Jazzman Steering Rack Rebuild

8/10/2019 Jazzman Steering Rack Rebuild

1/69

Inside the GM TiltSteering Column

By: JAZZMAN

The first time I got into a GM tilt column (or any column for that matter) was when the column in my trusty old!" #hoeni$ got so wo%%ly that it was scaring me to dri&e the car' It too me most of a day to re air that column

%ecause the factory ser&ice manual was terri%le* and %ecause I had to figure out how to design and fa%ricate allthe s ecial tools using +un I had on hand' Now* with the %enefit of nearly ,- columns re aired o&er the last fewyears* I can do the same re air in the car in around an hour to an hour and a half on a&erage* with my %est time

%eing +ust under "- minutes' I &e %een wanting to do this to ic for a cou le years now* and decided that it wastime'

I de%ated with myself what would %e the %est way to e$ lore the .aginaw tilt column as used in the /iero andmost other GMs of that era* and concluded that a ground0u assem%ly would %e the most effecti&e' My intentwith this to ic is to gi&e an in0de th wor ing nowledge of GM tilt columns to anyone interested in their innerwor ings' I m also going to create a se arate to ic that will detail the classic wo%%ly column re air roceduresince it won t re1uire the same le&el of disassem%ly as this %uild did'

To ma e the ictures more useful I ainted some arts to ma e them more &isi%le* and more im ortantly* didcutaways to allow a %etter &iew of the com le$ i&ot oint com onent relationshi s and other hidden details'

/or clarity I also cleaned and degreased most arts that would normally %e lu%ricated* so if you re using thisto ic as a guide for o&erhauling a column it is im ortant that all sliding2contact oints are lu%ricated with a goododorless water roof grease that won t run when hot'

The column shown is for a manual transmission e1ui ed /iero as indicated %y the ey release le&er' Automaticcolumns use a different ignition switch that has a ro&ision for an interloc ca%le that runs to the shiftermechanism' I will detail the internal differences %etween the two ty es of columns during the %uild'

Inside the GM Tilt .teering 3olumn #age 4


2/69Inside the GM Tilt .teering 3olumn #age 5


3/69

6ere are all of the tools necessary for wor ing on the GM tilt column' Note* some tools aren t re1uired for this %uild:

.teering wheel uller (disassem%ly only)* either two0hole for stoc wheels or three0hole for most aftermar etwheels7oc late com ressor (Auto8one carries the one ictured for the %est rice I &e found)

Needle nose liers.na ring liers* outside ty e (safety sna ring)5-mm or 4,249 dee soc et (steering wheel nut);mm soc et or nutdri&er (trim anel screws under dash)44mm soc et (column shaft inch %olt to intermediate shaft at floor%oard)4,mm soc et (column %rac et to column %olts )4 high %eam switches)Ad+usta%le and2or regular wrenches for the steering wheel > i&ot in ullers

Inside the GM Tilt .teering 3olumn #age ,


4/69

Technically* all of the #hilli s0head loo ing screws are actually #o8idri& head* %ut #hilli s dri&ers will wor +ustfine for occasional use' ?ou ll also note that a com%ination of metric and .A= fasteners are used' This is %ecausethe .aginaw lant where the columns were %uilt still used .A= tooling whereas the GM assem%ly lants wherethe columns were installed were fully metric' Thus* the internal fasteners in the column are .A= and thefasteners that connect it to the &ehicle are metric'

6ere are all of the arts in a GM tilt column* e$cluding the steering wheel:

Inside the GM Tilt .teering 3olumn #age "


5/69

@e start assem%ly with the core art* the column +ac et assem%ly:

This is the lower %earing with dust shield and ( 5 ) !0,5 $ 4 self0ta ing deformed0thread screws:

Inside the GM Tilt .teering 3olumn #age


6/69

Install the lower %earing assem%ly and dust shield into the tail of the column +ac et using a 42" soc et' It isinde$ed so that it can only go in one way:

Now it s time to mo&e to the to of the column +ac et' Note the &arious slots and other features:



7/69

6ere s the lower housing shroud' I cut away the side so that during the assem%ly it will %e easier to see how the&arious com onents relate to each other:

