Saganaw tilt column

I have an old chevy saganaw tilt column. Any of you have completly tore one down? I need to replace tge pot metal rack

 

Been a while since I’ve busted some apart and reassembled them.

 

I'd have to go out and take one apart to remember how to change out that piece. I used to have a bunch of those columns laying around out in the shed but think I hauled them all off in a scrap load.

Step one is to set the wheel so the column is straight and not tilted one way or the other.
I'm thinking that when you take the lock cylinder out and take the igniton switch off down on the column that that piece and the rod just pull out the top. I'll go look and see if I have one left out there that I can look at.

 

I appreciate that. I was thinking you have to remove the tilt pins and remove that section to access th.at part. You mention the key tumbler, does that have to be removed or can i leave it in,

 

@johnfin
Just did one yesterday
To get the 2 pins out , one each side of tilt . Lower / upper Like the hing point?
This will separate lower half of the column from the upper half / tilt.

There should be threads #8 Machine
I screwed long bolt / screw in with nut & washer , I then tighten nut down with
1/2 open wrench laying over pins
Tighten nut down witch it pulled the pressed pin's out,
When putting back in I used small bass jeweler hammer to tap back in place

 

Here is a printed version of the process. Don't need any special tools, just carefully follow the steps. those buried tilt bracket bolts are always the culprit to a malfunctioning column. Dig down to them, LokTite them to death and you are good!!

 

My ignition switch rod tip looks different then the one in the article. How does the rack actuator lock into the rod tip. Does tilt and pins have to come apart to connect the rod to the rack? Dormans sells the pot metal rack piece so i assume it is easy to replace.

 

Also, the article shows the housing cutaway. I dont have that luxury. I need to see what iam doing.

 

Is that the Lock for steering wheel when ignition off key out?
If so Yes , it's design to come in through the backside towards the steering wheel.
I'm thinking the reason why making it harder for a person to steal the vehicle even if they remove the steering wheel

 

Oh, I did quite a few of those tilt pins and other repairs in those! I even have the little special tool to pull them. But there is no way I could write out each and every step to R&I from memory. Just know that you will have a huge assortment of tools laying around and a lot of parts to get there.
Steering wheel puller, the lock plate compressor to pull the snap ring, and lots more.
Watch the video posted, and there are probably more. Once you feel like you can at least back out if needed, go in!

 

Its not the steering wheel lock, its the rod for the ignition switch.

 

ps I love the video at 22:19 when he pulls it apart and parts go flying. OMG

 

When I was at my best 30 years ago I could disassemble, replace the shift bowl, install a rack repair kit and upper bowl in less than 5 minutes without removing the column from the car. But back then I was doing 4-5 columns a day on recovered thefts.

 

In the assembly video he shows the connection of the rack to rod. My rod came out assembled so why cant it go back in assembled? Be nice if the cover had an access cover or could be pulled back. Mine does not.

 

Here is another pic from a video. Does the tilt pin go thru the rack piece?

 

If tilt pin not Taped to jack out ,
Center punch , then tap to #6 or #8
Machine screw , My post #6 is how I pulled pins out,
It took me 3hrs start to finish , column was in vehicle , took little time to look @ wear patterns to figure out how to install some of the parts

 

Be sure to get the same exact parts as removed.
Th

There are different racks, gears and shaft etc.
Not all the same as many parts suppliers will lead you to believe.
I get my parts from Steeringcolumnservices.com

Bill

 

How is this cover held on?

 

I have noticed that there are different rod end. Some have a wing piece on the tip. Anyone notice this?

 

According to steeringcolumnservices.com, that is a mid 1980s column with that type of actuator rod.
If you go to their website, every part has photos to identify what style you have, to get what you need to repair.

Bill

 

Thats a bit of a stretch of imagination of 5 minutes.
Takes longer than 5 minutes just to R&I the horn pad and steering wheel, not to mention R&I the turn signal switch to access the lock housing and then the shift bowl.
Then also having to repair all the other damage the thief did to the column.

Non tilt columns are easier and faster to repair.
But on tilt and tilt-tele columns the steering shaft has to be removed to disassemble, which can many times add a lot more time to the project.

Bill

 

Nope! I was timed. And air tools were involved.