Tilt wheel question

[87JIMMYGMC]

Hi,new guy here with a question.I bought a 1987 GMC Jimmy a few days ago and it is in excellent condition with 1 exception.Someone used the steering wheel as a grab handle to get into the truck and now the tilt mechanism is loose.The truck still steers fine but you can lift the column about an inch without pulling the tilt lever.Is there a way to tighten this or would the column have to be replaced?

 

[tacoma]

Yeah, you can tighten it. Get a manual, the procedure is mostly in there... you have to take off the wheel, remove the turn signal cam, the shifter, etc, and the pins that the tilt pivots on.. Most likely, the bolts holding the inner half of the pivot mechanism are loose. Clean everything out, and use loctite, it is NOT fun to do this repair.

 

[apache]

I did the fix in my 84 K5 just last week. Do a search for "chevy steering column repair" and you`ll find several step by step guides. It wasent hard,just a PITA if you have bad lighting,bad close eyesight and 10 thumbs. Do yourself a favor and first buy a lock plate removal tool and a #8 torx socket E8?? I got both a napa for $19. Every set of directions looked the same,mine looked different as far as bolt access I was able to get at 3,the 4th not even in sight. I had to use needle nose pliers to slip the socket into places then run the 1/4 drive extension into the top and on to the bolt head otherwise no way would it fit thru the access hole on the left bolt. All in all doable if your patient. Do pay attention to thehow things go,use a digital camera if needed before removing each part.
Mine was really bad,sure is nice not having it floppin around now.

 

[ktmoutfront]

I just tore one apart to build a custom unit for the 39 truggy. Patience and sequence are everything. I did it without a manual. Go get one. The last bolt is easyto access if you remove the tilt spring then the 2 pivot pins. No special tools for those. Then use blue lock tight as you put it back together.

 

[Madspeed]

Yah Whut he said

Ya What ^^ said all except use red loctite not blue.
Been charging 300 to do it for many years. takes about 1 hour (And some smarts) U can remove the tilt spring by using a #3 Philips screwdrive and pushing in and turning against the spring

 

[87JIMMYGMC]

Thanks guys,I guess I will be doing this soon.I'm glad it can be tightened.

 

[Kenny78]

Thanks guys,I guess I will be doing this soon.I'm glad it can be tightened.

I had a huge long post wrote up and accidentally erased it Search on Google: Gm tilt column repair. You will find a buick site that does a good pictoral disassembly, a trans am site that has high quality pics for reassemblly, and a post on Hot Rodder? forum that a guy puts about 100 line list, very thorugh. Read before you start. No need to buy reverse torx bits 1/4 inch socket 12 or six point 1/4 inch drive with at least 4" extension will get them as tight as you need them. My personal choice would be blue locktite, but whatever your comfortable with.
http://www.buickperformance.com/tiltsteeringcolumnwobble.htm

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/loose-gm-tilt-steering-wheel-moves-up-down-82296.html

http://www.86transam.com/S_Column.htm

You got lucky I saved those in favorites, cause the only one I could re find on google was the buick

Buy a pivot pin removal tool. Its not worth trying to do it any other way, especially for $10 bucks. Since you say your column is moving alot, the guy on Hotrodders suggested replacing the mechanical parts of the ignition mech. but I dont know if its necessary. My tilt did not move, but my wiper switch was bad. The more I read about disassebly, the more I was convinced to go ahead and do the whole package. Grease everything and repace anything that looks sketchy.

LAY EVERYTING OUT IN ORDER OF REMOVAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This would have saved me a lot of time

 

[87JIMMYGMC]

I got the column fixed today.I didnt want to mess with all thoses little parts so I let a local mechanic do it for me.He fixed the column,changed the thermostat and got the radio working.I didnt ask him to fix the radio but I guess he got bored.The best part,he only charged me $60.

 

[Kenny78]

I wish I knew where to find a mechanic like that!!! But, then again, it wouldnt be as fulfilling to do yourself.

 

[87JIMMYGMC]

Yeah,I thought about doing it myself but the tools would cost close to what he charged me.Also,this guy has done a few columns for my dad in the past and he never had problems with them again.