I have come to the intimidating part of the steering colomn fix where the turn signals and everything under that need to come out. Just afraid I will never get it back in the right way. Taking it all out isn't the problem! As always getting it back together may be. Should I just remove the column and take it in to a shop? Much easier to just replace if I can find a good one but it has VATS 91 RS automatic 305 . Please advise! Thanx in advance.

 

You can easily do this yourself. The biggest thing that will help you, you've already started doing. Take plenty of pictures. If you ever forget where something went, refer back to the picture. Take a picture after every part you remove, if you have to. You still have a bit of work ahead of you. It is very intimidating, but very doable. Be patient, and take your time. Don't rush, as you may break something. The wires will not unplug. They will come up the column, however. The ignition switch can be a bit tricky to get out. There is a screw in there, you just have to find it. Once you get all of that out, you'll have to removed the side pins in the steering column. They are round with threads going into them. They have a special tool just for this, but you can easily make your own for cheap. Go to a hardware store and get a bolt or stud that fits the threads. Then get a piece of round metal bigget than the pin, and get a washer and nut to fit the bolt/stud. These pins will just hammer back into place during re-assembly. Getting it back together is the easy part. After the pins come out, and you remove that piece, you'll see four star-shaped bolts. These you will need a special socket for. I do believe it was an E7 socket. If your column is loose, those are your problem. I would recommend getting some blue loctite and putting it on the threads of the bolts when you re-assemble it. You don't need much. This will keep it from happening again. If you run into anything that won't come out or go back in in the process, let us know.

 

Thank you! I got it done! I will re assemble tomorrow. I have white lithium grease. Put it in the ball joint also? The ball joint seems a little loose. Will it tighten up? The center shaft on the ball joint swivels and can point in all directions. Is this normal? Some play as well. Also a piece fell out and I have no idea what it is or where it goes! It's a white plastic thing. My file is exceeding the limit so I will post a picture later.The bolts were regular not torx. They didn't seem loose but I cranked them down. Can they be stripped or over tightened? I was worried about it. Lower left on barely fit a socket due to the ignition rod so close to the bolt.Thanks again.
See my thread: "tilt wheel fix mystery piece" in this fourm for the picture.

 

It fell out during tilt wheel fix and I have no idea where it came from! I think it's called a doo flicky or a thing a ma gigger! Any pics would help alot! I am almost finished just have to re asemble! And duck when the air bag flys out! LOL! Thanx in advance

 

I'm glad to hear you got it apart ok. Go ahead and grease the ball joint if you already have the grease, it's a good idea. It is normal for it to point in all directions. Taking mine apart, I didn't have the tools to remove the side pins, or an extra vehicle to get the tools in. So I had to drive mine. That was an experience in itself. You could literally drive the car from the passenger seat. Scary, and definitely not safe. But I made it ok. The joint will tighten up when you get the lock plate back on, so that'll be fine. I'll jump over to your other thread and check out the picture.

 

Wow. I don't remember that piece when I did mine. Is that piece broken, or just fell out? Here is a diagram of the steering column, if that helps at all. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful. I'm stumped on that one.

 

I think the piece just fell out of the top housing after I got the pins out and pulled it forward to get to the screws. It is kind of a white clear color.
Thanks for the help.