I'm working on the '92 Cherokee trying to fix the loose steering
column/tilt wheel. You guys were right - it's amazingly hard to get to
those three bolts to tighten the tilt wheel. I have the steering wheel
off, now I'm staring at the steering-wheel-ignition-lock-thingy - the
gear that locks the steering wheel when you turn off the ignition.
There is a snap ring holding the gear on that I can't get off, although
maybe I'm just not trying hard enough. Do I need to keep going
straight through here or do I need to be pulling the plastic housing
from around the steering column?

Pictures of what I'm looking at:
http://s143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/gmergner/

Dunno `bout your `92 but earlier GM locking columns required the used of a
lock plate tool. It threads onto the steering shaft and presses the plate
downward to relieve pressure on the lock ring. Trying to do it without
the tool is simply madness. You should be able to rent one for free (or
nearly so) from an autoparts chain store. Beware that at some point GM
changed from SAE to metric threads on the shaft.


On Thu, 28 Dec 2006, The Merg wrote:

--
"I defer to your plainly more vivid memories of topless women with
whips....r"
R. H. Draney recalls AFU in the Good Old Days.

That would certainly make sense. This'll give me an opportunity to
check out the new Auto Zone down the street.

Lee Ayrton wrote:

http://www.fieros.de/en/articles/steering.html
http://www.chevyasylum.com/column/tiltcol.html
God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
mailto:LWHughes3rd (AT) aol (DOT) com http://www.billhughes.com/

The Merg wrote:

Thanks Bill, you're the man.


L.W.(Bill) Hughes III wrote:

Thanks Bill, you're the man.


L.W.(Bill) Hughes III wrote:

I simply take my left hand, compress the plate, then pick the snap ring off
with a pick or tiny screwdriver.
Takes about 15 seconds.
Spdloader



"The Merg" <greg.mergner (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote

I'm a pretty big guy, and I was pretty sure there was no way I could
compress the plate by hand - but I'll try it again tomorrow before I
head to Big Chain Auto.


Spdloader wrote:

.....you can use both thumbs, push down on the plate from both sides where
the shaft comes through, then hold it with one hand or the other while you
pick the snap ring off.
I thought I had pretty strong hands, until I saw a man that changes
serpentine belts with his hands.

Spdloader





"The Merg" <greg.mergner (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote

Ha. Not all of us have a vice on the end of each arm. I'm envious.




On Thu, 28 Dec 2006, Spdloader wrote:

--
"I defer to your plainly more vivid memories of topless women with
whips....r"
R. H. Draney recalls AFU in the Good Old Days.