My 88 GT’s steering wheel is super loose. So bad I’m scared to use it anymore. It there an easy way to get to the pivot to tighten up the loose bolts? I did not want to disassemble the whole column. But my guess is that is a must...
It sounds like the plastic safety mechanism has cracked or broken. Its supposed to be a safety in a collision. It will crush and allow the steering wheel to push forward giving the driver less of an impact against the steering wheel. Anyway, after 30 years of use, bumpy roads and whatever else it can crack or break. You will have to take the column out and then take it apart to rebuild it and replace that part. Another option is to find another column and trade the steering columns. I had the same problem on my 88 Formula. I ended up replacing the whole column with one from a parts car. There could be other possible reasons its loose, but that's the most likely I would think. Check the bolts that hold the column on just in case. Also check if the bolt that holds the actual steering wheel onto the column is on and tight. Also check at the bottom of the column where it connects to the steering shaft. There's a clamp bolt there. make sure its on and tight. If those are all tight, then its most likely the plastic piece inside the column.
This page has a good write-up on taking apart the steering column. Its in a quote about a quarter down page 3. The original post seems to have been deleted.
I bet donuts to $$ it's those 4 screws in the bottom of the column.
Spoon
------------------ "Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." - Kurt Vonnegut
[This message has been edited by Spoon (edited 02-12-2018).]
I agree it is probably the 4 bolts that famously come loose on the tilt columns. It is not as bad as people claim. Took me about 2-3 hours to do mine.
You will need a steering wheel removal tool to remove the steering wheel. (check with local auto parts store for free rental) Once off you will need someway to depress the spring loaded thingy (auto parts store rental?) so you can remove the clip ring out of the grove so you can disassemble the rest of the column as you work your way down to the 4 screws.
I was able to use a metal u-shaped bracket I had around the garage to depress the springy thing and remove the ring clip. You will also need to depress the spring thingy to get the clip ring back on as you re-aseemble the column.
Removing the column from the car is not that difficult if you are able to crawl under the dash to remove the bolt from the universe joint at the bottom of the steering shaft and remove the cover under the dash, 4 - T15 torx screws if I remember correctly.
Once you remove the cover there are 2 bolts to drop the column down. You will need to unclip the wire connectors before you can actually remove the column from the car. Just take your time and have some lock time available to use on the bolts when you tighten them.
I set up my iPad on the workbench with a youtube video (do a search on youtube) showing how to disassemble the steering column for reference as I went along. You could also take pictures as you go so you have a reference when re-assembling the column. You will have to unscrew the 4 way button ( small philips screw in the center of the button) so you can get the blinker thingy out as well. I think I had to remove the ignition switch as well. Not a big deal since you will have access to the screw that holds it in the column.
Hey if I can do it you can to. Search the archives here on Pennocks as well as with you tube videos before you start and you will be fine. It is not brain surgery....it just seems like it. lol
what is the difference between "the tilt joint loose, and the famous 4 mount bolts loose"
means the same thing. the 4 bolts coming loose is the cause of the tilt joint being loose. those 4 bolts tighten the upper portion of the tilt wheel column to the lower portion of the column at the tilt joint.
what is the difference between "the tilt joint loose, and the famous 4 mount bolts loose"
means the same thing. the 4 bolts coming loose is the cause of the tilt joint being loose. those 4 bolts tighten the upper portion of the tilt wheel column to the lower portion of the column at the tilt joint.
oh ok, thanks. I assume if one has this looseness, they can move the steering sheel when parked, such as this vid:
[This message has been edited by 2.5 (edited 02-13-2018).]
Do Not drive until fixed. Column parts are tough and try to warn of problem but now can fail completely w/o more warning.
You can easy tell when the problem in the "4 bolts" or something else. 4 bolt allow whole upper column to move at that joint when mounted to the column tube.
If not moving there then something else is loose/bad like: 1 or both lower "universal" joints. upper plastic shaft joint at tilt point. crush zone lost plastic parts Steering rack itself.
to find affected area... See my Cave, Steering to get a little more room to test the rack. Remove 2 screws holding the rubber cover. bolts are inside the cabin.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
