loose steering wheel

greensmurf20 · 06-21-2003

i know i can't drive the car yet for a couple weeks but there is always something that bothers me that i think needs fixing. my whole steering wheel seems loose, inside the column. my steering is tight in the front end but i am able to move the steering wheel in any direction, up, down, sidways...ect, about one half inch. is there a bearing or something in there that decided to give out years ago or any other ideas....? thanks in advance for any help!!!

opelbits · 06-22-2003

Could be a couple things, there is a bearing at the bottom of the steering column that is secured by a couple of screws, they may be loose. There is a coupling down there, also, a u-joint on the splined steering shaft end, check that the joint and pinch bolts are ok. And the most probable, at the top of the steering column, just underneath the steering wheel hub, is a brass(?) sleeve that locates things. If it is not seated right, you will have slop. And you will need to pull the hub to get at it

. But it is a good time to inspect the problem areas in the steering column, too, such as the turn signal lever mounting boss on the turn signal ring. These tend to fail and break off.

greensmurf20 · 06-22-2003

well that little brass thing you refer to.....i belive thats what is laying in my glove box!!! its been a while since i tore the column apart*december* so i'm gonna have to figure out where it goes now. i hate to admit it, but i did take the column apart and i never put that back thinking it was just a contact for the horn. it was messed up, the brass plate was ripped so i thought it would catch on some contacts for the horn or something and now i can't remember where it goes....anybody know?

opelbits · 06-22-2003

It should be a sleeve about an inch long x an inch or so in diameter with a slight flare on one end. This description is not to be trusted, it's been awhile.

It slides in below the steering wheel hub and ignition switch/turn signal assembly.

Anybody have a pic or a scan of the parts book page?

RICHARD · 06-22-2003

I have the Opel illustrated parts breakdown books and the factory manuals. Can make hard copies of the pages you need and snail male them to you.
or try to explain it in this forum.

greensmurf20 · 06-22-2003

richard, either way would be greatly appreciated. i tried to find that plastic piece witht he brass but its now lost!!! i better tryto find one of them sometime or another, once i get some of my bigger problems straightened out.

greensmurf20 · 07-19-2003

went to the junkyard and stole a whole D*** steering column out of a 72 GT. *looks familiar to the one i stripped out and took to them...?*thanks opelbits, i put in a junk sloppy bearing, but has a good copper colar on it, and it took alot of the slop out of the wheel, i can live with it now. i did discover the horn button was lying in the bottom of the column, half ground up and in need of one of those now, along with 2 12 volt horns since they caught on fire.......LOL

greensmurf20 · 07-20-2003

if your talking abotu that rubber thing that goes around the steering shaft and the firewall, well thats gone too. LOL

06-21-2003	#1 (permalink)
greensmurf20 OPEL-LESS!!! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gobles michigan 49055 Posts: 2,112	Unanswered: loose steering wheel i know i can't drive the car yet for a couple weeks but there is always something that bothers me that i think needs fixing. my whole steering wheel seems loose, inside the column. my steering is tight in the front end but i am able to move the steering wheel in any direction, up, down, sidways...ect, about one half inch. is there a bearing or something in there that decided to give out years ago or any other ideas....? thanks in advance for any help!!! __________________ previousely owned 8 GTs and 1 manta. currently own 92 25th anniversary Z28. Ttop, 350, T56 swap, many upgrades, basically a complete restore. 67 chevy sportvan deluxe....next in line.

06-22-2003	#2 (permalink)
opelbits Detritus Maximus Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: St. Louis MO Posts: 1,160 Provided Answers: 1	Could be a couple things, there is a bearing at the bottom of the steering column that is secured by a couple of screws, they may be loose. There is a coupling down there, also, a u-joint on the splined steering shaft end, check that the joint and pinch bolts are ok. And the most probable, at the top of the steering column, just underneath the steering wheel hub, is a brass(?) sleeve that locates things. If it is not seated right, you will have slop. And you will need to pull the hub to get at it . But it is a good time to inspect the problem areas in the steering column, too, such as the turn signal lever mounting boss on the turn signal ring. These tend to fail and break off. __________________ "No, it's not fiberglass." "No, the motor is not in the back." "No, your friend in high school did not 'peg' his speedometer."

06-22-2003	#3 (permalink)
greensmurf20 OPEL-LESS!!! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gobles michigan 49055 Posts: 2,112	well that little brass thing you refer to.....i belive thats what is laying in my glove box!!! its been a while since i tore the column apartdecember so i'm gonna have to figure out where it goes now. i hate to admit it, but i did take the column apart and i never put that back thinking it was just a contact for the horn. it was messed up, the brass plate was ripped so i thought it would catch on some contacts for the horn or something and now i can't remember where it goes....anybody know? __________________ previousely owned 8 GTs and 1 manta. currently own 92 25th anniversary Z28. Ttop, 350, T56 swap, many upgrades, basically a complete restore. 67 chevy sportvan deluxe....next in line.

06-22-2003	#4 (permalink)
opelbits Detritus Maximus Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: St. Louis MO Posts: 1,160 Provided Answers: 1	It should be a sleeve about an inch long x an inch or so in diameter with a slight flare on one end. This description is not to be trusted, it's been awhile. It slides in below the steering wheel hub and ignition switch/turn signal assembly. Anybody have a pic or a scan of the parts book page? __________________ "No, it's not fiberglass." "No, the motor is not in the back." "No, your friend in high school did not 'peg' his speedometer."

06-22-2003	#6 (permalink)
greensmurf20 OPEL-LESS!!! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gobles michigan 49055 Posts: 2,112	richard, either way would be greatly appreciated. i tried to find that plastic piece witht he brass but its now lost!!! i better tryto find one of them sometime or another, once i get some of my bigger problems straightened out. __________________ previousely owned 8 GTs and 1 manta. currently own 92 25th anniversary Z28. Ttop, 350, T56 swap, many upgrades, basically a complete restore. 67 chevy sportvan deluxe....next in line.

06-22-2003	#5 (permalink)
RICHARD Opeler Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Lebanon, Maine Posts: 8	I have the Opel illustrated parts breakdown books and the factory manuals. Can make hard copies of the pages you need and snail male them to you. or try to explain it in this forum.

07-19-2003	#7 (permalink)
greensmurf20 OPEL-LESS!!! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gobles michigan 49055 Posts: 2,112	went to the junkyard and stole a whole D*** steering column out of a 72 GT. looks familiar to the one i stripped out and took to them...?thanks opelbits, i put in a junk sloppy bearing, but has a good copper colar on it, and it took alot of the slop out of the wheel, i can live with it now. i did discover the horn button was lying in the bottom of the column, half ground up and in need of one of those now, along with 2 12 volt horns since they caught on fire.......LOL __________________ previousely owned 8 GTs and 1 manta. currently own 92 25th anniversary Z28. Ttop, 350, T56 swap, many upgrades, basically a complete restore. 67 chevy sportvan deluxe....next in line.

07-20-2003	#8 (permalink)
greensmurf20 OPEL-LESS!!! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gobles michigan 49055 Posts: 2,112	if your talking abotu that rubber thing that goes around the steering shaft and the firewall, well thats gone too. LOL __________________ previousely owned 8 GTs and 1 manta. currently own 92 25th anniversary Z28. Ttop, 350, T56 swap, many upgrades, basically a complete restore. 67 chevy sportvan deluxe....next in line.

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