Hey all, my steering column broke recently and I'm not sure if I can fix it or if I need a new column. I don't understand it enough to diagnose if the shaft is fubared and I need help. I'm kind of stuck trying to fix this on my own, and I'm motivated because this is my daily. I appreciate any advice.

I'll start with my steering shaft is not centered in the column. Is this normal or fixable? Right now the steering shaft rests where gravity keeps it. You can lift it up and move it around in circles, like on the face of a clock. But the shaft will hold rotation position, like if you want to turn the wheels, that is fine. To be clear I am not talking about the ball joint that the steering wheel attaches to, that is fine, I mean the actual shaft that extends the length of the column.

I ended up taking it apart down to the steering column housing support and lock plate (you know the infamous 4 torx). I can see those components are not staying locked with the steering column shroud or whatever keeps them in place. They can free spin 360 on the shaft. When the column initially broke I was taking a left, upon returning the wheel to center the housing support rotated with it, so the blinker was at 12 and the keys were at 6, and the ignition actuator rod snapped. Years ago I tightened the 4 torx to spec and used locktite, they were still tight.

I would feel better about replacing broken parts I can see if I knew the shaft was ok and the column was salvageable. I know I might be dumb and it's probably the support assembly with the 4 torx that is messing it up, but I thought compared to any videos I watch the shaft is not loose and sitting at the bottom of the shroud in theirs.

Thanks for reading my long post, I truly appreciate it.

 

Just sounds like the usual 60s - 80s GM tilt column fall-apart. Not too "hard" in and of itself, although, VERY tedious, and full of all manner of opportunities for things to go sideways.

However it also sounds like you let yours go too far, to the point that it fell COMPLETELY apart, and broke abuncha stuff in the process that doesn't usually break if you catch it before the steering wheel drops into your lap. To try to "repair" it is probably prohibitively expensive now, if not impossible (as in, parts no longer available). You'll probably come out money, time, and effort ahead, by just getting another column. It only takes about 10 minutes to swap out the whole column, if you're slow like me; you're probably smarter then me though, since EVERYBODY is, so you can probably do it quicker. Save yourself a WHOLE BUNCH of aggravation and unnecessary expense at this point, and just get another.

The "shaft" is fine. It's all that other stuff that's gonna drive you to drink.

 

Ok, Sofa, thanks. I'll just do the column swap.
Is there anything else in the steering you would check to make sure it's safe? I'm paranoid because it was towed before the steering wheel suddenly went weird. And this was the first time driving it since that. To your point, yeah I shouldn't have driven it at all when it was weird.

 

I agree, find a new one. I just got a rebuilt one for my manual trans 82. (It's not a common part) I got it from a company called columns galore out of Brewster NY. They were super cool. It was 450. They have the ability to get you the proper unit or rebuild the one you have. They totally know their stuff w these columns. The 82 columns are rare, they had a beat up one they made all shinny and new. They set it up w the options I have. I'm sure they can work w what you have.

for what it's worth, I've fixed a couple of loose tilt mechanisms over the years, it's a pain in the *** and much less time to swap/pull the column.

 

Only difference between a "manual" column and an "automatic" one, is the little thing you have to push down with your right ring finger, to take the key out. The auto system does that automatically (duh) by way of a linkage between the shifter and the column. So don't get TOO hung up on that.

The column has been the same since it was introduced in the late 60s. There might be minor detail differences from year to year in the trim, but the basic guts (bearings, castings, shafts, etc.) are the same well up into the 90s. Don't get all hung up on "82".

Yes fixing the tilt mechanism is a PITA. The first one I had to fix was in the mid 70s; long before these cars were built. No matter though, it was the same back then as it was in these cars. Sounds though like yours has gone past that point. All those other broken parts, it's WWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY worse off than that. Another one back then, I had a Chevelle that needed a column, so I went to the buzzard nest, and got one out of about a 68 or so Buick land yacht, Electra or some such. Was identical in EVERY WAY to the Chevelle I was trying to revive.

