Tilt colum binding

[venom]

Hey guys, I've come across an issue with my steering column and I'm not sure what's going on. It went from fine to bad in a matter of minutes.

I got my CJ running again, after sitting for a few months, and after driving it a couple times I brought it home and couldn't get the key to turn off. It seemed like the lock cylinder froze. I ended up stalling it to kill it and disconnected the batter. The key was still in the "run" position.

I bought a new lock cylinder and pulled the steering wheel. That's when I noticed that it was harder to turn and that the tilt function seemed to be bound up a little. Once I got the wheel off and the old lock cylinder out I could feel that the tilt was even stiffer. I haven't completely put it back together yet because I'm not sure if there's anything I should look at before I do. I just don't know what, beyond the turn signal wiring, might be causing it, or if I'm overreacting.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Jeepster304]

Can you feel the spring working normally? When I pull on my tilt adjustment lever the spring pushes (rotates) the shaft upward toward the windshield naturally. Maybe something has gotten caught with that. Mine is very stiff, but in a good way such that there is no play in the joint once you have selected your setting.

The other thing could be the "push" in the column body. Have you recently replaced the shaft between the steering box and the column output from the firewall? If you have or if you haven't, the shaft that goes into the firewall has some ability to move inward or outward. Mine has about 1/8", and it is a strange motion, almost like a hydraulic piston where there is lots of resistance, but it is smooth and heavy. If the body of your jeep shifted relative to the frame it could have pushed into (or maybe pulled outward) and be causing extra tension/friction on your tilt assembly.

 

[Patrick]

My advice is to leave that job to a reputable old school 70’s 80’s 90’s locksmith. Those columns have parts that wear out like fatiguing springs and mechanisms. I know because my uncles did this and had a stock of replacement parts and specialty tools. Replace the turn signal switch while you are at it.

On another note, the collapsible steering shaft must absorb axial movements before pushing the column shaft. If this is not happening, you are in imminent danger during a frontal crash.

 

[mitchelllogic]

Same problem on mine. Bought a donor column and stripped it for parts.
Pulled the column apart and cleaned/inspected everything.
The nice shiny big Spring you see in the photo came out looking like a dog turd.
These columns can get very dirty inside.
The tilt ball and socket was filthy.
There was a small spring steel part all bent up jamming the works.
I chose to wire brush the column and clear coat it.
Good luck.

It's worth the teardown and rebuild by the way. She drives like 1 day off the factory floor now.

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