Wobbly Steering Column

[KeppelmanJ]

On an '81 coupe, without undue force, the steering wheel will move 1/2" side to side and at least 3/8" up and down. I've removed the plastic shroud on the underside and the movememt seems to be at the height adjusting joint. I've heard of the sheet metal bracing there cracking, but it seems more likely to me from the way it moves that the packing in that joint is breaking down somewhere allowing for slop. It's not obvious to me how to venture further toward the joint from the underside. The factory shop manual describes an approach first pulling the instrument cluster which seems involved. My sense is that you could drive this car wirth the whole steering assembly in your lap so I don't feel a great urgency about this, but winter might be a good time to deal with it. Anyone delt with a wobbly steeing columm?

[Jim Keller]

Easy fix, with your lower colum cover off, find the 4 bolts that hold the colum to the bracket around the turn signal switch, snug those up, they come lose all the time, be VERY carefull, the studs are VERY soft and will twist off easily, (BTDT), and that could in fact be your problem, maybe one or more of them are broken, if so, drill through the bracket and use a nut/bolt/lock washer set up, that will lock it down. You can also tighten up the nut on the tilt handle to make that more solid too. You will never get all the movement out, but it should be pretty firm all the same. Watch the wiring when drilling, you can move it out of the way, there are metal tabs that hold the wiring in place you may need to bend away to get enough room to work

Hope that helps! ;D

[KeppelmanJ]

Hmmm. Thanks, Jim. Didn't suspect that cause at all. I've printed your description and will take a look this weekend and see if that's the cause. I've been afraid it was up in the height adjustment mechanism or the sheet metal around that. Coincidentally, I found that one of the shroud screws was put right through the ignition wires in the factory assembly, apparently to no effect 'cause all of that's plastic and non-conductive. Italians are great at design but not so great at follow through, I think. -John

[Hamish]

Jim is spot on - had the same thing happen in a S1 HPE. Focuses the mind a tad :o