Tackled the wobbly steering wheel today

Like so many other Riv owners, my steering wheel has a distinct wobble that goes from northeast to southwest. Mine is bad enough to be pretty annoying. I decided to see if I could get at the problem this afternoon.

Along the bottom of the under-column cover, there are 3 smaller screws, and 2 10mm bolts, easy enough to remove. Then pulled the fuse panel cover off, breaking off the 2nd of the 2 tabs along the top edge of the cover. Shouldn't be an issue though. Inside there, removed another smaller screw that attaches a couple brackets together, from the lower cover, and the upper dash. Also removed a 10mm bolt that attaches another bracket, into the dash.

At this point, the cover is about ready to fall off. Only problem is, I can't locate what's holding it on at the upper passenger side corner of the cover. I was able to pry and lift up the inst cluster faceplate and actually get a couple fingers in there, but couldn't feel or spot another screw or bolt to remove. I also pulled and twisted as much as I dared to, in case it was just a push-in fastener like the fuse panel cover. No Luck Whatsoever. Now I think I've read all the posts available here and on the Regal board on this topic, but none seem to address exactly what holds this last corner on. The interior temp sensor is right there, and I'm thinking it could be part of that assy. Will have to dig into my service manuals and see if lower cover removal is addressed anywhere, or how to replace the temp sensor, maybe that will provide the answer to the last screw or bolt there. Or maybe someone who's fixed this problem can shed a little light on the attachment of the upper right corner? There was clearly just a single pivot point remaining before the column would come out, but I sure as hell couldn't locate a screw.

So I buttoned it all back up again, having run out of time to play with it today. I did finally take the time to install my new hood insulation piece, and it sure looks good compared to my dirty/faded/torn original.

can you take a picture of the part you are trying to get apart. I can't picture what you are talking about

A couple of years ago, I also tackled this project, only to have the same result. I put it back together and haven't tried since. If I remember, it seemed I couldn't get the steering column cover off without removing the dash, so I said the heck with it. During the attempt, I managed to remove a small metal slug laying in the bottom of the cover.

I would like to know more about this. Mine wobbles too, and would like to fix before winter. If I have time, might try it again.

turtleman wrote:

can you take a picture of the part you are trying to get apart. I can't picture what you are talking about

At the corner just above and to the right of the interior temp sensor, there must be a screw or bolt holding it in, just couldn't seem to locate it.




I'm not going to try again before winter. Going to dig into the service manual and maybe there will be some info. Also might stop by the dealer and ask about it, though it seems a long shot that anyone there has pulled this cover off. It's fairly easy to get the upper left side of the instrument cluster faceplate loose, w/o actually removing it, but the right side I could only lift up an inch or so, so it was tough to get at the backside of the lower cover there.

Forgot to mention, while poking around under the dash, my trunk lid popped several times. The door and remote release quit working last month. So it seems maybe there's a loose connection/wire somewhere under there. I could not figure out exactly what action was causing the lid to pop... unfortunately. I also saw a warning label under there about the air bags. Something to the effect that "probing in the wiring could result in the air bag activating". So I didn't play around in there too much.

Anyway, we'll see what the dealer has to say. Think I'm going to pick up coils today and do the wires/coils before it gets too cold. We had 37deg at 6am.

The parts mgr printed me a parts breakdown of the steering column, hoping we could identify this "pin" that is causing this problem for everyone. I couldn't really tell though, not knowing just where it is located. BUT, while looking at the printout, it occurred to me that I may have been trying to remove more than I needed to. Is it just the smaller hard plastic cover directly under the column that needs to come out? That's what I'm thinking now, while I was trying to pull the entire big lower dash trim piece out instead. Crap, maybe I'll try again this afternoon or Friday.