Topic: steering column

[T/A Kid]

I bought a steering column and the problem is when I put the steering wheel on I have too much wobble In the steering
wheel. When I take it apart it seems that the steering shaft has pulled back towards the driver letting the bearing race
lose contact with the plastic caged bearing.
I can't find a good diagram of all the parts that's suppose to be there or if something is suppose to hold the shaft in the
column I appreciate any help.
 

[Angelo]

This is a tilt column right?

There's a spring in there that gets compressed and held in by a special 3/4 inch snap ring. The snap ring holds a plate that compresses the spring that pushes down in the bearing. You actually need a steering wheel puller in order to remove/install.

When I rebuilt my column last winter my snap ring was chewed up. I ended up making a new one from a spring. No one sells that plain snap ring new that I could find.

[Angelo]

This thread over at TAC is pretty useful for steering column rebuilds, includes photos: http://transamcountry.com/community/index.php?topic=24962.0

[T/A Kid]

I think I'm missing the metal looking cap that fit's over the race, Angelo thanks for the link that is a big help!!

[Tin Indians Rule]

If you get it all back together and the collar/wheel section flop around then it may be the bowl bolts inside the column that keeps the tilt section tight.

[Angelo]

I'd definitely rebuild it, if it's missing parts it can be very unsafe to drive.

My column had those 4 screws loose, I could move it in all directions, only thing it didn't do was telescope! I used blue loctite and torqued to spec those 4 bolts, I hope to never re-visit the inside of that column again.

[badcar2]

Can't seem how to figure out how to get shift bowl off of inner tube. Is it pressed on, and is there a special puller for that?