gm steering column repair question

Mid 80s style GM tilt column,
Column is out of car
key is missing
lock cylinder is broken
Something (not the key) is jambed it the key hole.


Is there any way to remove the lock cylinder without destroying the column ?

Changing the cylinder is about a 3 min job with the key.

Thought about taking it up to a lock smith but I can't get the junk out of the hole. And I haven't got a clue what they might charge. If it were too much , this wouldn't be a good deal.

Thanks

 

Kind of a pain but yes you can pull by going at it from the steering wheel on in. Wheel has to be pulled, locking ring , directional switch moved and so on. If I remember right theres a detent that has to be pushed in to remove the cylinder.

 

What mil said.
I've never used the key method to replace them.

 

Cool,
Is this in a manual someplace?
Ive done turn signal switches but not any deeper

 

follow this until the turn signal switch is loose and you can peel it out of the way, then stop there:
http://www.elcaminocentral.com/showthread.php?t=27192

Then pull the buzzer switch w/ small needle nose pliers
and a torx bolt
and the cylinder comes out.
If you have the puller and lock-plate tool, it's not bad at all. It's possible to lever the lock-plate down using the underside of the nut but if you're not tricky ****y, just buy the tool.

 

not a problem for anyone who fixed cars in the 90s....when you get the lock out, you're about a quarter of the way to getting it apart enough to tighten the 4 screws that hold the tilt mechanism to the mast jacket. So you might as well go all the way, and use loc***e on those 4 screws.

 

http://www.chevyasylum.com/column/tiltcol.html

 

Wow!

Thanks guys

 

Good call Jim. They do tend to come loose.

 

Not too hard after you've done a few and have the right tools but I always hated that job.

 

Wheel off , lock plate off, one bolt holds the thing in. Not hard. The last one I did on the curb in front of my house, before I packed it up to ship to the eBay buyer.