The lower housing shroud sim ly slides onto the end of the column +ac et* there are guides that allow it to onlyfit one way' @hen it is fully seated you ll see that the guides are %elow the large slot' Note the %um on the rightside* that is for the manual column ey release le&er' The automatic column s lower housing shroud doesn t ha&ethis %um :

Inside the GM Tilt .teering 3olumn #age ;


8/69

6ere is the lower housing %olting late' As a side note* my theory as to why the four %olts wor lose and causethe wo%%ly column attern failure so common with GM tilt columns is that the cross0sectional area of the tu%ethat the %olting late %ears against is too small* resulting in the thin column tu%e edges deforming o&er time'This releases the tension that holds the %olts in lace and once that occurs they ra idly %ac out under the&arious cyclic loads to which the steering column is su%+ected' ?ou can see how little contact area there is ase&idenced %y the four narrow shiny s ots around the edges:

Inside the GM Tilt .teering 3olumn #age !


9/69

?ou can see that the %olt s acing is wider at the to than at the %ottom' Install the %olting late %y inserting itinto the tu%e sideways* tilting the right side ta% into the large slot* then %ringing the late u flat and insertingthe two small ta%s on the left into their corres onding slots in the tu%e wall:



10/69

n a manual column the ne$t arts to install are the ey release le&er and s ring:

Inside the GM Tilt .teering 3olumn #age 4-


11/69

They fit into an annular groo&e in the lower shroud* with the s ring free end inserting into its oc et first as thele&er is ushed into lace:



12/69

Ne$t u is the lower housing assem%ly' This has the ins that the tilt loc ing awls engage to hold the tiltad+ustment* and on manual columns it also has the ey release le&er guide as shown in the second hoto %elow'The guide holds the manual ey release le&er in the shroud' The only difference %etween the manual and autolower housing is the resence of the guide:

The high %eam switch ushrod:



13/69

Install the high %eam ushrod into the lower housing:

Install the ignition switch ushrod' It is installed %y running the rod end down through a slot in the shroud (inthe ortion of the shroud that was cut away for this %uild to ic):

Inside the GM Tilt .teering 3olumn #age 4,


14/69

#osition the lower housing in lace with the ignition switch and high %eam ushrods routed as shown' Note*though it is ossi%le to install the high %eam ushrod after installing the housing* it is not ossi%le to install theignition switch ushrod after the housing is %olted in lace:

The lower housing is held onto the column %y four Tor$0head %olts that screw into the %olting late:

The %olts use an =! soc et* %ut can also %e tightened with a 42" 90 oint soc et or a 9mm 90 oint soc et'7oc tite is ro%a%ly not a %ad idea on the threads:

Inside the GM Tilt .teering 3olumn #age 4"


15/69

@e re ready to install the ignition switch' There is a oc et in the side of it that the ushrod fits into:

6ere s how the ushrod loo s inserted into the switch:



16/69

The ignition switch %olts to the column with a


17/69

Ne$t* install the high %eam switch' It is held in lace %y a ,2! nut on the stud0headed screw and a


18/69

ne of the main safety features of the steering column is that this shaft assem%ly is colla si%le' This is done %yusing a telesco ing tu%e design with an in+ection0molded lastic ey to loc the tu%e and shaft together:

This lastic ey will shear when the torso hits the steering wheel during a se&ere collision* allowing the shaft tocolla se into the tu%e instead of unching your heart out through your s ine' @hen a column is dro ed on itsend or a hammer is used to noc the steering wheel loose this is the art that is ty ically damaged* causing thecolumn to rattle o&er %um s and sometimes feel li e it has slac with a clic feeling' nce this ha ens theshaft is considered non0re aira%le'

The main shaft connects to the stu% shaft with a lastic %all +oint that contains a s ring to remo&e lay:

Inside the GM Tilt .teering 3olumn #age 4!


