Universal Tilt Steering Column Disassembly

[TLC76]

My 40 came down for a hard landing in gusty winds, and my death grip on the wheel caused the tilting mechanism inside to break. I've got it apart far enough to see that one of the teeth that locks the positions broke off. I want to just fix the column (it always had more play than I liked anyway) by either running a fastener in or welding, but I can't figure out how to get the rear cup (non moving part of column) off. I can rotate it about 180 degrees either direction. Before I break it too, anyone here have any idea how that comes apart? I can't find anything online.

 

[Tin basher]

Does column have ignition on it or not
If it is on column try google a 76 chev pick up tilt
If ignition is on dash try a 72 chevy pick up
Most aftermarket columns are based of the gm column
And use same parts and assembly methods hope this helps you
Looking at picture looks like the pivot pins are still in it
There is a special tool to pull them
But you can get them out by threading a machine screw in the threads inside pins
Through a socket that is bigger than the pin tighten screws and pin will pull out

 

[TLC76]

The ignition is not on the column, I don't actually need to take the pivot assembly apart, I just need to get the trim collar off (or slid down) do I can either screw or weld the tilitling assembly to make it a fixed column.

I will try to hunt around for some info on the '72 column.

 

[Tin basher]

You need to get the tilt of to remove the lower bell
And don't think you can weld it easily its all pot metal

 

[TLC76]

I need the bell off to fasten the tilt into place on the fixed part, if it's all pot metal I'll probably just do a roll pin or drill and tap. I just dont want to destroy the bell and I can't figure out (or see) how it attaches.

 

[Tin basher]

See the round pin in the middle just above the bell that's the pivot
You could drill a hole closer to the wheel on both sides of colum
Into the inner pivot and thread a bolt in either side to stop the pivot
This is the exact reason I hate tilt wheels in 4x4s
Everybody grabs the steering wheel getting in and out
I would look at pining the colum as a temporary repair
I would look around for a non tilt colum to put in it
For Next time it breaks
Drilling it is going to make it weaker
Think the 67 to 72 chevy. Truck would be easiest to make work
I'm sure your truck is rewired to the gm turn signals
And I'm pretty shure the bell is held on by three screws under neath the pivot
The bell is the last piece to come off the colum

 

[TLC76]

It wasn't the getting in and out, it was the death grip on the wheel when I came down for a hard landing after hitting some whoops too fast. I'll try to pin it as best I can with the bell on, and if/when that breaks I'll get a non tilt. Some suspension work would help too...

 

[TLC76]

Well, I had emailed Summit regarding this, and rather than answer my question they offered to send me a new one. I asked for a fixed column, so they are going to send me an Ididit unit no charge. Gotta give credit where credit is due... (This was out of warranty I am sure).

 

[Tin basher]

Wow nice to hear a company stand behind there stuff like that

 

[TLC76]

The first two columns I got from them had problems of their own right out of the box, as soon as I let them know they would ship me another before I even returned the faulty one. They are very good about returns.