Steering wheel is loose

Tiny
DCVZFOX
  • MEMBER
  • 1988 CHEVROLET 2500
  • 6.2L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 165,000 MILES
It turns but I can move my steering wheel. How might I fix this?
Thursday, April 11th, 2019 AT 6:21 AM

1 Reply

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,871 POSTS
Do you mean you can lift it up and down? This exploded view only applies if you have a tilt column. The two pivot pins are sheared off and must be replaced. These pins, (item # 156), are usually only available through the dealer's parts department, or, in my case, I found a pair at a pick-your-own-parts salvage yard. They're on eBay too.

There's a lot of disassembly required to get down to the pins, then you need a special tool to pull them out. One version is shown in the second photo. The pins have a threaded center hole. The threaded shaft of the tool, (blue arrow) is screwed into the pin by turning the head, (green arrow). The silver nut, (red arrow) is run down and tightened to pull the bolt out and the pin with it.

I've gotten these out before by cross-threading the wrong screw into the pin, then pulling them out with a pair of pliers. That will destroy the threads because these are made of soft metal so they will shear in a crash to absorb impact. They often shear also when heavy people pull themselves in by tugging hard on the steering wheel. Just line the upper and lower parts of the column up, then tap the replacement pins in. They don't slide in and out very hard.
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Thursday, April 11th, 2019 AT 4:25 PM

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