Throw it in the trash and get another one that isn't all AFU like yours. Take the time to grease the upper bearing, tighten the screws, etc. before you put it in, it'll pay you back in useful life for the next 25 yrs or so.

Years and years ago there even used to be a whole stainless steel casting to replace the chinesium semi-metallic POS you have now. My little step-bro got one of those after his car (84 Z28) got broken into in a parking lot one time (maybe 88 or so) and they destroyed the OEM garbage crap. It was altogether better in every way. No idea whether "they" still make it or not,

 

The 82-83 cars have different wiring for the wipers. There is also a difference between the harnesses on a tilt vs standard column. I think there is also some changes on the 88(?) and up. I think with enough home work you can work w lots of parts from different years. The place I went to had a data base and they went through what options I wanted and it said what harnesses to grab off the shelf. There are lots of differences in the small parts on the columns that make it frustrating to swap parts. Changing the ignition release from auto to manual was gonna be such a pita due to getting the proper parts. The rebuilt column was faster, less expensive and less time. The OP sounds like multiple things need replacement. Getting a column w similar options will likely be easier and less expensive vs sourcing all the parts. Unless you have a rare set of options you should be all good.

 

Harnesses, and switches, can be swapped around, but it's a PITA. It's true that starting at some year around 89 or something, they added air bags, which of course makes those different. VATS would add another potential difference. So yeah, if you can get a rebuilt one, that might save a bunch of guesswork and fooling around. It doesn't sound like yours is worth trying to fix.

 

the column in my 86' TA needs to be rebuilt something bad. It's fallen apart. Ill reach out them. Thank you.

 

On a side note, the wrecker driver is probably responsible for it breaking if he towed it from the rear and didn't strap the steering wheel from turning.

 

Firechicken82, thanks for the info on a rebuilder, it is helpful.
So far calling all the yards, no luck finding a column yet. One mentioned a guy in the area who rebulds GM columns, he'll be back next week. That sounds hopeful.
BIRD91ZRAG, thanks for bringing this up. It was towed backwards with the front on dollys. What is the correct way if you have to do this? Just for the record, I always request flatbeds for towing. But a scenic trip to a little mountain town turned into a long, awful night of being stranded until 2am.

 

How compatible are the 4th gen steering columns? There are a couple 4th gen Camaro's in my local pull apart.

 

I found a jy column that was actually tight, and was loaded like mine So I'll be putting that in. I have to swap the key cylinder because this one doesn't have any, and the wheel is turned 90 degrees. Do you think it would be easier if I could get it bolted up in the car (minus the intermediate shaft of course) before pulling the wheel? This column has maybe 95k (if it's original to the car) so I think I will loctite the torx as preventative maintenance.
Thanks in advance.

 

They're not interchangeable, different length.

 

I got my column swapped the other week. Wow! Not fun! My old intermediate shaft would not fit the new column. I thought I was crazy not being able to swap something so simple. As it turned out the receiving end was too small (overtightened and crushed in the past). Experimenting off the car, even with a column forced into it, it had play. So I resorted to using the JY intermediate shaft (had a torn boot I was avoiding dealing with).

Also reused some of my old parts. I noticed the order of wiper operations on the stick is different between an 88 iroc and 87 gta. Just goes to show things are always a lil complicated even with "a simple swap". All is good now

Here are the pics of my broken column Leave your best forensics guess as to what happened. Incidentally, my "original" column turned out to be a JY swap. Because stolen in '90s, maybe?

 

Has anyone swapped out a column from a 91' model to say a 1986 car? Yes, I know these have air bags, but being my 86' TA does not have this and I was just going change our my steering wheel I assume this would work. I only have wipers, no cruise control and no steering wheel radio controls. My car is a factory 86' TA with no power options. Supposedly, my car is only one of 7 made in 1986 with no power option, hard top, color black.

 

I swapped an '84 column into my '86. I had to swap out the turn signal switch and stalk from my '86 into the '84 housing. You'll have to swap everything over from your '86 to the '91 column, but it should work.