FAQ: Steering Column Slop, Problems & Replacement

Any of you guys have play in your steering wheel?

I just had mine fixed at work (I am a service mgr at a dealer)... It was a pretty big job... Had to replace a bracket and new pressed in pins... Steering column had to be removed and the whole dash face comes off.. Not fun.

But the steering is tight now. Just to let you guys know if it has to be done.

Yeah, I just noticed some play, but not like my bonnie (more when rotating the wheel a centimeter or less). The riv has play where you adjust it (up and downish) What kind of play did you have and how much $$$ to fix?

The steering wheel would go diagonal from right up to down left and felt like the tilt was loose. It you brought it to a shop it would be about $275.

Common problem, mine does the same thing, diagonal wobble, pretty pronounced. Someone here or on regalgs.org has fixed their own in recent months, sounded like kind of a PITA, but not impossible. Didn't mention replacing a bracket though... just the pin.

Yep, mine has some play...from about the one o'clock to the seven o'clock position. I think I may pay someone for that job. That looks like a PITA (I just figured out what PITA meant )

Lol.

Well it looks like mine is going to stay wobbly.

i just had to replace my whole steering column do to this problem its either a pin fell out or in my case the aluminum bracket that the pin goes through broke and it was cheaper to get a steering column from the junk yard then to buy the bracket from gm

I am starting to notice the play more now and it is bothering me. the play is in the tilt part of the colum.

you have no idea!! when i got mine, some fatbody must have used the steering wheel to get out because the tilt pivit bracket was totally broke. The only thing holding my coloum together, was the pivit ball/ knuckle joint. well after an $85.00 bracket(at wholesale price), and about 5 hours of kicking, screaming, and throwing things and tearing the coloum out, its fixed. however, i got my knuckle joint together 180 degrees off so now my steering wheel is solid, but upside down!!! and i really don't plan on ripping it apart any time soon. Anyone know of an aftermarket steering wheel hub adapter?

I have a 97 Buick Riviera. It started to get a little play in the steering. I tried reading around on the internet and read something about a pin of some sort may of came out. Well one day i got out of my car and must of pushed to much pressure on it and the steering wheel popped and now it moves up, down, sideways and everyway. I can still drive it but it has to be very dangerous. I am also wondering if the airbag could deploy. I also read that you have to be very careful while working on it, because of the airbag. Is this true? I am a woman and love my Riviera very much, purchased it off of Ebay about 3 or more years ago with 30,000 actual miles, and it has been a great car. But I not sure what is the best way and place to go about getting this fixed, and what exact parts I would need without costing me a bundle. Please be nice, and don't dog me about asking these question, just would like a little input. Thank you

zebster wrote:

I have a 97 Buick Riviera. It started to get a little play in the steering. I tried reading around on the internet and read something about a pin of some sort may of came out. Well one day i got out of my car and must of pushed to much pressure on it and the steering wheel popped and now it moves up, down, sideways and everyway. I can still drive it but it has to be very dangerous. I am also wondering if the airbag could deploy. I also read that you have to be very careful while working on it, because of the airbag. Is this true? I am a woman and love my Riviera very much, purchased it off of Ebay about 3 or more years ago with 30,000 actual miles, and it has been a great car. But I not sure what is the best way and place to go about getting this fixed, and what exact parts I would need without costing me a bundle. Please be nice, and don't dog me about asking these question, just would like a little input. Thank you

No one will dog you about ANY questions you have. Unless your Travis, we pick on him. BTW welcome to the forum. It's great to have you here. A lot of people seem to have the SW slop issue. A couple have tackled it. I don't think you are at risk of the airbag deploying unless you're in there working on it and trying to take it apart. There is a way to turn it off when you get ready to work on it. From what I've read from the guys about fixing the column, I'm going to take mine somewhere to have it worked on. It just seems like it's too much of a PITA for me to bother with.

zebster wrote:

Please be nice, and don't dog me about asking these question, just would like a little input. Thank you

Nobody will bother you about asking questions. Thats what we are here for. The only person that asks anything dumb is Travis (woops). But usually his mother will help him solve his problems.

Welcome to the forum!

Thank you all. Very nice people here! Poor Travis whoever he is. lol. I have a big feeling this is gonna be a PITA!! (figured out what that meant) So I guess I am gonna have to get someone to fix it. Pronto... Very different and scary driving a car when you can move the steering wheel where ever you want to when you are driving down the interstate. Better get it fixed. Thanks again.

NO 4 EVR wrote:

Lol.

Well it looks like mine is going to stay wobbly.

LOL.........WORD......

My Steering Wheel Is A Little Wobbly Also.........But Honestly I Don't Pay Attention To It........As Long As My Steering Wheel Doe'snt End Up Like zebster's I'm Good....

Zebster, hopefully, you have someone you can take it to that won't charge you dealer prices. We'd love to see some pics of your ride when you get a chance, and remember to say "hey" in the general welcome so peeps know you're here.

I'm starting to get a bit of a knocking sound and feel through my steering wheel over bumps. There is a bit of play in the column in all the wheel tilt angles. Do any of you guys have a knocking sound with your wheels?

No knocking on mine.

Maybe I'll have the pleasure of a massive steering rack failure at 65 mph.

Well that would keep life interesting, wouldn't it! We probably need to quit screwing around and fix this isssue before it turns into a real clusterfk.

I'd imagine it's recallable since it can be a safety issue. Does anyone have access to TSB's?

Hi again, well my husband took it apart to see what was the problem with the steering wheel and yes there was a pin missing and the housing thing where the pin goes in was broke. From all the reading about this, the best and cheapest way to go was to find a steering column from a salvage yard. Finally found one for $100 + $40 shipping. My car is a 97 and the column I bought was a 95. He got it in and hooked everything up. Everything worked (interior lights, antenna, everything electrical, batttery), but the car would not start. Any info on this?

Yes since it didn't work he tried mine from the 97. Same thing happening.

this is the culprit for the busted columns, this bracket (which allows the wheel to tilt) literally breaks in two, when too much pressure is applied. its quite a job to replace and new the bracket is close to $100. i have had my entire column out twice, so i have had experience with this. not the funnest thing in the world, but not the worst either.