is my steering column repairable?

[Oaktown]

the steering column is messed up on my ttype because my friend, who was the previous owner, was driving the car when the power steering pump wasnt working. as a result the steering column is very loose and wobbley... is there a way to fix this or do i need to replace it? what is broken inside of it?

 

[y-hate]

is the tilt loose or the steering column?

 

[Oaktown]

a little of both... but mainly the part where the tilt is... it should be stiff but it is very loose. tilt and blinkers and stuff still works but it is effected...

 

[Gary Wells]

a little of both... but mainly the part where the tilt is... it should be stiff but it is very loose. tilt and blinkers and stuff still works but it is effected...

-------------------------------
Could it be that the steering wheel and column are loose at the bottom where they always come loose at. That does affect the shifting if column, and affects the tilt, and the whole thing. happened to me. Needs to be tightened at the bottom.

 

[Richard]

It Can Be Fixed

It's been a while so will need someone to jump in with details but yes it can be fixed. What has happened is that the four relatively small screws that support the steering wheel column have work themselves loose. Screws need to be removed, coated with red locktite and reinstalled. Usually, only three of these screws get tightened because the last one is trouble. You'll find out if you do the job yourself. Will take a couple of hours and some specialty tools from Napa to complete the fix. Not complicated but does take a little patience.

Richard

 

[ahaer]

You need to do a fairly significant disassembly of the steering column. The good news is you can do it with the column in the car.

Here's what I remember of when I did this MANY years ago

- remove horn botton
- remove wheel (you need a tool to push the wheel down so you can get the clip ring out)
- remove horn contact contact
- remove key cylinder (on screw under horn contacts holds it in)
- remove outer cover (don't remember deailts on how the turn signal comes off)


At this point you should be able to see where the wobble is occuring. In my case there were "star" bolts way down inside the tile mechanism

 

[y-hate]

Just tighten mine up last month, just take your time and you can get your tools that you need at autozone (steering wheel puller, and another puller i dont remember the name but the job is simple...do a search it will give more details on how to do it

 

[FreeJack]

Fixed mine two weeks ago. Take your time like everyone says.

 

[usetaboost]

your wobbly wheel

Let me know if you need a step by step or have questions I will be happy to answer them. I've done this job so many times in my camaro and a few other cars I can have it apart and finished on the road in 20 minutes. Just remember to turn your horn wire to the left before you go and yank on it and be careful when you take the column cover of around the blinker switch because the high-beam plunger and screw tend to just fall out and go wherever(sometimes in the column-DOH!)!!! Gimmie a pm and let me know I will check back tomarrow. If you were close by I would do it for you no charge but I don't think any TR owner is nearby ME!

 

[Oaktown]

thanks for all the help. i have it apart to the point where i need to get the tool from autozone. does anyone know exactly what it is called or have a part number? Im just gonna buy it cuz it will save time/effort and i would like the tool anyway... most likely ill need it again at some point

 

[The Machine]

Here's the link I used to fix one of my cars years back

http://chevyasylum.com/column/tiltcol.html

Good Luck!

 

[Oaktown]

i bought the lock plate removal tool and did the job. the only part that got messed up is my high beams. i was trying to figure out how to put it back together and when i moved the lever that controls the high beams from inside the steering column i heard a spring pop... it sounded like down low in the steering column... now the high beams wont go on or off... and this isnt because I didnt put the outside cover and piece that falls off on... I was trying to do that and messed up the high beams in the process... anyone know how I can fix this? what came loose?

 

[84BuickGNYorkPA]

Here are the links that I found some time ago http://elcaminocentral.com/article95.html
http://www.chevyasylum.com/column/tiltcol.html
mine needs done to, except I need to remove my collar wrap/lock/guard first...
Chuck