19/69

Insert the %all assem%ly into the stu% shaft sideways* then rotate ninety degrees to loc it into lace:



20/69

Insert the main shaft 3 into the %all at a ninety degree angle* there s a slot in the stu% shaft for this* thenstraighten the two shafts until they are aligned* thus loc ing the shafts together at the %all +oint' There should %estrong friction as the shafts are aligned and no lay when you are done' The s ring %etween the %all hal&es

ushes them a art* ta ing the slac out of the %all +oint'

Insert the shaft assem%ly into the tu%e and out through the lower %earing'

The u er housing contains most of the %its of the column' @e ll start %y installing the ignition loc cylindercross shaft and gear'



21/69

6ere is the ignition loc cylinder cross shaft and sector dri&e gear:

Insert the longer flat end through the u er housing and then into the gear' rient the gear as shown:

Cse a soc et to su ort the gear and gently ta the cross shaft through until it seats fully in the gear' The gearshould rotate freely:



22/69

The end of the shaft will rotrude slightly* +ust far enough to e$ ose the notches on the edges of the shaft:

Ne$t* install the sector reload s ring* it sim ly ushes into lace in the %ottom of the sector guide in thehousing:



23/69

The u er housing also contains the u er and lower %earings for the stu% shaft' @hen turning the steeringwheel these %earings are what ee the wheel feeling tight as it rotates' The %earing %alls are e1ually s aced inthe u er housing %y slotted retainers' Cse grease to hold the %alls in the retainers* then set the retainers into theraces using more grease to hold them in lace' The following ictures show the u er and lower %earingsinstalled* with the tilt release le&er installed for &isual reference'

This is loo ing at the u er %earing:

And the lower %earing:



24/69

6ere is the loc in* this in engages the notches in the edge of the loc late and loc s the steering wheel whenthe ey is turned to the 7 3D osition:

Insert the loc in into the u er housing as shown' Note how the groo&e on the %ottom of the in engages a %um on the gear:

Install the sector into the u er housing' Eotate the gear until the large tooth is ointed down and %ac * then

insert the sector from the rear such that the large tooth engages the large notch of the sector' This is what itshould loo li e with sector and loc in installed:



25/69

Ne$t will %e the hardest art for most eo le* so I ll de&ote e$tra ictures and e$ lanations of the artsrelationshi s to hel with this tas ' I ll %egin with a %rief descri tion of how the &arious lin ages wor throughthe i&ot oint'

The ignition loc cylinder turns a cross shaft that goes through the column and into a gear' The gear engages arac on the sector that mo&es u and down the column as the ey is turned' The sector has an arch on the lowerend that fits %etween two ins at the to end of the ignition switch ushrod which in turn goes down the lengthof the column to where it connects to the actual ignition switch' The arch stays connected to the ignition switch

ushrod as the sector rotates a%out the tilt i&ot in when the column is tilted* without mo&ing the ushrod' The ushrod ulls u as the ey is turned toward the .TAET osition* and ushes down as the ey is turned to the// osition'

The high %eam lin age is different* its ushrod goes ast the tilt i&ot in and through the u er housing* then %ends u into an arc' There is a cur&ed follower that ushes against the arc of the ushrod* that follower in turnis ushed %y the wi er switch which rotates on a in when the turn signal stal is ulled %ac ' The cur&ed

%ottom of the follower slides along the arc of the ushrod as the column is tilted u and down'

6ere is the ignition sector* showing the inside with the arch at the right end and the rac at the left end:

6ere s the high %eam follower:



26/69

6ere s a closeu &iew of the u er end of the ignition ushrod showing the two egs:

6ere are detailed &iews of how the sector and follower engage the two ushrods in &arious degrees of tilt' Notehow the arched edge of the sector stays engaged %etween the two egs on the aluminum molding at the to ofthe ignition switch ushrod* and how the high %eam follower matches the arc of the end of the high %eam switch

ushrod:



27/69

The tilt ad+ustment is maintained %y toothed awls that engage the ins in the to of the lower housing' @henthe tilt release le&er is ulled it releases the awls and allows the u er column to i&ot u and down on the tilt

i&ot ins' The notches in the two awls are offset 425 tooth from each other* this allows the column tilt to ad+ustin 425 tooth increments' nly one awl is e&er engaged with a in at a time' 6ere s a ic of the awls in thereleased osition:

Inside the GM Tilt .teering 3olumn #age 5;


