The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network - View Single Post - 1989 burb: the dreaded WOBBLY STEERING COLUMN

**buffydores** · 03-27-2021, 08:59 AM

I also got the non-threaded bolt version of a puller for removing the plate. https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-57340-S...6848732&sr=8-3

A couple of tips while working through the column:

1. You'll probably want to unclip the wiring harness for the steering column below the dash on the steering column to give it enough wiggle room to pull the top sections over the shaft.

2. Use a little brush to gob plenty of wheel bearing grease into the upper wheel bearings before pulling that final section off exposing the four bolts. It'll help keep them in. Once you remove the shaft spring, you'll see a preload cup that the spring sits on that wedges into the upper bearing race to keep the bearings in. The grease goes a long way in helping hold it all together. It wouldn't hurt to have a spare set of bearings handy in case things go way south.

3. When you reassemble, double check that the race is sitting correctly on the bearings or your steering wheel will wobble and you won't really be able to reset the c clip using the above puller because there won't be enough room.

4. Also keep track of the wiring harness snaking through there when you're reinstalling each section. Don't let it get bunched up.

5. Make sure the bottle opener shaped piece that connects through gearing to the ignition cylinder is connected properly to the rod that follows the steering column to the ignition switch.

6. Watch several different YouTube videos on how to do it. It helps to see different approaches.

03-27-2021, 08:59 AM	#10
buffydores Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Longview, TX Posts: 757	Re: 1989 burb: the dreaded WOBBLY STEERING COLUMN I also got the non-threaded bolt version of a puller for removing the plate. https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-57340-S...6848732&sr=8-3 A couple of tips while working through the column: 1. You'll probably want to unclip the wiring harness for the steering column below the dash on the steering column to give it enough wiggle room to pull the top sections over the shaft. 2. Use a little brush to gob plenty of wheel bearing grease into the upper wheel bearings before pulling that final section off exposing the four bolts. It'll help keep them in. Once you remove the shaft spring, you'll see a preload cup that the spring sits on that wedges into the upper bearing race to keep the bearings in. The grease goes a long way in helping hold it all together. It wouldn't hurt to have a spare set of bearings handy in case things go way south. 3. When you reassemble, double check that the race is sitting correctly on the bearings or your steering wheel will wobble and you won't really be able to reset the c clip using the above puller because there won't be enough room. 4. Also keep track of the wiring harness snaking through there when you're reinstalling each section. Don't let it get bunched up. 5. Make sure the bottle opener shaped piece that connects through gearing to the ignition cylinder is connected properly to the rod that follows the steering column to the ignition switch. 6. Watch several different YouTube videos on how to do it. It helps to see different approaches.