Tilt steering repair (lots of pics)

[Ch@0s]

My steering wheel has been a little loose lately. Friday on my way home it pretty much fell in my lap.
I tackled it Saturday and took some pictures.
Here are some tools you need that you may not have .. So go get them!
1.Steering wheel puller
2.Lock plate tool
3.E8 reverse torx
4. #30 torx
5. #10 torx
6.lock tight
The other tools you need you will already own, we hope.
Disconnect the battery negative cable. If you have an air bag wait 10 minutes before you start.
Remove the air bag and set it right side up in the passengers seat.
I didn't have one:woowoo:

Pull the steering wheel

If you have an air bag you will be looking at a clock spring take it out by removing the retaining clip. You may need to unplug the harness if you don't have enough slack.

Using the lock plate tool compress the lock plate and pull the snap ring out using a couple of picks.



Now, the easy part .. take out the blinker assembly by removing the blinker lever, hazard knob and 3 Phillips screws that hold it in place. If you want to disconnect the harness. I had enough slack I didn't have to.

You should now be looking at 3 #30 torx screws they hold the housing in place. Take the buzzer switch out with needle nose pliers be very careful not to lose the spring that holds it in place. Next to the buzzer is a #10 torx that hold the ignition cylinder in. Remove the screw and pull the cylinder out.


It is now time to take the housing off.
Remove the 3 #30 torx holding it in place carefully slide it out at this point the dimmer cam and lever are going to fall out of place. Make note where they go they are on the left side behind the blinker lever.
I had enough slack in the wires I didn't have to take the harness loose.


We are almost done.. I had to go get some tools for the job.
E8 1/4 in drive $2.99
Thread lock $.99
Crunch bar $.54
This is the cheapest repair yet :Irule:

Ok, back to work.
Remove the 2 E8 bolts with a magnet put some thread lock on them and put them back in place.

Put it all back together in reverse order.
I had hell with the dimmer lever and had to pull the knee bolster to get it back in the dimmer switch. be careful not to knock it out of place.

If you have been paying attention you have noticed 2 things.. one this is not a vette its my 91 S15 Jimmy and two i said four bolts but only tightened 2.
The S15 column is similar to the vette. This is my DD and from what I have read this will hold the column in place for a long time. If it were the vette i would do all 4. That requires a Tilt column pivot pin puller. To pull the tilt off the column then you have access to the other 2 bolts.

[PLRX]

hell a crunch bar would cost you $1.50 in California. State Tax not included...

[Ch@0s]

Originally Posted by PLRX

hell a crunch bar would cost you $1.50 in California. State Tax not included...

I suggest you drive to TX next time you need a crunch bar.

[SQUIRMIN VERMIN 84]

Good thread. I did my S10 Blazer last year. I did all 4 bolts-that pivot pin puller is a slick little tool and was under $10!!

Upon re-assembling, I had a rough time compressing the large coil spring under the lock plate to get the snap ring on. I wound up using a 10" length of 3/4, I think, PVC pipe and using it to push down the snap ring and lockplate together against the coil spring and once down far enough, the snap ring pops right in.

Crunch bar sure would have helped, though....

[mike100]

I used this write up last year along with a couple of others and even a video that was posted online when I kind of repaired my last car. I never did get all of the play out of it as i think the cross pin had hogged out the housing a little.

thanks...

I always avoided these repairs in the 90's because the internet wasn't there to reference. I can barely tie knots without step-by-step and saginaw steering is worse than trying to repair a swiss watch.

[Frizlefrak]

Originally Posted by Ch@0s

I suggest you drive to TX next time you need a crunch bar.

Fantastic thread Great write up, and even better pics.

As for the Crunch bar, ANY bar is a Crunch bar right now. Looks like we have spring and fall when we can eat them....summer you will have a puddle of molten chocolate, winter you will break fillings out of your teeth.

[91corvette]

Did that to my 91 but my turn signal lever is like a fork with two screws to screw to the turn signal switch. Wanted to replace switch but could not find the right one. Corvette Central,Napa,other parts stores everyone had the same one. Any ideas?

[Ch@0s]

Originally Posted by Frizlefrak

Fantastic thread Great write up, and even better pics.

As for the Crunch bar, ANY bar is a Crunch bar right now. Looks like we have spring and fall when we can eat them....summer you will have a puddle of molten chocolate, winter you will break fillings out of your teeth.

Texas weather is now too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter. I'm headed to Austin for a Geek convention/car ice skating event.

Thanks for all the nice comments guys.

Originally Posted by 91corvette

Did that to my 91 but my turn signal lever is like a fork with two screws to screw to the turn signal switch. Wanted to replace switch but could not find the right one. Corvette Central,Napa,other parts stores everyone had the same one. Any ideas?

The bottom part of the lever actually goes into the windshield wiper switch. I believe that is what you are looking for. Mine broke on my 91 and the left turn signal would not cancel.

[ROYR 95]

The simple fact that you took time to replace the essential nutrients your body requires during this repair. I applaud you!

[Ch@0s]

Originally Posted by ROYR 95

The simple fact that you took time to replace the essential nutrients your body requires during this repair. I applaud you!

Thanks ..I forgot to include when to eat it.. We'll leave that up to you.