Pennock's Fiero Forum
  Technical Discussion & Questions - Archive
  My steering wheel is looser than a cheap ghetto prostitute

T H I S   I S   A N   A R C H I V E D   T O P I C
  

Email This Page to Someone! | Printable Version


My steering wheel is looser than a cheap ghetto prostitute by blakeinspace
Started on: 03-04-2002 07:02 PM
Replies: 17
Last post by: 87GTZ34 on 03-05-2002 08:52 PM
blakeinspace
Member
Posts: 5923
From: Fort Worth, Texas
Registered: Dec 2001


Feedback score:    (10)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 120
Rate this member

Report this Post03-04-2002 07:02 PM Click Here to See the Profile for blakeinspaceSend a Private Message to blakeinspaceDirect Link to This Post
No offense meant to those who are prostitutes or support that fine profession.

Furthermore, I honestly do not know exactly how 'loose' a ghetto prostitute is, but believe me, if you took hold of my wheel, you might think the same.

Now on to my problem... I have noticed a substantial deterioration in the tightness of my steering wheel lately. I had a few people at the Texas rally this weekend look at with not much help. We pulled the lower plastic cowel and made sure the 4 big bolts were tight (they were) and observed that all the sloppy play is around the first knuckle (I guess around the tilt wheel portion).

I have about 1/2 in play in all directions, and that adds up to a lot of travel if you start at the 'sloppy' bottom and move to the 'sloppy' top.

You guys have any idea of what I'm up against here? My Nissan buddy thinks it will require a lot of steering column work to get at 4 inverted torx screws that need tightening and a bunch of 'uncommon' tools needed before you expose them. But it is just us thinking out loud....

I also need to replace the Cruise stalk, so this might be a good time for that also?

If the problem gets fixed, I will post a thread about "My steering is tighter than an 18 year old virgin" or somesuch...

------------------
If life gives you lemons, squeeze the juice into a water pistol and squirt it into other peoples eyes.

IP: Logged
PFF
System Bot
Master_Sushi
Member
Posts: 1873
From: Oakville, ON
Registered: Apr 2000


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post03-04-2002 07:13 PM Click Here to See the Profile for Master_SushiSend a Private Message to Master_SushiDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
"My steering is tighter than an 18 year old virgin"

"My steering wheel is looser than a cheap ghetto prostitute"

LOL, sorry I just thought this stuff was funny. Your probably going to get seriously **tched at for posting that .

IP: Logged
SHarperFieroGT
Member
Posts: 77
From: Indiana
Registered: Dec 2001


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post03-04-2002 07:29 PM Click Here to See the Profile for SHarperFieroGTSend a Private Message to SHarperFieroGTDirect Link to This Post
I have the same problem with my steering wheel, i think its in the tilt mechanism. i did a search and found that someone else once had this problem and a reply was to look in the ogree's cave. go down to interior and click on steering wheel

from there another link takes you to another site, click articles. you should see where to go from there.

im just waiting for a nice warm day and some extra time to perform the operation on my baby. Grrr Cold Days with no garage suck!!

GoodLuck!
SHarper

IP: Logged
PBJ
Member
Posts: 4167
From: London, On., Canada
Registered: Jan 2001


Feedback score: (1)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 147
Rate this member

Report this Post03-04-2002 08:03 PM Click Here to See the Profile for PBJSend a Private Message to PBJDirect Link to This Post
Give yourselt a few hours to access and tighten the 4 tilt screws. And re assemble with high beams still.
IP: Logged
85GToronto
Member
Posts: 927
From: Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
Registered: Dec 2001


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post03-04-2002 08:29 PM Click Here to See the Profile for 85GTorontoSend a Private Message to 85GTorontoDirect Link to This Post
I could be wrong but I thing there is only 2 torks bolts, one on each side??? I've done this twice and yes you describe the exact senerio. The worst part is removing the column lock plate and yes a simple special spring compressor for this is needed to easily remove and reinstall it. There was a pretty funny thread recently about this posted by Adrift in which one member shamefully admitted he could remove the ring doing some kind of gymnastic routine while sitting in the drivers seat. I'm still waiting for pics of this cause even reading about it made me ROFLMFAO!
Its not hard to do-just be extra careful to take notes of in what order you take stuff out as it can be kinda confusing once you get in there. Its really not that hard though once that damn retaining clip/spring is off.
Search for that post and of course ogre's cave is always helpful.
IP: Logged
MaxDaemon
Member
Posts: 933
From: East Wenatchee, WA
Registered: Feb 2002


