Steering Column

[Kevin]

  I have a problem, my tilt mechanism has gotten loose and I need to repair it. Has anyone done this, is fixing it much trouble, or should I just replace it? Would anyone have a manual column they would be willing to part with? Any words of advice would be appreciated.
             Thanks, Kevin

[GoFast85]

I read on Penocks some time ago that you have to rip the colomn down extensively , so it would be easier to repalce it with a used complete colomn.

[dguy]

Yes it's an extensive job, but no more so than other maintenance if you ask me.

Here are a couple of play-by-plays to give you a feel for what's involved.  The 2nd link includes some pretty pictures.

http://spacecoastfieros.com/tech/stecol.htm

http://home.t-online.de/home/O_Scholz/steering.html

[2ML67]

I have a spare tilt column out of an 84 for a manual tranny. Can take a better look at it but it was fine when I removed it, still have keys for it as well I think. Let me know.

[Kevin]

  Thanks for the offer of the column Dan, and thanks for the links, but with the reading I have been doing it looks like it is just the four bolts that need tightening  I thought it might be something like a bearing. Its off to Princess Auto for some a wheel puller, a lockplate remover as well as some locktight and hopefully I can get everything back together.
                  Thanks, Kevin.




       

[Kevin]

  Update: Finally got this thing done properly. The first time I dug into it I had some instructions that said the pivot pins could be removed by inserting the appropriately sized bolts into them, attaching a pair of Vise Grips to them and wiggling them out, PHOOEY! I pulled, yanked, pried, hammered and cursed with no success. I managed to tighten three of the bolts up taking the slop out of the wheel which gave me time to find a pivot pin puller. Ahh where does one get one of those? I looked everywhere and guess where I found it? Yes and on sale as well!
  I feel like a pro now I have tackled a steering column, its not as tough a job as I thought.
  Tools needed;  
          Lockplate remover    $4.99
          Puller kit                    $4.88
          Pivot Pin Puller           $3.99
          Reverse Torx sockets$9.99
   This is easily done in the car while those links suggest removing the column why complicate things? leave it in the car. Take your time get to know how things are arranged in there before you disassemble them, it makes reassembly that much easier.
       Kevin