Well my steering column from my 87 GT project car had a very wobbly feel to it. When I say wobbly I mean up, down, left, right, about 6 inches each way. Anyway I tore the hole column down to the 4 bolts at the end and when I got to them all 4 just slipped out!! The previous owner was driving around with it like that. So now they are tight and I am almost finished putting it back together. This was my first time ever doing something like this so it took me about 6 hrs total.
------------------ '86 2m4- Auto, Daily Driver '87 GT - 5spd, Project Car -------------------------------------------------------------------------- So now you'd better stop and rebuild all your ruins, For peace and trust can win the day despite of all your losing
I too bought a Fiero with a loose steering column. I am not sure how the PO was driving the car, the steering column had so much movement it was difficult to drive it 4 miles home, there was no shift knob, the milk crate I was sitting on had no cushion and wan't bolted down (like who bolts down a milk crate anyway) and the clutch needed bleeding in the worst way.
I spotted the car in a neighbors driveway, while the car was being filled with firewood. The two hoods were missing and both seats were gone. He had it loaded in front so much that you could barely see over the wood and you couldn't see anything out the back with the wood stacked so high. He also had a pregnant girlfriend that was due any minute and this was his only transportation.
After intercepting him at his house and helping unload the firewood, I asked him if the car was for sale. He told me that he had bought it from a lady that had it in a barn and he was going to drive it until it fell apart. Turns out to be a T-top 88 GT with 5 speed. I almost broke his arm wrestling him out of the car. He ended up with my Explorer that I no longer used, $100 in cash to help him along, we did a vehicle swap and the state only charged a $35 license plate fee.
Long story short, the car is now being driven, has all it's components back in place and I was given the packet of receipts for the car by the previous owner's Mom. This car has a new (not rebuilt) 3.4 with a rebuilt Getrag, new shocks and struts, dewwipes, all door rubber and non-leaking T-top seals. It also had 25 pounds of sawdust and crap throughout the car. After alignment, fender, taillights, quarter windows, steering column, seats, tires and wheels, total interior, fluids brought back, and a new windshield the car runs like a dream.
Drove the car to the Arlington Fiero meet last weekend and had a great time.
Sorry JazzMan I forgot that I used your source as well, especially when I was puttin it all back together it came in real handy. I finally got it back together on my day off, it wasn't too bad at least I did not break anything and the horn still works!!
Thanks so much for posting this. I got the steering wheel off then was stumped on what to do next, but your instructions showed me that it is possible. Hopefully my steering column will be wobble free by the end of this weekend
Thanks so much for posting this. I got the steering wheel off then was stumped on what to do next, but your instructions showed me that it is possible. Hopefully my steering column will be wobble free by the end of this weekend
Be causeful with those bearings. They are hell to get back together if the balls fall out. Popping the bearings and not refitting them correctly made a 2 hour rebuild job into an 8 hour one.
I coated my bolts with red locktite and it holds like a champ.
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01:18 AM
FIER086 Member
Posts: 1021 From: Michigan, Grand Rapids Registered: Apr 2006
When you start getting to the tilt mechanism, go slow so you don't lose any ball bearings. I got lucky cause none fell out but that is because I was careful taking things apart. I also used thread locker on the 4 bolts, this is very important. Also never use your steering wheel as leverage to get out this is why it gets so loose!
------------------ '86 2m4- Auto, Daily Driver '87 GT - 5spd, Project Car -------------------------------------------------------------------------- So now you'd better stop and rebuild all your ruins, For peace and trust can win the day despite of all your losing
Just got the column back in the car. This page helped me alot! I even made a pivot pin remover worked great. thanks for posting this my hat is off to Oliver Scholz!
The previous owner was driving around with it like that. So now they are tight and I am almost finished putting it back together. This was my first time ever doing something like this so it took me about 6 hrs total.
