Advice required - Steering wheel loose after changing barrel

oz camino

Hi All

Been working away on my 78 elc and part of the work required the auto elec to work on some of the gauges.
Well while here was working on it, the key/barrel jamed on. Subsequently he pulled apart the column and removed the barrel. packed up and left.

My Elc has a tilt column but I had not used it as the handle was missing and after reading the issues with tilts i thought better to leave it as it is. the auto elec in his infinite wisdom screwed a bolt in and started moving up and down

The barrel was repaired, popped back in with no problems now I have spent most of today finding where all the bits go ( as i did not pull it apart it was a little difficult) and how to put it back together.
Once I manged to get most of it back I noticed that the main shaft had a bit of play this was confirmed when I replaced the steering wheel.

The wheel ( not body of tilt ) has play up down and left right about 3 or 4 mm. Actually feel pretty dangerous.

I have searched and read the articles on column repair, but is this a tilt problem, or does it sound like I have left something out, put it in back front or something like that (possible for me)

Or is this now a classic tilt problem and i need to pull the whole column apart?

Cheers
Oz c
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71 El Camino super charged 454 (sold)
78 Black Knight (on the road)

acauth1 · Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:53 pm Post subject:

Something was left out, worn, or installed wrong. Sounds like an upper shaft bearing and or race. Use the photos in this article as a guide:

http://elcaminocentral.com/article-95-thread-1-1.html
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El Camino Central Founder/AdministratorAuto A/C & Electrical Shop Owner, ASE Master

oz camino · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 1:52 am Post subject:

Cheers acauth1

So looking forward to getting back into the steering column... NOT

Well will leave it for tomorrow night as i have been in there flat out last night and today. Might be a bit more focused once I get a break.

Cheers again I will let you know what i find.

Oz c
_________________
71 El Camino super charged 454 (sold)
78 Black Knight (on the road)

oz camino · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:47 pm Post subject:

Got to love the steering column.
Tackled it twice before thinking how helpful it would be to have another set of hands and an extra brain.

Managed to find the problem, It was the first bearing race cup/insert not around the right way, I think the auto elec must have slipped it back the wrong way. So on the third go with some help i got it.

Picture show the insert and what was actual moving as it was not the tilt casing but the actual shaft and by a lot, was also moving in and out by about 15 to 20 mm.

Again thanks for you advice.
Oz C
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71 El Camino super charged 454 (sold)
78 Black Knight (on the road)