28/69

Now to assem%le the u er housing assem%ly to the lower ortion of the column' There are se&eral things thatneed to %e accom lished simultaneously while installing the u er housing assem%ly' The ignition sector needsto ro erly engage the egs on the ignition switch ush rod* ma ing sure that the ushrod end fits into thegroo&e in the side of the lower housing' The high %eam ushrod needs to %e ro erly located through the lowerleft 1uadrant of the u er housing* the tilt awls need to ro erly engage the ins in the to of the lowerhousing* and the i&ot in holes need to %e aligned' n manual columns the ey release le&er slot needs toengage the in stic ing out of the to of the ignition ushrod' Also* the loc in needs to stay ro erly engagedas it tends to fall out during this ste ' Though this is the most intimidating art of the %uild* it s actually not as

hard as it sounds' ne hel ful ti is to ee the stu% shaft ulled toward you as you maneu&er the u er housinginto lace* this will hel ee the %alls in the lower race from %eing accidentally dislodged during this art of theassem%ly rocess'

.tart %y ulling the ignition switch ushrod all the way u toward the to of the column' #ull the high %eamswitch ushrod u * %ut not ast the %end in the rod' Insert the stu% shaft into the %ac of the u er housingassem%ly as you %ring the housing assem%ly toward the lower housing' Eotate the u er housing assem%lycloc wise a%out 42" turn* this should %e enough to allow wor ing the u er end of the high %eam ushrodthrough the large hole in the lower left 1uadrant of the u er housing assem%ly' It is assumed that the tilt le&er isinstalled at this oint'

Inside the GM Tilt .teering 3olumn #age 5!


29/69

nce the u er end of the high %eam ushrod is ro erly laced* rotate the u er housing countercloc wise asyou %ring it closer to the lower housing' Eotate the ignition cross shaft as needed to e$tend the arched end of thesector* then engage the arched end of the sector with the u er end of the ignition switch ushrod' Ma e surethat the arched end fits %etween the two egs' A common mista e is to ha&e the arch in front of the egs* thiswill cause the ignition to only turn off* and then not %e a%le to turn on again' 6ere s a ic showing ro erengagement:

Dee the u er housing tilted u at a moderate angle during this rocess* it ma es it easier to engage the tilt awls' . ea ing of awls* the ne$t ste is to engage them' @ith the u er housing tilted u * carefully ush it

onto the column while ulling the tilt le&er all the way %ac ' ?ou can see the awls align with the ins li e this:



30/69


31/69

@hewF The hardest art is now doneF Now all that s left is to finish assem%ly of the column' .tart %y insertingthe i&ot ins:

Inside the GM Tilt .teering 3olumn #age ,4


32/69

Cse a %rass unch and hammer to ta the ins in until they re flush* then again &erify that the ignition switch

ushrod is ro erly engaged %y rotating the cross shaft in %oth directions and chec ing that the ignition switch ushrod mo&es %oth u and down' ?ou can use the ignition loc cylinder as a con&enient way to turn the crossshaft'

6ere s an e$ lanation of how the ignition ey release le&er functions in the manual column' The ey releasele&er ( ictured earlier) wra s o&er the to of the column inside the lower shroud' n the left side of the columnthe le&er has an 70sha ed notch in it' There is a in that stic s out from the to of the ignition ushrod (autosha&e the same in that doesn t do anything) that fits into that notch' As the ignition loc cylinder is rotated to the

// osition the sector ushes the ignition ushrod down until the in hits the end of the notch and sto s theey from turning any further' This is the // osition of the ignition switch'



33/69


34/69

.ince the release le&er is s ring loaded the notch will o %ac the ne$t time the ey is turned forward'7ea&ing the column tilted to the highest osition for now* the ne$t ste is to install the loc in retraction s ring'6ere s the s ring with its 42" head retaining screw:

.tart %y hoo ing the s ring into the groo&e on the end of the loc in' It may %e necessary to rotate the gearforward or %ac to get enough room to do this:

Inside the GM Tilt .teering 3olumn #age ,"


35/69

nce the hoo is in lace insert the loo into the large oc et on the side of the gear:

Then insert the 42" head screw through the %ottom of the s ring and tighten into lace:



36/69

There is a hefty s ring used to lift the wheel u when the tilt le&er is ulled %ac ' This s ring has a centeringguide in one end and a retaining ca with ears that holds it in lace at the other end' 6ere are those arts:

6ere is an inside &iew of the s ring hole in the u er housing* you can see the notches that the ca ears fit intoas well as the ledge that they engage when you turn the ca -H cloc wise after ushing it down:

And here s the same &iew with the s ring ca in its final osition:



