1964 upper steering column play

[Tim D.]

Re: 1964 upper steering column play

Wayne, thanks for all of the info and photos. I will compare mine to your measurements etc. and get back with you. Yes, I replaced the plastic cancelling cam. Everything was replaced except the actual steering shaft and the steering column tube that the shaft goes through. I do have the spacer etc installed with the lower bearing. Wow! Yours was really worn. I have always read that the lower bearing didn't last all that long back in the day. I appreciate your help big time! Thanks, Tim

[Tim D.]

Re: 1964 upper steering column play

Okay guys, spring is here. I'm back to working on my 64 restoration. I have posted several times on this issue back in the fall. After taking my steering column apart, adjusting it, studying it etc., several times, I STILL have slop/play where the steering wheel hub meets the bell shaped housing in which the turn signal switch is installed. The entire shaft, tube, bell housing etc., are tight. The movement is in the upper bearing/shaft/hub area. The lower bearing, spring, washer etc. are all new. I have pre-loaded the lower spring with a pair of vise grips etc. like the shop manual says and many of you advised. I have read many archives of guys having the same problem......most of them seem to be on 1963 models. My tube tabs at the top are not broken off and the bell housing, turn signal switch are all tight and work perfectly. I know the 63 column, tube, upper bearing/horn, wedge screw etc is different from the 64. I am fairly certain, I am missing some kind of sleeve that perhaps fits into the turn signal switch or around the shaft near the upper bearing that would take up the "slack" and eliminate the play. I have assembled the entire steering column top to bottom with parts listed in my 64 assembly manual and cross referenced them to several of the major vendors catalogs etc. Still, I am convinced I am missing a sleeve of some kind or perhaps I need the screw wedge that is suppossedly just for 63's or the sleeve that is listed for 63 cars. My 64 bell housing has the slot for the screw and wedge but I don't recall removing this many years ago when I disassembled the car. I have a friend that has a 64 and he has the screw wedge in his car. Do any of you 64 owners have the screw wedge in your car? Is there some kind of sleeve that goes inside of the turn signal housing or inside the top of the tub where it widens out near the tab ears? HOWEVER, I do have two "odd" pieces that I had in my bag of removed parts. They are a plastic "sleeve" of some kind and a spring. I am certain they came out of the car....I know they didn't fall out of my butt. I am going to post a photo of them. If anyone can identify them, your help would greatly be appreciated. I'm not certain I have found them in a parts catalog. They are a mystery for me, but somehow seem to be the missing sleeve or whatever is causing my slop/play. Was there a mid-year change or a recall for this play issue between 63 and 64? Please help! