A rough Fiero day (Page 1/1) viperine APR 04, 12:08 AM Ugh I had a tough one. 7 hours into a steering column to fix the formidable tilt screws that work loose. 3 times I took it apart and put it back together, only to have a firm tilt section, but an unexplainably wobbly steering wheel that made the loose tilt feel like nothing in comparison. Fortunately I have spare columns for parts as I attempt to remedy this. Don't let 7 hours fool you, I am not new at this task and had expected to take a max of two comfortable hours doing it all, including installing my cherished newfound NOS cruise/wiper stalk that is skinny and black. Well, I do have cruise control back. I also installed a new ignition cylinder so I could have nice keys and no rust showing on the column. Love the black plastic trim on the NOS keys too! Just hope I can forge through after busting two pivot pin tools in the original column. Boy were they really jammed in there! Two other columns I had gave me no trouble and I had to rig a way to get the pins out of them! Anyway, in the spirit of staying positive, this forum always helps, even though I mostly try to resolve by searching now. All of your current and previous posts have been so helpful, and I am grateful to Cliff and the community here for all they have taken their time to help us out as we strive to enjoy our Pontiacs like they were meant to be enjoyed! Spadesluck APR 04, 12:21 AM Did you pull the whole thing out to work on it? Patrick APR 04, 12:33 AM quote Originally posted by viperine: Ugh I had a tough one. 7 hours into a steering column to fix the formidable tilt screws that work loose. I remember doing that job more than 20 years ago on my first Fiero. Not much fun... and that's back when I was younger and brighter. viperine APR 04, 12:53 AM quote Originally posted by Spadesluck: Did you pull the whole thing out to work on it? No, I left it in place to aid in tasks that a vice would provide. Funny, the spare columns I tore down, after the fact, in 30 minutes, without a lock plate tool, and with a random screw from an old door knob that threaded beautifully into the pivot pins, came apart faster than I credited the initial task for. I suspect a bearing issue, that I may have incorrectly placed them. Otherwise there is an issue far deeper, but I doubt that, after paying close attention to the subsequent parts column teardown. I'm pretty attentive when I tear stuff apart that has a lot of parts. A column isn't as bad as most people think. My very first attempt, years ago, may have taken 3 hours with homebrew tools and a keen eye. As much as I love figuring things out, today's effort left me feeling pretty much defeated. A good sleep after a few beers is the remedy at hand. A fresh mind may yet reveal a painfully silly mistake. My car is worth it to me! Sunflash APR 04, 09:48 AM I had similar issues with mine and found it was the bearing race. I had to put it together twice to get it right. Ended using a punch to hold the race properly while I finished the reassembly. Also make sure the sheet metal retainer hasn't been crushed in and no longer holding the race in place. viperine APR 10, 05:16 PM Well, the column is finally fixed and totally refurbed with the best of 3 separate parts columns. The upper bearing race had been very stubborn about seating. I totally trashed a lock plate trying to get the snap ring on, so I assume I had probably given the bearing race a little bit of a lip that made it fight me so hard. I studied a few videos, went over many blow-up diagrams, and just said it HAD to be that problem. So 5 extra minutes trying to coax the race over the shaft finally started showing progress. I've not had one give me so much of a fight before! So now I have a reliable, smooth column. I also have more column practice than a modern day mechanic So happy it's over with!