37/69

?ou ll note that the o en area %elow the ledge (as &iewed from the to side) doesn t ha&e a %ottom* so you can ush the ca down as far as you want without worrying a%out damaging it' The ca only has to go in a%out a1uarter inch or so to get the ears ast the ledge %efore rotating it to the loc ed osition' It is im ortant to eethe ca s1uare to the %ore* otherwise the steel ears will dig into the aluminum housing and get stuc ' A #hilli sscrewdri&er wor s well for ee ing the ca straight when inserting it'

#ull the tilt le&er %ac and raise the column to the highest tilt osition' Insert the lower guide into the tilt s ringand then feed the assem%ly into the large hole in the %ottom of the u er housing' Ma e sure the lower guide

cu engages the eg in the lower housing:

Cse a large #hilli s screwdri&er to ush the ca down with the ears aligned to the groo&es in the sides of thehole' @hen the ca is dee enough turn it a%out one 1uarter turn to the right to loc it into lace'

Inside the GM Tilt .teering 3olumn #age ,;


38/69

Tilt the u er housing down to the straight osition* then remo&e the tilt le&er'

At this oint we re done with the tilt mechanism and the lower column' It s time to start assem%ling the u er

shroud* that s the lastic housing that contains the wi er switch and the ignition loc cylinder' @e ll start withthe shroud:

Inside the GM Tilt .teering 3olumn #age ,!


39/69

The first thing to install in the u er shroud is the wi er switch' The switch shown is the %asic one* the &aria%lewi e switch installs the same way though it loo s slightly different' 6ere s the %asic switch* shown with its i&otrod:

Insert the switch into the housing li e this:



40/69

Eotate the switch so that the i&ot rod holes align with the holes in the shroud* then insert the i&ot rod:

#ush the rod down until it s %ottomed out:

Inside the GM Tilt .teering 3olumn #age "-


41/69

If you ha&e cruise control* ta e the cruise stal wire and insert it through the hole in the side of the u er shroudand route it under the wi er switch li e this:

?ou can sna the the cruise stal into the wi er at this time* there s a detent %all down in the wi er switch thatengages the groo&e on the end of the stal ' #ut a %it of grease here to ma e it easier to remo&e in the future:

Inside the GM Tilt .teering 3olumn #age "4


42/69

Thread the wire down through the lower left 1uadrant of the column* %elow the high %eam ush rod:

6ere s the tilt le&er housing:



43/69

Ta e grease and use it to stic the high %eam follower to the inside of the tilt le&er housing:

.et the tilt le&er housing in lace against the u er housing* ma e sure that the high %eam follower engages thehigh %eam ushrod ro erly and that the other end of the ushrod is inserted into the high %eam switch:

Inside the GM Tilt .teering 3olumn #age ",


44/69


45/69

6igh %eam ushrod seated in oc et on high %eam switch:

Now it s time to assem%le the shroud to the u er housing' Guide it straight into lace* noting how the tilt le&erhousing fits into the u er shroud and ma ing sure that the u er end of the high %eam follower fits into itsguide hole in the u er shroud' A screwdri&er is hel ful for guiding the high %eam follower into lace as it oftentimes will get %um ed out of alignment during assem%ly' Also ma e sure that the loc in inserts into its hole*and ull the slac out of the cruise wire as the housing seats in lace:



46/69

nce ro erly assem%led* the end of the high %eam follower is easily &isi%le ushing u against the %ottom ofthe wi er switch:

The tilt co&er will fit tightly into the %ottom of the shroud:



47/69

And the cruise stal wire will %e routed through the column li e this (tilt le&er housing remo&ed for clarity):

Install the tilt le&er now'

The three screws that hold the u er shroud in lace:

Cse a T0,- Tor$ dri&er to tighten the three sil&er flat0headed Tor$ screws into lace:

?ou can see the loc in &isi%le at the u er left'

Inside the GM Tilt .teering 3olumn #age ";


48/69

Ne$t* thread the wi er switch connector down through the slot in the lower left 1uadrant of the column:

#ull the slac out of the wi er wiring harness* it should %e routed li e this:

Inside the GM Tilt .teering 3olumn #age "!