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post03-04-2002 11:18 PM Click Here to See the Profile for MaxDaemonClick Here to visit MaxDaemon's HomePageSend a Private Message to MaxDaemonDirect Link to This Post
Once upon a time, back when the world was new and I was very new to Fieros, I had that same thing happen. I actually found THE ONLY GUY IN TOWN WHO KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT IT and he took it apart and fixed it. It took him about two hours and cost me about $125 as I remember. So .. I don't know anything about the actual physical layout of what happens in there, but he told me he had to tighten the four bolts down deep inside the steering column...
IP: Logged
LT1 Chop Top
Member
Posts: 645
From: San Antonio, Texas, USA
Registered: Mar 2001


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post03-04-2002 11:22 PM Click Here to See the Profile for LT1 Chop TopSend a Private Message to LT1 Chop TopDirect Link to This Post
Blake, you crack me up!

------------------

Home Page w/ Vids : http://ucsub.colorado.edu/%7Epattons/Home15.html

IP: Logged
Nbodyraser
Member
Posts: 118
From: brighton michigan
Registered: Feb 2002


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post03-04-2002 11:23 PM Click Here to See the Profile for NbodyraserSend a Private Message to NbodyraserDirect Link to This Post
steering columns and especialy tilt columns should be left to experianced shade tree or a cert. pro!!!!!!there tough but not to bad but if youre not very mech inclined .....beware!

------------------
fun is rowin throo my 5-speed

IP: Logged
Wade87GT
Member
Posts: 421
From: Niceville, FL. USA
Registered: Nov 1999


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post03-05-2002 12:57 AM Click Here to See the Profile for Wade87GTSend a Private Message to Wade87GTDirect Link to This Post
I had the same problem. I took my car to a local shop and they said it was a common GM problem. For a few bills and a couple of hours now it's better than it was 150,000 miles ago.
IP: Logged
maryjane
Member
Posts: 69835
From: Copperas Cove Texas
Registered: Apr 2001


Feedback score: (4)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 441
Rate this member

Report this Post03-05-2002 04:42 AM Click Here to See the Profile for maryjaneSend a Private Message to maryjaneDirect Link to This Post
Blakeinspace,
Go to http://www.angelfire.com/biz/fierosails/info.html. Scroll down to illustrated steering column removal/tightening. It will tell you how to do it. Most of us don't take it all the way apart. Just disassemble far enough to see 3 out of 4 bolts. Good luck.
I don't know why that link won't work, maybe you can't link to angelfire pages. It's called 'Fiero Secrets', if you can find it in a search. It shows step by step -illustrated, instructions on the dissasembly of the column. You do not have to take the column out, as it is described in the article. The loose str wheel is real common, both my Fiero and Jeep Cherokee have suffered this malady. Just locktite the torx screws back in, good as new.
Here are the screws that are causing the problem plucked from that page "like ticks off a hound dog")

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 03-05-2002).]

IP: Logged
revin
Member
Posts: 8684
From: Pville, TX
Registered: Aug 2001


Feedback score:    (10)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 234
Rate this member

Report this Post03-05-2002 09:29 AM Click Here to See the Profile for revinSend a Private Message to revinDirect Link to This Post
And I thought blake was just drunk or high while he was crusing down the road in Austin!! ha ha My bad ! real steering prob.
hummmmm I wonder if cookie crumbs got stuck in there and roted the greese away????
IP: Logged
PFF
System Bot
FieroJoe
Member
Posts: 2314
From: Southfield, MI
Registered: Nov 2000


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post03-05-2002 12:15 PM Click Here to See the Profile for FieroJoeSend a Private Message to FieroJoeDirect Link to This Post
Damn! What size torx bit would that be, like a E80?!?

The only inverted torx I've had to use was an E7 for my saturn exhaust manifold studs, those are huge, or the picture is just very close.

