Author Topic: How-To: Fixing a Sloppy GM Tilt Column.  (Read 144860 times)

Offline Captkaos

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How-To: Fixing a Sloppy GM Tilt Column.
« on: June 13, 2009, 05:48:28 PM »
Tools needed are:
Phillips screwdriver #1
Phillips screwdriver #2
Phillips screwdriver #3
Small flat blade screwdriver
Ratchet
13/16 socket
Small brass hammer
Small picks
Needle nose pliers
Torx bit #20
Torx bit #30
Inverted Torx bit #E8
7mm socket
1/4 socket
Small chisel
Steering wheel puller
Lock plate remover/installer
Pivit pin remover
Locktite thread locker
Wheel bearing grease


Remove the horn button


Remove the horn contact clip


Remove the horn contact assembly
   

Remove the horn lead asembly
   

Remove the steering wheel nut
   

If your wheel and shaft do not have corresponding alignment marks, use a chisel or similar tool to mark them for proper alignment upon re-assembly.

Remove the steering wheel using a steering wheel or crankshaft puller:




Remove the lock plate dust cover



using a lock plate removal tool

Install lock plate tool


depress the lock plate just enough to expose the locking ring


using a small flat blade screwdriver and a small pick to remove the locking ring.


Remove the turn signal canceling cam


Remove upper steering column shaft bearing spring



Remove the turn signal switch actuating arm


Remove the three screws securing the turn signal switch to the upper bowl assembly.


Remove hazard warning switch button



Remove Wiper arm stalk (just grab it and pull it straight out


remove the plastic lower column cover


once the screws are loose just lift it straight up


Remove the metal lower steering column cover
 

Locate and unplug the turn signal switch and wiper switch electrical connectors


Pull the turn signal switch and wiring towards the back of the car as far as it will go


removing the lower steering column support bracket is NOT required. Let the switch hang free.


With the cam assembly removed you can see the the three screws securing the turn signal switch to the upper bowl assembly


Remove the key-in ignition warning buzzer switch and spring.


Remove the lock cylinder retaining screw using  #20 Torx bit


Pull the lock cylinder straight out


Remove the three screws securing the lock cylinder upper bowl assembly using a #30 Torx bit.

Seperate the upper bowl assembly from the lower



Pull the upper bowl assembly back while pulling on the wiper switch wiring and let hang free


Pull the upper bowl assembly back while pulling on the wiper switch wiring and let hang free.


Remove the tilt lever


remove the dimmer switch actuator rod and sector cover housing


Remove the screw securing the shaft lock bolt spring using a 1/4 socket


Unhook the spring from the shaft lock bolt


Remove the spring




Remove the bolt.
Pay particularly close attention to the lock bolt, spring, ignition rack and sector positions for re-assembly.   


Push the tilt wheel spring retainer in with a #3 Phillips screwdriver and turn counter-clockwise and remove spring, retainer and spring guide.


remove the column housing by removing the two pivot pins using the pivot pin removal tool



Remove the pins from BOTH sides



remove the upper steering shaft bearing retainer.


remove the upper steering shaft bearing race.



Reinsert the tilt lever and pull toward you to unlock the housing assembly from the shoe assembly and pull the housing back and away. Remove the tilt lever again.



The four screws that causing the problem are now accessible.
Remove each screw one at a time, clean the threads, apply a dab of threadlocker and reinstall and tighten


At this point you have a this assortment of parts to reinstall.  It is a good idea to clean them up before reassembly.  clean the parts brake-clean and a rag.


It is a good idea to coat the parts and surfaces with bearing grease for lubrication and retention




Install the ignition rack, (making sure that you have attached it back to the ignition switch actuator rod)
reinstall the tilt lever and work the column housing back into place.


Line up the pivot pin holes and reinsert the pins using a small brass hammer



The dimmer switch may need realigning with actuating rod




reinstall the tilt wheel spring guide, spring and retainer using your #3 Phllips screwdriver and depress and turn clock-wise.




reinstall the ignition switch sector, lock plate bolt and spring.


Reinstall the upper shaft bearing race and retainer.



Reinstall the dimmer switch actuator rod cover housing making sure the rod and actuator are aligned.



Reinstall the upper column housing and tighten the three screws.




Insert the ignition lock cylinder and confirm that it is installed and working properly before proceeding.



If it works, install the retaining screw.


using a small pick or screwdriver, locate the little plastic tab on the bottom of the lock cylinder and push it upward to install the key-in ignition warning buzzer switch and spring


Install the turn signal switch, switch actuator and hazard button



Install the cruise switch lever


Reinstall turn signal switch actuating arm and upper steering column shaft bearing spring


Reinstall turn signal canceling cam


Reinstall the lock plate


Using the lock plate tool and replace the retaining ring



Install the dust cover.


reinstalling the steering wheel, nut, ring and button.

   

Reconnect  the turn signal switch and wiper switch electrical connectors



Reinstall the metal lower steering column cover
 


Reinstall the plastic lower column cover