Does anyone know the model year cross applications for a '94 steering
column? I figure there's a fairly wide range that will physically fit,
but I am concerned about the electrical connections matching. Anyone
have any experience with that problem? Thanks!

-Rich

"Rick" <rickyraccoon (AT) yifan (DOT) net> wrote

Can one ask why you want to replace it? There may be an easier way
is why I ask.
Whitelightning

AH.... I almost forgot I posted this (work long hours!)

You may ask! Is broke. Really, really broken. The esteemed spouse,
whose truck it is, was in the habit of using it as an entry grab handle.
Over many years. Eventually the tilt mechanism seemed very loose,
then finally the whole upper column moves around with the steering
wheel. With the tilt pulled all the way down, you can see what appears
to be torn metal around or just past the tilt pivot point. Torn, rent,
cracked and bent, whatever you want to call it, it don't look like it
was meant to be that way. Also doesn't look like a simple case of
loosened bolts or something. I started to take the whole thing apart,
got about as far as I cared to with it, it's already apart enough that
I'm not so sure about getting it back together anyway. I'm not even
sure I can get all the way down to where it is, and I suspect from the
damage I can see that it'd just be way, way easier to replace the whole
damn thing, since it looks like I'd need part of another column anyway.
When a Pull-A-Part location gets an appropriate model year in, I can
get one quite cheap compared to the usual used prices. BUT.... the
B'ham yard, closest to me, has nothing close to '94 in inventory right
now, and if I drive to Atl. or Nashville for a model CLOSE in year to
'94, like '93, I'd like to know I'm not making a long trip for nothing.
Yes, even with gas money I'd be better off driving a distance rather
than paying close to $200 for one already pulled at a junkyard.
Steering column with tilt from them is a tad over $40 incl. core charge
and optional warranty. Can't beat that with a stick even if I do have
to yank it myself, big deal I'll have to pull the old one and replace it
myself anyway. And can't be worse than ripping the thing entirely apart
into little pieces just to possibly wind up scrapping the whole thing
anyway.

Rich

It isn't that hard to tighten the four screws just below the yoke in the
shaft. If you have already started tearing the column down you don't have
that much further to go. Being a front end mechanic and having done this
many times it isn't that hard. GO FOR IT!
"Rick" <rickyraccoon (AT) yifan (DOT) net> wrote

"harvey" <harvc1 (AT) bellsouth (DOT) net> wrote

Going to agree here with fix it. Pull sterring wheel, remove lock plate for
steering wheel lock, You can borrow the tool that makes it easy from most
auto parts storse for a small deposit, its held on by a small wire clip,
once the tool is in place pushing the lock plate down compressing the spring
underneath it you can get the clip out of its groove with two small screw
drivers and then slide it the rest of the way up the shaft. Remove the turn
signal arm, emergency flasher button, and then remove the screws for the
turnsignal switch. Pull the turn signal switch out of position and once
its out of the way you can useing 1/4 inch drive set you need a 1/4 six
point socket, on an 8" extension and rachet to tighen the three of the
screws that hold the tilt together, the one in the upper right you cant get
to with out taking the top collar of the column. I have found if you can
get the other three tight it works just fine.
Then tell wife not to use sterring wheel as grab handle to get in.

Whitelightning