49/69

Insert the ignition loc cylinder into the u er shroud' Note how the green ey resence switch lunger andinde$ing ta% on the loc cylinder collar fit into the groo&e in the %ottom of the loc cylinder hole in the u ershroud:

There are two inds of loc cylinder retainer screws used on /ieros* the !"0 !9H* and the !;0 !!H' The earlyscrews use a #hilli s head screwdri&er and ha&e the threads on the end of the screw* and the later screws use aT05- Tor$ dri&er and ha&e the threads u under the head' Note: The u er shrouds are different as well due tothe two different thread locations* though they will interchange on the column as long as the matching screwsare used'

This icture shows %oth ty es* the late style is on the left and the early style is on the right:



50/69

Insert and tighten the loc cylinder retaining screw' Note* the late style screw has a dou%le heli$' @hene&erreinstalling self0ta ing screws into lastic it is a good idea to turn the screw %ac wards until you feel the screw

dro a little* this indicates that the threads are engaged and the screw can %e retightened without damaging the lastic threads in the art' The dou%le heli$ on the late screw has two different heights* so if it seems to %e hardto tighten down you may ha&e to %ac it out to the second dro to ma e sure the threads are correctlyengaged'

The ey resence switch assem%ly tells the chime unit when the ey is inserted into the ignition loc cylinder*and consists of a s ring and the switch itself:



51/69

Assem%le the s ring and ey resence switch %y hoo ing the s ring s ta% o&er one end of the switch and rotatingit into lace:

Insert the switch assem%ly into the rectangular hole in the u er shroud' The ey must %e out of the loccylinder for this ste :

The switch should %e fully seated in the hole' The two metal ta%s stic ing u contact ads on the %ac of theturn signal* then to two wires in the turn signal harness' @hen the ey is insterted into the loc cylinder the eyti ushes the green lunger outward* de ressing the ey resence switch contacts and closing the ey resencecircuit to the %lue chime unit'



52/69

6ere s the turn signal switch assem%ly' Note the flat connector and the way the wiring is formed to %e arallelwith the connector:

Insert the flat connector down through the same slot as the wi er switch harness' Note the orientation of theconnector:



53/69

#ull the slac out of the wires as you %ring the switch assem%ly u to the shroud* then seat the switch in lace'?ou ll need to clic the center art of the switch to the right turn signal osition to access the to screw:



54/69

There are three screws total:

Mo&e the switch %ac to the center osition'

The ha8ard switch %utton arts:



55/69

It screws into the turn signal switch assem%ly through a hole in the side of the column using a small #hilli sscrewdri&er:

The turn signal follower and screw:



56/69

Insert the end of the follower into the u er shroud and engage the follower eg with the slot in the wi erswitch* align the other end of the follower with the recess in the turn signal* then insert and tighten the screwwith a #hilli s screwdri&er:

The u er %earing inner race and reload cu ' Note how the reload cu fingers fit into the race:

.lide the race and reload cu down the shaft:



57/69


58/69

A %ottom &iew of the cancel cam showing the metal horn contactor ring' The two %um s on the side of thecancel cam shaft ush against the circular cancel s rings in the turn signal as the wheel is turned* canceling theturn signals as the steering wheel is turned:

.lide the cancel cam down o&er the reload s ring:

The loc late and loc late retaining sna ring:



59/69

Note the notches around the edge* these are what the loc in engages when the ey is turned to the 7 3D osition' ?ou ll also note that at the to of the center hole of the loc late that one of the s lines is missing' Theloc late is eyed so that it will only go on the u er shaft one way' Eotate the cancel cam so that the horncontactor ost fits through the hole in the loc late and slide the loc late onto the shaft* followed %y theretaining sna ring' Note the recess in the center of the loc late:

To retract the loc in out of the way I ut the ey in and turned it to the ECN osition'

Attach the loc late com ressor tool to the center shaft then ull the shaft u as you rotate it to ensure that thelower %earing race seats in the %earings ro erly' Cse the com ressor to ush the loc late down the shaft untilit %ottoms* when it does the sna ring groo&e should +ust %e &isi%le' If the loc late won t go all the way downthen the stu% shaft isn t seated ro erly in the %ottom %earing of the u er housing:



60/69

Cse a screwdri&er or two to ush the retaining ring down until it sna s into the groo&e:

nce the retaining ring is seated remo&e the com ressor tool'

The loc late edge co&er:

Around the edge of the loc late there are three areas where ta%s e$tend out a %it:



61/69

6ere s a %ac &iew of the loc late with trim installed* you can see how the three ta%s of the trim iece engagethe loc late ta%s:

