Loose Wheel (steering)

[brsvo]

I just got my 86 back on the road and after driving the 84 so much I noticed the steering wneel has lots more vertical play than the 84? What may be the cause of this?

[etc1006]

Check your rag joint. Pretty common problem.

[MikeFleming]

Vertical play or rotational play (slop)?

Vertical play probably means either the nuts holding the column to the chassis brace are loose - look under the dash and tighten them up (4 x 15mm hex). Or the tilt adjuster is loose or broken.

Rotational play is generally the rag joint as already noted.

[Patrick]

This subject will be one of the first tech articles in the paid member area some time in the near fufure.

Not ready yet, but soon!

[brsvo]

Vertical play. I already have the flamming river shaft for rotaional issues. I will check the tilt bolts as the colum is tight to the dash.

[MikeFleming]

The bolts on the column to the dash bracket are completely different from the tilt mechanism. Check those bolts anyway. The bolts are how the column assy attaches to the chassis while the tilt mechanism is a part of the column assy.

Are you totally confused now? I will post pics later.

[caroth]

This subject will be one of the first tech articles in the paid member area some time in the near fufure.

Not ready yet, but soon!

Are you joking or serious?

[SVOTim]

The bolts on the column to the dash bracket are completely different from the tilt mechanism. Check those bolts anyway. The bolts are how the column assy attache to the chassis while the tilt mechanism is a part of the column assy.

Are you totally confused now? I will post pics later.

Hum... I wanna see pics.

[Laredo]

....Vertical play probably means either the nuts holding the column to the chassis brace are loose - look under the dash and tighten them up (4 x 15mm hex)....

x2 ^^ Seen this more than more than a few times.

[MikeFleming]

Hum... I wanna see pics. First pic shows the two brackets on the column (rust colored clamps in right side of pic). Two studs/nuts each.
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Two different shots of the column mounting brackets (before paint work).
10801081

This pic shows the studs on the bright-plated bracket with the mounting studs behind the dash before the column was installed after paint. Iirc 10mm thread so that means ~35 Ft-Lbs for the four nuts.
1083

[brsvo]

Wow those pics are so bright they are hard to look at! The two bolts that hold the tilt assembly to the collum were the culptrit. Had to remove the turn signal switch (2 Torques head screws) to get at it but a peice of cake after the trim peices were removed.(5 phillips screws up thru the bottom) Thanks, Bruce

[Patrick]

Are you joking or serious?

Hey, someone asked for it, so we did a steering column fix on Knotts weekend. It's in the can ready to go.

[MikeFleming]

Wow those pics are so bright they are hard to look at! I've been told the outside of the car is even brighter.

[Chalky]

Glad you found the problem. I hadn't had a chance to chime in but that is also another cause of the problem. Like you said, a quick fix. The fourth cause of this is when the bolts that the tilt mechanism pivots on wear. Not very common but does happen and requires a special tool for removal and installation..

[caroth]

Hey, someone asked for it, so we did a steering column fix on Knotts weekend. It's in the can ready to go.

No, are you serious about a paid section of the website?

[beeker]

Glad you found the problem. I hadn't had a chance to chime in but that is also another cause of the problem. Like you said, a quick fix. The fourth cause of this is when the bolts that the tilt mechanism pivots on wear. Not very common but does happen and requires a special tool for removal and installation..
where can you get the special tool to do this Chris ??