I tightened the 4 bolt to tighten up my steering wheel it used to move down when I pulled on it. I tightened them pretty tight but not too tight I used 1/4 drive ratchet so couldn't have been more than 25 ft./lbs. The movement seems to be cut down by about 75% from what it was. How tight do you think they will go before stripping, and could any other bolts be loose besides those? Also i'd like to use some locktight on the threads but the tech article says not to take them out because a plate behind will fall off. Could I mabey take the bolts off one at a time and not have to worry about it?

thanks

 

Precisely, one at a time. The tech article is a good guideline, and I don't like to critque other's work, but I feel it could of been a little more comprehensive (actual terms instead of 'white thingy'). Besides that....are your bearings crap, did you reassemble the collar correctly? You know the metal piece under the spring that supports the lockplate? Once I removed that I noticed considerable gain in movement in the column....

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1984 WS6 Hardtop Trans Am
Former L69 Car under restoration
1984 T-top Trans Am
4-bolt main 350, performer intake, headers, Holley 650, T-5, hayes clutch, dual elec. fans and 3.23's.
Daily driver and restoration
13.98 @ 101

 

i agree you can take the screws out one at a time a nd use locktite on them with no problem, i have before.

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ICON Motorsports

1st & 3rd

 

Also listen the the bearings comment, that's if you even managed not to loose any pieces from the bearings! (I lost 2 ***** (LOL) taking my...(LOL) Steering Column apart.

A new set of bearings is like $20 from the local dealer, and it's about 20 mins work to knock out the old rances, and knowck the new ones in. (Just remember, Use the Old races, to knock the New races in

I also used locktite on the bolts. Now my steering column is VERY tight, I also think some of the "slop" was taken out
Good luck


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Corry Lazarowitz
clazarow@voicenet.com
clazarowitz@hotmail.com
SLP 1 3/4" headers, 3" cat back (stock cat )MSD ignition. MSD Blaster SS coil. More soon when funds are avail...

 

I didn't even see the bearings in there. How deep do you have to go?

 

Evil,

The bolts are to be torqued to 120-150 in/lb. Try Loctite 262 or 601 Threadlocker.

Getting to that point will require you to completely disassemble the upper column bowl and components, then remove the pivot pins and universal joint upper half and ball. It should look like this:



In order to get there, you should take a look at the entire column and disassemble carefully:



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Later,
Vader
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"I'm'a do Things My Way - It's My way or the Highway."
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