IP: Logged
blakeinspace
Member
Posts: 5923
From: Fort Worth, Texas
Registered: Dec 2001


Feedback score:    (10)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 120
Rate this member

Report this Post03-05-2002 01:05 PM Click Here to See the Profile for blakeinspaceSend a Private Message to blakeinspaceDirect Link to This Post
maryjane... we missed you this weekend!

thanks for the link, it will work if you remove the '.' from the end of the url.

I'd like to find that thread of contortionist steering wheel repair... should be good for a laugh!

-edit- for sushi comment

And master sushi....
I thought I might get some flak... but I also thought I'd get some laughs and replies too! And I think I had something else on my brain other than steering wheels at the time, and notice! I did put 2 anti-flaming comments at the start of my thread. So at least I used protection with the whole prostitute thing

[This message has been edited by blakeinspace (edited 03-05-2002).]

IP: Logged
thomas_l
Member
Posts: 1197
From: Alpharetta, GA, US
Registered: Apr 2001


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post03-05-2002 03:52 PM Click Here to See the Profile for thomas_lClick Here to visit thomas_l's HomePageSend a Private Message to thomas_lDirect Link to This Post
Those 4 bolts hold the tilt knuckle to the lower column. You have to disassemble the column down to that point to have good access. Good enough to remove all 4 bolts one at a time and reinstall them with red locktite. Pay attention when you take it apart - it can quickly turn into one of those puzzles that open the gates of Hell (ala the Hellraiser movies) I have done dozens of them along with other various theft damage jobs and it's no fun.
IP: Logged
85GToronto
Member
Posts: 927
From: Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
Registered: Dec 2001


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post03-05-2002 05:31 PM Click Here to See the Profile for 85GTorontoSend a Private Message to 85GTorontoDirect Link to This Post
Interesting stuff guys, I guess the next time I have to do this I'll be looking for 2 extra bolts, I seriously only retightened the 2, hehe.

That thread about the gymnastic routine is seriously worth a laugh or two-as a matter of fact I'm going to go find it right now..... https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/017895.html
there it is...I seriously want more detail from Devotshka on that one cause that description simply leaves waaaay too much to the imagination-LOL (although the lack of information might be what makes it that much funnier)


IP: Logged
fieronv
Member
Posts: 270
From: Sparks,NV,USA
Registered: Jul 2001


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post03-05-2002 06:04 PM Click Here to See the Profile for fieronvSend a Private Message to fieronvDirect Link to This Post
GET THIS FIXED immediatly or something very bad can happen. I had the same problem in mine took to a local shop that has a GM trained mech. It took him a couple of hours to find two of the bolts, they had completly fallen out, and then put it all back together. He put locktite on the all the bolts (very good idea) and then reassembled, now the steering is very tight.

------------------

85GT (twoloud)

IP: Logged
theogre
Member
Posts: 32520
From: USA
Registered: Mar 99


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 572
Rate this member

Report this Post03-05-2002 07:34 PM Click Here to See the Profile for theogreClick Here to visit theogre's HomePageSend a Private Message to theogreDirect Link to This Post
Yes, There are notes in my cave about this with a link to Oliver's site that has the nice picture guide.

All 4 bolts need to be done. only 2 isn't good at all. two could cause the thing to come loose again or crack something.

Steering wheel and lock plate... Autozone has loaner tools for this I think. You can make a pivot pin puller if needed.

It's not super hard to fix but will eat allot of time. I've done allot of column work and mine took at least a couple hours to fix. You don't want to rush this or you'll loose or break something important.

------------------
11-Sept-01, The day the world as we knew it ended.

IP: Logged
87GTZ34
Member
Posts: 1359
From: SFL
Registered: Jun 2000


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post03-05-2002 08:52 PM Click Here to See the Profile for 87GTZ34Send a Private Message to 87GTZ34Direct Link to This Post
Never had one... Loose steering wheel I mean.
IP: Logged



All times are ET (US)

T H I S   I S   A N   A R C H I V E D   T O P I C
  

Contact Us | Back To Main Page

Advertizing on PFF | Fiero Parts Vendors
PFF Merchandise | Fiero Gallery
Real-Time Chat | Fiero Related Auctions on eBay



Copyright (c) 1999, C. Pennock