.na the trim co&er into lace:



62/69

Mo&ing %ac to the %ottom of the column* here is the centering cone and reload s ring with retaining cli :

.lide the cone and s ring onto the end of the shaft* then ush the retaining cli down the shaft until the s ring iscom ressed %y a%out half:

The wiring slee&e:

It rotects the wiring as it e$its the lower shroud' Insert the wiring for the turn signal and wi er switch into theslee&e:



63/69

Then sli the slee&e u into the lower shroud' Align the s1uare holes in the slee&e with the nuts welded to thecolumn tu%e and ress the slee&e into lace:

Note: The cruise wire doesn t go through the slee&e'

The u er column %rac et and %olts:



64/69

Cse a 4,mm soc et to %olt the %rac et to the column' Because of the way the holes are s aced it will only go onone way:

6ere s another safety feature of the column' The aluminum %olting ads on the %rac et are held in lace %ye$truded lastic' @hen the torso hits the column or the column is dri&en into the torso the lastic shears*allowing the column %rac et to ull free of the %olting ads and crush down to a shorter length:

The last thing to do is to ad+ust the ignition and high %eam switches' .tart %y remo&ing the high %eam switch %olt and nut* then the switch' Eotate the ey to the 7 3D osition' 7oosen the stud0headed %olt that retains theignition switch* then slide the switch so that it detents into the off osition* this will %e the second to lastdetent on the switch' Eetighten the %olt* then turn the ey to the &arious ositions while o%ser&ing the switchmo&ement and detent ositions' Eeattach the high %eam switch ma ing sure to get the end of the ushrod

ro erly engaged in the switch soc et* then ad+ust the switch to remo&e the slac from the ushrod' Tighten thenut and screw and that s it* you &e successfully %uilt a GM tilt column from scratch'

Now wasn t that easyH



65/69

After installing the steering wheel* here s how the horn %utton contactor goes into the cancel cam'

@heels with a center %utton style horn use a ca ti&e lunger' The s ring ushes the nail or lunger u againsta metal late in the underside of the horn %utton' @hen the horn %utton is de ressed the metal late contacts thehorn latch cli s and ro&ides a ground ath through the column to acti&ate the horn relay:

The addle horn %utton wheel has a s ring0loaded contactor and wire that goes into the cancel cam:



66/69

It installs similarly to the GT lunger* ush in and turn to loc the eg into the groo&e:

The steering wheel is held on with a 5-mm he$ nut with a 4"mm $ 4'< thread* then a triangular safety sna ringgoes on last:



67/69

.ome other column tri&ia:

@hen the steering wheel was assem%led to the column on the car roduction line the assem%ler used a chisel toma e matching inde$ mar s on the steering wheel hu% and the end of the column' ?ou can see it in this closeu :

The mar s ty ically will align with the wide s line on the to of the stu% shaft'

3omments* suggestions* and 1uestions are welcome* and I will re&ise and re hotogra h as re1uested to ma ethis ost more com lete'

7egal disclaimer: No furry critters were hurt during this* though se&eral were fed' This may not %e re roducedin whole or in art* or distri%uted in any way without me nowing a%out it* es ecially if there s money in&ol&ed'In fact* if there s money in&ol&ed I want a cut* and not the ind that needs stitches either' 3olumn assem%led ona closed course %y a rofessionally un aid mechanic' o not attem t without ade1uate safety gear and tools' Not

res onsi%le for lost ittens or mar%les' ?our mileage may &ary' Eemem%er* a column is a critical art of the car so erating and safety systems* slo y wor manshi can ill'

Ja88Man

Eeaders uestions:

i need some hel here my ignition loc turns %ut it turns freely and doesnt ull the rod to the ignition switch tostart the car' i can start it %y ulling the rod and the loc is wor ing ro erly %ut i thin the little %lac gear that

ulls the rod is stri ed' how do i get to this to re lace itH i&e read this thread u and down and it hel s alot %ut ineed s ecifics on +ust getting to this gearK

Inside the GM Tilt .teering 3olumn #age 9;


68/69


69/69

most auto arts stores carry orman roducts under different name %rands6=7# !,544#i 0A0Nut ,!,544

or NA#A 95-55"9

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Date post:	02-Jun-2018
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Jazzman Steering Rack Rebuild

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