched the metal where they went in. I had to drill & insert a sleeve into the aluminum to tighen it back up.
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Re: Tightened up my tilt mechanism, new problems surface
You're going to want to drop the column and do it right... Get at all 4 bolts and use locktite on them so they never come loose again until you or someone wants them out. Actually, I'd pull it completely out of the car so you have room to spread parts out (and won't have to chase ball bearings).
Even if you don't, you need to take the column back down and make sure everything is passing down the column properly and not jamming.
That metal sleeve, the upper bearing retainer, is a royal PITA to make sure it's all the way down in place. If the upper bearing slides up the steering shaft even a bit, the bearings all tend to go away everywhere. That bearing retainer is also the base for the lock plate spring. Which means that if the retainer is not down far enough, you WILL bend the lock plate trying to reinstall it (been there ).
Even if you don't, you need to take the column back down and make sure everything is passing down the column properly and not jamming.
That metal sleeve, the upper bearing retainer, is a royal PITA to make sure it's all the way down in place. If the upper bearing slides up the steering shaft even a bit, the bearings all tend to go away everywhere. That bearing retainer is also the base for the lock plate spring. Which means that if the retainer is not down far enough, you WILL bend the lock plate trying to reinstall it (been there ).
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Re: Tightened up my tilt mechanism, new problems surface
You're going to want to drop the column and do it right... Get at all 4 bolts and use locktite on them so they never come loose again until you or someone wants them out. Actually, I'd pull it completely out of the car so you have room to spread parts out (and won't have to chase ball bearings).
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