Kadett Column Installation Question

[tomking]

I have a question for those who are more knowledgeable than me. Talking about GT and Kadett steering columns. There is an 8mm bolt on the underneath side of the column whose purpose is to hold the steering shaft inside the column tube. It is a bolt which has its threads turned off and rides against a shoulder on the shaft and preloads the spring beneath the steering wheel. On both my kadetts this bolt has been running against this shoulder and is getting ground down. I cant imagine that the bolt is supposed to run against the shoulder all the time, but appears to be doing so. Is the complete steering column supposed to be pushed down, thereby moving this shoulder away from the bolt and held there by tightening the clamp bolt where the column extension slips into the steering rack? This is the fix, or proper installation it appears to me. I have looked at some FSM but havent seen this explained anywhere. Thanks for your help.

[markandson]

Tom,
Not exactly sure I am looking at the correct bolt, but I can tell you this. I have a steering column down in my family room along with the rest of my car . I just went down and spun it around, it is a totally assembled column. It turns very nicely with no scraping of any kind. It appears to me that the entire shaft is located by the clamp on the spline at the bottom of the column tube. I don't think that any adjustment associated with the rack would be your problem, including the length of the steering rod, the column should work fine on its own.

[tomking]

My explanation is probably not clear. It appears to me that if one doesnt push the steering wheel down a quarter inch or so upon installing the column and then clamp it in place with the steering rack clamp that the bolt will ride on a shoulder on the steering shaft. This produces metal to metal contact which will cause wear. Both my kadett steering columns show this severe wear. I havent driven them; they have been driven this way for a long time by POs. Neither have I seen in the FSMs that I have looked at so far any instructions about avoiding this issue. What am I missing?

[markandson]

I think you are missing the clamp on the spline at the bottom of the tube, like only 18" or so from the steering wheel, inside the car. There is a bolt that clamps a spline that appears to me to be the adjustment you are looking for.

[tomking]

Neither of my kadetts have any kind of clamp at the bottom of the tube. Nor do they look like they ever did. Plus the same thing with an extra steering column I have. The only clamp is at the steering rack. Is that the one you are referring to jeff?

[Killer Texas GT]

there is a differance between the GT steering column and the Kadett column. to install the steering column have wheels pointed straight and the steering wheel centered, making sure that the directional switch is in the proper relationship to the steering wheel to de-activate the turn signal; push the steering wheel down until there is a 1/8" clearance between the sterring wheel and column, then tighten the bolt and nut with locking tabs in place and torque to 25 ft lbs then bend the tabs over. then on the inside where the steering column attaches to the dash install the stop bolt in the steering mask torque to 9 ft lbs. It sounds as if the wrong bolts where installed by the PO or they forgot the lock nut or washer, on the interior or at the steering column attach point at the flange or they installed a bolt that the head was to tall and is rubbing. I can send you the pages that show the pictures and installation proceedure if you need them. Let me know.

[tomking]

Thanks Rodney, yes please scan and send them to me. email is
tomking2(at)mchsi.com.
So what you are saying is the pushing down on the steering wheel will relieve the interference between the bolt and shoulder on the shaft it sounds to me like.

[markandson]

The clamp on the spline that I am referring to is on a set of yokes that is just below the steering column tube. I will see if I have a sample here at work and post a picture if I find one. If not I will do it this weekend.

[markandson]

Found an example of what I am referring to.

[tomking]

Is that a kadett steering column Jeff? If so what year? Mine are 67 and 69 and none have such a yoke at the bottom of the column. The shaft has only a cloth seal at the bottom of the column which protects a plastic bushing. No bearing at the bottom of the column, only a plastic bushing. Plus the only clamp is where the shaft couples into the steering rack.

[opelspyder]

The Kadett has a (ragjoint) there, whereas the GT has the u-joint. I think the GT on certain years had a ragjoint down on the lower joint at the rack and pinion. Basically it is a flange with thick rubber cloth piece rivited to it, then it bolts to the opposite flange. If I think about it I have a 69 column from a kadett out of the car and one in the car I could try to get a picture of. May not get time this weekend
Keith

[markandson]

Originally Posted by tomking Is that a kadett steering column Jeff? If so what year? Mine are 67 and 69 and none have such a yoke at the bottom of the column. The shaft has only a cloth seal at the bottom of the column which protects a plastic bushing. No bearing at the bottom of the column, only a plastic bushing. Plus the only clamp is where the shaft couples into the steering rack.

NO, it is a GT steering column, probably a '73, not sure, have taken apart too many cars and don't know which one it came out of.

[Killer Texas GT]

This is what a Kadett Steering Column assembly looks like. Tom I will send you a zip of 8 pages that cover the column, if you need the Steering Gear Assembly and Steering linkage I will have can that for you Saturday night or Sunday. This is from the OPEL KADETT SERVICE MANUAL that the dealerships used back in 'them thar' days'.

currently for what ever reason can not upload a file. or send this to an admistrator even,(Gary)

Invalid Post specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator

[tomking]

Rodney why dont you email the info to me then at tomking2(at)mchsi.com and thanks.
Here is a picture of my column. All three are the same in that there is a felt seal at the bottom of the tube and no clamp. The only clamp is where the shaft clamps into the steering rack, not shown of course. I dont have a program to draw on pictures so I will just describe. The first picture shows the bottom part of the column tube with shaft extending out. At the bottom of the tube is a felt seal. Also on the shaft at this location is a plastic bushing. The bolt in question is shown in the middle of the second picture and has the locking tab washer with it.
What Rodney indicated will, upon installation keep the bolt from rubbing against the shoulder on the steering shaft. If this is not done, meaning pushing down on the steering wheel and clamping shaft into steering rack, then metal to metal contact will cause this retaining bolt to be ground down.

[Killer Texas GT]

Tom just sent you a zip file on the column if you need the rack and suspension info let me know. Also I will down load the same file in the tech data base for others to access.

[Killer Texas GT]

tom tried several times now to send you pages even one at a time, and tried loading here,no luck. I will keep trying though.

[tomking]

Rodney what is the error message you get? Is my email blocking you or your system the problem? try this address then. tom_king(at)tamko.com
Thanks.