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Post by KliffsAurora on Apr 29, 2008 5:26:15 GMT -6
My 95' has developed a steering wheel column issue. The column is starting to move around on me a bit when I turn the wheel. I can sit there and phyiscally move the whole steering wheel AND column up and down in with my hands. I have had issues like this in my older GM cars like my Monte Carlo and Regal but this just recently started. Is there any way to "tighten" this back up? Does it have anything to do with the tilt wheel portion of the steering column?
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Post by lynzoid on Apr 29, 2008 5:43:56 GMT -6
it's famous pivot pins...
how to fix it - you have to take all cowling off the column first:
proceed like that: (remove)
lower sound insulator (with lamp), fuel/trunk+light panels, knee bolster, then you will be able to:
take 3 'external torx' bolts from underneath the column cowling, separate upper cowl; next take out other 3 bolts from there - take off the lower cowl. note that some of the torx bolts there is very deep, so you'll need slim extensions.
now, the steering wheel pivots on 2 pivot pins, which are basically metal-on-metal bearings. the pins FALL OUT with time. you will have to find them and put them back in their holes.. but as there is metal on metal friction, you may need to create makeshift 'gasket'.. ie. take some thin tape and put some around pins, then PRESS them in the holes. taht's what i have dun and i have FIRM steering wheel now...
this is one of gm surprises =)
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Post by jason on Apr 29, 2008 10:14:26 GMT -6
Kliff a lot of us have this problem. If you get it apart please take a picture of where the pin's go so that we have a visual idea of what is going on. Thanks in advance.
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Post by KliffsAurora on Apr 29, 2008 13:26:08 GMT -6
Its added to the mega list of things this car needs.
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Post by alecbeaton on Apr 29, 2008 15:38:50 GMT -6
Mine does that too. I'm just gonna leave it, it's not that bad. And i never tilt my wheel from where i have it set anyways.
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Post by duley3 on Apr 30, 2008 6:17:17 GMT -6
I have the same problem and was getting ready to tackle it in a few days. The info above sure will help. I was going to go at it blind. BUT
Mine is going side to side (lose from 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock) Do you think it's the same pin issue?
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Post by lynzoid on Apr 30, 2008 6:24:13 GMT -6
YES ! IT IS ! dive in there and you'll see all laid bare there. again i have to press that - the design GM went for there is unbelievable. what lifespan the wanted aurora to be ? 4 years max ?? these pins are abomination.
duley, your BOTH pins FELL OUT and your wheel is now attached to column by the flex-joint. jerk it more - the joint will brake and that wont be DIY anymore.
i advise all ppl to FIX that ASAP ! it's a safety hazard
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mal
Aurora Watcher
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Post by mal on Apr 30, 2008 17:32:39 GMT -6
I had this same issue for some time. Pulled the wheel, the column covers and found the pivot pin from the right side laying in the dash. It had fallen completely out. I popped it back in and used a chisel on the edge of the hole in the column itself to prevent it from falling out again.
Mine had been moving side-to-side...
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Post by diesirae on May 1, 2008 15:49:01 GMT -6
Same issue, easy fix. Tip: You don't need reverse torx deep socket to remove the reverse torx screws. An equal sized standard deep socket will also lock onto them. Just play around with your deep socket set until you find the right one, I forget which size I used. *Edit* Really is a safety hazard, don't ignore this, it's easy to fix, fool-proof, worse you'll do is crack the cowling and it doesn't even show when it's put back together. Verses potentially losing control of the Aurora and you're left with a dead aurora, and possible a dead you.  |
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Post by jason on May 3, 2008 13:26:56 GMT -6
I fixed mine today and took some pictures.  Passenger side pin. It is threaded so I put a bolt in it so that it is easier to work with. mine had not fallen out but this one was loose.  Picture of passenger side pin removed. I attached a pair of needle nosed vice grips to the bolt and taped them with a small hammer till it popped loose.  I tried to score the pin with the dremil tool this did not work. I also tried duct tape to no avail, surprisingly super glue worked perfectly (didn't have any lok tight)  Picture of driver side pin. I don't see how this one could fall completely out as you would have to remove the cruise switch thing to get it all the way out. I did a little preventative maintenance and put a little S.G. on it as well and tapped it back in. All together it took me about an hour but if I had to do it again I think it would go quicker. |
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Post by lynzoid on May 3, 2008 17:04:20 GMT -6
good one jason ! resize pics pls
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Post by jason on May 3, 2008 17:49:36 GMT -6
I want to but don't know how.  Can I do it without rehosting? |
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Post by lynzoid on May 3, 2008 18:19:14 GMT -6
yeap, use 'messageboard size picture 640x480' from imageshack choices, or just use 'thumbnail' ones.
mate, just to clarify - you superGLUED them in ??
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Post by jason on May 3, 2008 18:39:26 GMT -6
Just re hosted, a pain but it looks much better. Yes, Super glue, it just happened to be what I had on hand at the time. I tried a couple of different things on one pic you can see where I tried Teflon tape  but Super glue worked the best. I thought for sure going in to this project that just scoring the pin would do the trick so I was a little unhappy when it didn't work but the Super glue was a very successful surprise |
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Post by lynzoid on May 3, 2008 18:41:47 GMT -6
MUCH better thanx mate !
