Author Topic: Tilt steering column with a ton of play in it.  (Read 6947 times)

Offline Laird006

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 9
Tilt steering column with a ton of play in it.
« on: September 20, 2010, 10:17:44 am »
I have an 87 chevy 4wd 3/4 ton with a tilt steering column, and you can move the tilt part of the column up and down an inch or two when its locked in position, is there any way to fix this without replacing the whole column?

Offline Grim 82

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1651
Give a man a gun, and he might rob a bank. Give a man a bank, and he might rob the world.

Offline autorepr

  • Frequent Member
  • **
  • Posts: 401
Re: Tilt steering column with a ton of play in it.
« Reply #2 on: September 20, 2010, 10:37:36 am »
Yes, it is usually just four bolts that come loose and no broken parts. Altho my brother found a way to bust his all to pieces!!!!  

The fix is:  pull the steering wheel, dissassemble the top of the column and tighten the four bolts that hold the tilt mechanism to the column tube. Pull the four bolts out and put a lil blue locktite on them so you don't have to do it again.  There is quite a bit of lil parts in the column and a few special tools you need so get a manual with a detailed breakdown. Make a large enough flat surface in the passenger side floor board so you can lay all the parts out in order as you take them out.
UH-OH  I'M GONNA NEED A BIGGER BANDAID!!!!!

Offline Captkaos

  • OWNER and Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 18461
    • http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com
Re: Tilt steering column with a ton of play in it.
« Reply #3 on: September 23, 2010, 03:23:41 pm »
The link Grim posted is the detailed instructions I make while replacing mine.

Offline beastie_3

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 3170
  • Josh
    • My truck pics
Re: Tilt steering column with a ton of play in it.
« Reply #4 on: January 16, 2011, 11:12:11 pm »
I need to fix the slop in my tilt column as well. Ive read the How To post, shouldn't be a problem. While I'm in there, I will replace my turn signal cam because my left turn signal does not shut off after the turn. Which one should I get??

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/Duralast-Turn-Signal-Switch/_/N-9cinv?itemIdentifier=190476&_requestid=1020401

OR

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/1979-Chevrolet-K10-1-2-ton-P-U-4WD/Turn-Signal-Cam/_/N-imfvsZ9cik1

I dont know how the cam mechanically works, so I dont know if the single piece will solve the problem or not. Or will I not know what is broken until I tear into it?

Offline Grim 82

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1651
Re: Tilt steering column with a ton of play in it.
« Reply #5 on: January 17, 2011, 12:39:07 am »
I bought a replacement cam from the HELP section at O'reillys and it came with both application options of the cam in it, along with new springs. You probably just have a broken spring, but if you are tearing into the column anyway, you can match up the plastic cam you need and replace the whole works. You either have a broken metal spring, or the plastic tab on the cam is broke. Either way, it's a $10 repair.
Give a man a gun, and he might rob a bank. Give a man a bank, and he might rob the world.