79 steering column

[radman]

use a bunch of bearing grease to hold those nasty little bearing balls in place!

 

[KenB]

Well, I finally got it back together. No wobble!! And no more wander.
And I only had 3 pieces left over. For some reason, I couldn't get the lock plate down far enough to put the snap ring back. The spring was fully compressed, and could just barely see the groove. Took out the canceling doohickey for the turn signals (it was broken anyway) and that gave me the clearance. Heck, us old guys never cancel turn signals anyway .
Also had a small copper spring and a copper piece about the size of a .22 short shell casing. The copper piece was rolling around loose inside the housing when I took it apart. From what I can find, I think they're part of the horn circuit. The PO had wired the horn to a switch on the dash, so didn't bother with them.
Probably a "semi-posterior" job to some, but it beat the heck out of $300 plus for a new column.

 

[CJ]

Glad to hear that you have it together and it is working well!

Instead of taking out the 'canceling doohicky', try taking out the lock plate... Your signals will cancel but the steering wheel will turn when the key is 'off'.

As for the horn, it's a PIA to put in but not impossible... If you want to spend some time on it and rewire the horn - it's up to you...

 

[KenB]

Not sure I'd want to leave out the lock plate. First, how would I compress the spring? Second, the canceling thing is plastic (old, brittle and broken). Think the steel lock plate has a better chance of holding up.
As for the horn, only time I ever use one is for state inspection, so I can live with the dash switch.

 

[CJ]

I was just sayin' that you could leave out the lock plate for clearance...

IMHO - I would take try and replace the turn signal part... You took the rebuild this far, why scrimp...

 

[KenB]

I hear what you're saying. This was really more of a quick fix, since I figure I'll probably have to do it again, when I can locate some parts.
Not sure of the exact terms, but when I got into into it, found that about half of the housing for the bearing had been broken off. Obviously someone had been in here before, and probably tried to use something to pry out the bearing/race. That cast aluminum just wouldn't hold up to it.
I figure there's gonna be enough slop to eventually eat up the bearing. So, I guess I need a new tilt housing, if I can find one, then go through this overhaul again. I do hate to lick the same calf twice, but I'd like to have all of it working the way it's supposed to.