Author Topic: HELP! Fixing steering column  (Read 8038 times)

Offline beastie_3

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HELP! Fixing steering column
« on: January 21, 2011, 05:28:20 pm »
A spring fell out, and I think I know where it goes, but not how it goes-it doesnt seem to go where I think it should. It is a half moon shaped spring with 90* bends at each end. The factory manual says its the rack preload spring. I never saw it when I took everything apart, and found it when I started putting stuff together.

How to link http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=12525.0

Pic of spring and rack


book picture #38 and #39


book index

Offline Grim 82

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Re: HELP! Fixing steering column
« Reply #1 on: January 21, 2011, 06:06:48 pm »
Not sure but it looks like it would just clip on to part #35, with the radius the way it is.
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Offline beastie_3

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Re: HELP! Fixing steering column
« Reply #2 on: January 21, 2011, 06:08:22 pm »
You mean 39?

Offline beastie_3

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Re: HELP! Fixing steering column
« Reply #3 on: January 22, 2011, 11:55:24 am »
The only place it looks like it goes is at the other end of the rack, but I dont see what its purpose is.

Offline bake74

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Re: HELP! Fixing steering column
« Reply #4 on: January 22, 2011, 11:03:52 pm »
     To me it looks like it sits on top of # 38 in your book pic.  I am taking apart my 78 k10 steering on monday ( just picked it up today and someone tried to steel it, got the truck for $450.00, so I can't complain ), if you don't have a answer by then, I will see if I can find out how it sits in there and take pic..
#1: The easiest and most obvious solution to any problem is 99% of the time correct.
#2: There is no such thing as impossible, it just takes longer.
  74 k10, 77k10    Tom

Offline beastie_3

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Re: HELP! Fixing steering column
« Reply #5 on: January 23, 2011, 04:09:23 pm »
Ya that would be good. It fits perfectly inside the end of the rack (#39) so that is where it is now. Everything works so far. As a suggestion, take lots of pics. I didnt take enough, thinking I would have been done in an hour. It will help you when you put stuff back together and youll have them to help others later on.

Offline VileZambonie

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Re: HELP! Fixing steering column
« Reply #6 on: January 23, 2011, 04:23:26 pm »
It sits on the shelf inside the housing and is the preload spring for the rack.
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Offline beastie_3

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Re: HELP! Fixing steering column
« Reply #7 on: January 23, 2011, 04:35:25 pm »
Inside #36?

Offline bake74

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Re: HELP! Fixing steering column
« Reply #8 on: January 23, 2011, 05:05:48 pm »
     My book shows a little different set up than your book, but it says it is the " switch rack preload spring " and it shows it sitting on top of the " actuator rack".  Sorry I can't scan this into the comp. till I get to work tomorrow, but I will then and post what it shows with pic, and get my steering column apart.
« Last Edit: January 23, 2011, 05:15:24 pm by bake74 »
#1: The easiest and most obvious solution to any problem is 99% of the time correct.
#2: There is no such thing as impossible, it just takes longer.
  74 k10, 77k10    Tom

Offline beastie_3

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Re: HELP! Fixing steering column
« Reply #9 on: January 23, 2011, 05:09:05 pm »
The book in the pic is the GM factory manual. It is also called the preload spring in my book.


Offline Grim 82

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Re: HELP! Fixing steering column
« Reply #10 on: January 23, 2011, 05:38:34 pm »
http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/088020.html

Scroll down a bit and I think that's what you're looking for.
Give a man a gun, and he might rob a bank. Give a man a bank, and he might rob the world.

Offline bake74

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Re: HELP! Fixing steering column
« Reply #11 on: January 23, 2011, 06:02:46 pm »
     Hey grim, nice save, that is informative with a lot of pic's.  ;D
#1: The easiest and most obvious solution to any problem is 99% of the time correct.
#2: There is no such thing as impossible, it just takes longer.
  74 k10, 77k10    Tom

Offline beastie_3

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Re: HELP! Fixing steering column
« Reply #12 on: January 23, 2011, 08:23:22 pm »
Yes thank you Grim! I searched for about 2 hours different websites and forums and no one talked about that piece.


Offline Grim 82

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Re: HELP! Fixing steering column
« Reply #13 on: January 23, 2011, 11:03:17 pm »
Glad to help. I've never been that far into the column, so I learned something too ;)
Give a man a gun, and he might rob a bank. Give a man a bank, and he might rob the world.