Hi everyone.

I am a new member, just bought my car this past Friday. It is a 1991 Z28 with 166k miles on it. The car is in really good shape for it's age and miles, but there is (of course) some problems that I am going to have to address. One really annoying problem is the steering wheel. It has a tilt steering column, but it doesn't hold the wheel up like it should. Under it's own weight it is fine, wheel pushed all the way up. But, if the weight of my hand/arm is on the top of the steering wheel, the wheel drops as if I had pulled the tilt level to move it down. It is not only annoying, but dangerous. If I am turning left as my hand goes around the wheel the force downward makes it move. I have done a little research, but i do not see any fixes for it. I do not really want to replace the whole column, but I guess i could if that is the only fix.

Any suggestions?

Thanks. I hope to be able to post more pics and projects on the car as time goes on.

 

If it just moves up and down, it could be something as simple as loose bolts. If it moves diagonally (down and to the left when you're sitting in the car), that's usually a worn pivot pin in the column, which is a PITA to replace.

http://www.zr1specialist.com/HAT%20W...lumn%20pin.htm

 

That is EXACTLY what it does. Feels like there is a worn out spring or something. It moves down and to the left.

 

I had the same problem with my '91 RS when I bought it, ended up just replacing the entire steering column with a used one as I also had problems with the ignition cylinder, high beam switch, horn switches, steering wheel, and airbag. Was well under $200, and a helluva lot easier than tearing the column apart and fixing all the problems mine had. You will however either need to bypass your VATS if it's not done already, or get the VATS module from the same car that the column came from if you go the column swap route.

 

I am really green to all of this, and do not even know what the VATS system is or does. LOL. Don't flame me. I have some pretty good knowledge about Jeeps and fourth gen cars (I had a '99 Z28) but this older technology is hard for me to figure out. I don't really want to replace the whole column tho. I will try the oversized pivot pin and see what how it goes. I appreciate the advice.

 

No problem. Replacing the pivot pin is a pain from what I've heard, you're going to be in for a lot of hammering. The basics of the tilt column were pretty much the same from 1970-02 on these cars. Swapping the column out for another one is actually a lot easier than doing most any service to it, but if your column and all its components are super nice otherwise, I guess I'd try the pivot pin first too.

I also had my 4th gen before either of my third gens...

 

You don't actually have to switch anything Vats related from switching columns, you just need to have an ignition key with the same value as the original one you have that will fit your
new tumbler or switch in your old key switch to the new column.

 

I found this thread VERY useful
Tilt column repair
yes they are a pain in the ___ , requires special tools and alot of others but they work nice when done I just did 2 of them, a 90 and a 79
the older was easier since no dimmer,wiper controls but I have more time than money so I do it myself

 

Is it even possible to swap it out to a Jegs or Summit universal steering column? I could put the wiper motor on a separate switch and just have the blinkers and low/high beams on the column. Has anyone done this? Not much info out there about using a universal one in third gen.

 

Getting a column out of another car of similar year will be much easier for you than trying to make a universal column work, and relocating the wiper controls, if you don't know what you're doing to fix a tilt column

 

Yea, I have read that before. My thinking is that I would spend time and money on a similar year column only to end up with another old column that could potentially have the same problems one day. And from what I have seen, the column just bolts in, right? Bolts, a couple plugs, wiring a switch for wipers I can do. Wheel puller, lockplate tool, and about 100 other little steps to disassemble to one I have seems way too hard when you can just buy a new universal replacement and bolt it on.

So again, my question is not which would be easier, I know the answer to that. But, can it be done? Or has anyone done it?

 

It wouldn't be easier, because a typical column from the hot rodder sources, isn't intended to work with a 91 Z28. It'd probably have a turn signal, hazard switch, horn circuit, but likely won't have any provisions for VATS, auto shifter lockout, wipers, cruise control, etc. It's a nice idea, but a universal part for a pre-70s car is woefully equipped to deal with a relatively modern car.

Fixing a stock column is probably about a 4 on a 1 to 10 scale, where 1 is say... topping off the washer fluid, and 7 is an engine rebuild... It takes a little caution, but it's easier to do now than ever before with all the tutorials and DIY videos. Back in the day when you had to just rip into it, with maybe an exploded diagram drawn by an artist, it was hard to really screw it up. Get a lock plate tool, and a pivot pin tool, lay out a large towel so you can lay out the parts as you tear it down, take your time, if you get stuck ask questions. If you really screw up, you'll probably not cause $50 in damage.

 

Pics and instructions look here:
http://www.steeringcolumnservices.com/

 

I found this reassembly PDF about two weeks ago while searching for something else column related:
http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...ck_Rebuild.pdf
I only had my Helm's when I rebuilt an '88 manual shift column to replace my auto column back in 2000. Both the link above and this reassembly procedure would have cut 2/3 of the time needed referencing, sourcing, and oopsing back then.

M