my steering wheel is HAUNTED

[Jay B.]

I have been driving my 1964 since I purchased it in september and after a month or so I noticed that every time I get in or out the steering wheel moves in or out! In october every time I turned the horn would sound( OCTOBER-HALLOWEEN) After taking the wheel assembly apart i re-shaped the horn button and POOOF the horn was O.K. The question to you experts is What the HELL is wrong with my haunted steering wheel?????????????????


ps: not power or telescopic(BUT IS NOW)


HEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!


jay

[Bill Clupper]

Re: my steering wheel is HAUNTED

The most likely probability is a failure of the bearing at the bottom of the column. The steering shaft uses an upper and lower bearing arraingement, compressed by two springs, one fixed at the top by the location of the nut on the shaft, one with variable location at the lower end of the column, location determined by the use of a clamp on the steering shaft, just past the end of the tube. The lower bearing is exposed to engine compartment environment, and over time fails. This leaves the assembly in an uncompressed state, and is will move in and out as allowed by the "rag joint" coupling. There are other problems possible, but start wher I've described. Replacement parts are available through normal reproduction parts suppliers like Corvette Central. If the lower bearing is shot and left unattended, the housing will groove the steering shaft badly, These can be bought, but much more costly than just a bearing replacement.

[Duke W.]

Re: my steering wheel is HAUNTED

Check the steering flex coupling in the engine compartment between the steering gear assembly and column. The "tire cord" material may be deteriorated, or the pinch bolts that tie the coupling to the steering shaft and steering gear worm shaft may be loose.