Badrs2810

About how much would it take to completely replace the steering column. Inspector broke it.

Badrs2810

What would I do if the steering column is broke at the tilt part? I have a 92 rs 305 wc-t5. The inspector broke my column by pulling himself out the car using my steering wheel. I have to pull down, slightly to the left, til the tilt is straight, then crank it, and the same to cut the car off, how do I fix that?

ASE doc

What?! They broke your steering tilt mechanism? Are they going to pay for the repair?

There are four bolts at the very deepest point in the mechanism that hold it in place. These four bolts come loose. They need to be removed, one at a time, treated with Locktite blue, and reinstalled, torquing them to 15ftlbs. The process of accessing these bolts is a long one and requires complete disassembly of the tilt mechanism. I charge 3 hours for this repair.

If you do it yourself, you will need a steering wheel puller, a steering wheel lock removal tool, and a tilt pin puller. You can make the pin puller yourself with a little ingenuity. You will have a big pile of peices to keep track of and to reassemble. You need to be sure that each part is clean and those that require it are lightly lubricated with chassis lube.

Another possibility is that the inspector actually broke one of the cast peices of the mechanism. If this is the case, you will have to find a replacement part or just replace the collumn.

Badrs2810

Unfortunately, no they aren't. The excuse, no proof! Go figure. What's the cheapest way out? I can crank it and it cranks every time, but I'm trying to sell it and it's hurting the sell. How much is three hours time charged?? I'd rather not take it in, but doing it as myself, but I'm not sure bout going into it myself. I don't have any of the tools for the job.

ASE doc

The tools are fairly inexpensive at the local auto parts store, except the pin puller, it's harder to find. The shop I just left charged $80/hr and they were cheap.

It may be cheaper to replace the collumn, especially on the off chance that the fat f**k broke something. That really burns me that you have to let those jerks into your car and yet they assume no responsiblitiy for damage. I'd say it's time to write your congressman.

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

If it is the tilt that he broke (I'd sue for damages + loss of the car & file a report with the state that governs the Inspection Stations) then:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...-steering.html

bcnvz28

The Pivot pin tool is not that hard to find nor is it expensive. Check out ebay:

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=lis....c0.m270.l1313

Badrs2810

Yeah I'm heated, and yeah the fact they have no responsibility is screwed up. I didn't want him in my car and even offered to pull it in for him bc he was having problems gettin IN it. I need to learn how to bypass vats or learn how to convert another column to mine. I have built a car from ground up, but never messed with the steering/ security system

Badrs2810

Just to make sure we aren't talking about two diff things, my steering wheel doesn't wobble. It is tight, but I can't use the tilt bar. It's like it's locked in place, and I can move it just enough to crank it, which is all I need, but for others buying the car, it's a prob.

ASE doc

On the pin puller, Im talking about being able to find the tools at a local parts store. Of course you can order it. I'm confused about what's happening with the car.

I understand that you have to pull the wheel down and to the side to activate the ignition switch. Does it move sideways but have spring tension to the movement? Or am I wrong in my understanding. Obviously, it's not the four bolts being loose. It's sounding more like a broken tilt pivot.

Badrs2810

No side to side. The issues are, inability to use my tilt, and I have to pull the wheel downward to crank/ cut it off. If I pull the wheel hard enough to the left, I can pull it out of "lock" mode and it will freely move up and down, but won't stay in one position. Then I can move it freely to a certain height, of my choosing, pull it slightly to the right and it will lock in place and I'm good to drive.

ASE doc

Wow! I can only guess that the right side tilt pivot is broken. You will need to tear into it to verify. Don't be deterred from this operation. I belive my Helm's factory shop manual has a pretty good exploded view of the column and I'll post it here for you. It will help you figure out the parts.

Badrs2810

Yeah that would be awesome! I'm not deterred, looking forward to it. I need to sell it. I don't want to, but I'm building a 94 z, and my wife's car messed up, got to pay for repairs . But, it's fine, I'll find another. Don't want it to go to crap sitting around, so someone else needs to take over, someone who can care for it and continue to make it better.

ASE doc

Here is the exploded view with parts list.

macmatt

I recently had a similar problem with my steering column on my 91 fbird. When I pulled the column apart I realized the tilt knuckle was broken on the right side, screws for the tilt were tight. When I went to the junk yard to get a new one I noticed that the only way to get that knuckle out is to COMPLETELY disassemble the column. In the end I just replaced the whole thing as an assembly. A little more expensive depending on where you get the part but it is by far a lot less headache to pull one out and put another in. Takes 30 mins or less usually.

Green weenie Ca

On my 91 I'm taking it apart and I think it's just the upper bearing that's bad. Is there anybody that sells a whole kit? and also I need to do the clock spring this is a factory airbag car and I am going to change it to a normal people steering wheel lol. What should I do about that?