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scottydl
Super Moderator 
There's nothin' like an American V-8...
Posts: 7,373
Staff Member
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Post by scottydl on May 3, 2008 21:39:25 GMT -6
I think we just found a new addition for the 95-99 Maintenance sticky. Thanks for the pics jason.  |
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Post by starfire on Mar 23, 2009 20:53:50 GMT -6
does anyone have know a place where i can buy either the pivot pins or a whole steering column new?
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Post by cbburtraw on Jun 13, 2009 21:18:03 GMT -6
does anyone have know a place where i can buy either the pivot pins or a whole steering column new? Dealership/ GMPartsDirect. Wouldnt bother buying a new steering column, its a lot of work to put in and worth more than the aurora is... |
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Post by tybic on Jul 14, 2010 18:52:41 GMT -6
Thanks this helped me fix mine. The pins go horizontal into the column if that helps anyone. If you removed the multi switch that controls the lights to the left of the steering wheel and your horn honks or does not work after look to see if the brass rod that points to the steering wheel, is grounding out against the steering wheel while it turns. This just happened to me and it took me a while to figure it out.
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Post by ncmike on Feb 10, 2012 23:51:51 GMT -6
Obviously someone used my steering wheel to enter and exit the vehicle! I recently bought a black on black 95 Aurora with only 74k miles that has the right pivot pin that fell out AND a broken left ear on the alum pivot bracket deep inside the column. The broken part is GM part number 26039534 and isn't available from GM anymore. Good thing is, I found a donor Aurora at my local pull-a-part yard that has a super tight column up/down and side to side that I can take apart. Does anyone know the replacement procedure for this alum bracket preferrably with pics? Is there a way to replace it WITHOUT having to remove the entire steering column? I have all 3 tools to dismantle the column and have it mostly torn down already. PLEASE HELP!
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Post by nelson480 on Feb 10, 2012 23:53:46 GMT -6
Its only like 7 bolts to remove the entire colum. And must pull a part yards will not let you take individual parts off, and rather make you buy the whole thing.
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Post by ncmike on Feb 11, 2012 0:00:21 GMT -6
Its only like 7 bolts to remove the entire colum. And must pull a part yards will not let you take individual parts off, and rather make you buy the whole thing. Okay, guess it would probably be better to swap entire column then. If so, I'd have to swap out ignition switchs because of vats key. Any idea what tool it takes to remove those tiny reverse torx screws on ignition switch wiring side? Are any of those 7 bolts your talking about under the hood?........or all accessable inside car/under dash? |
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Post by nelson480 on Feb 11, 2012 0:15:36 GMT -6
I'm not sure about bolt sizes, but you are correct about having to change the ignition lock cylinder. All the bolts are accessible with the panels removed underneath the steering column on the dash itself  |
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Post by ncmike on Feb 11, 2012 0:21:54 GMT -6
I'm not sure about bolt sizes, but you are correct about having to change the ignition lock cylinder. All the bolts are accessible with the panels removed underneath the steering column on the dash itself Thanks for your help. That pic is very helpful! So I need to remove the gauge cluster to access some of the nuts? So the column can be removed INSIDE the car, without having to go underhood? |
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Post by nelson480 on Feb 11, 2012 0:28:42 GMT -6
No, the cluster can stay. You dont have to go to the extent i did in this picture, just remove the panels on the lower part of the dash. I'm pretty sure you just pull the boot back on the firewall and the bolt to disconnect from the universal should be there.
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Post by ncmike on Feb 11, 2012 0:40:34 GMT -6
No, the cluster can stay. You dont have to go to the extent i did in this picture, just remove the panels on the lower part of the dash. I'm pretty sure you just pull the boot back on the firewall and the bolt to disconnect from the universal should be there. Is that boot on the firewall and the bolt to disconnect from the universal your talking about on the inside the car? |
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Post by nelson480 on Feb 11, 2012 0:50:53 GMT -6
Yes
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Post by ncmike on Feb 11, 2012 1:00:03 GMT -6
Okay, thanks for your help. Sounds easy enough. I'll try it tomorrow. I'd rather swap columns anyways. This way I don't have to disturb the pivot pins on the tight donor column. |
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aurora4088
Aurora Watcher
Her name is "BABY" and she eats imports alive!
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Post by aurora4088 on Mar 29, 2012 7:39:46 GMT -6
Thanks for the post. Mine has been this way for some time now. I am gonna dive into it today I already have another spare column I am gonna use for reference
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Post by bubblehead on Apr 23, 2012 16:37:18 GMT -6
I did mine over the weekend... superglue worked great, it is tight as new now. Thanks!!!!
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Can I do it without rehosting?
but Super glue worked the best. I thought for sure going in to this project that just scoring the pin would do the trick so I was a little unhappy when it didn't work but the Super glue was a very successful surprise
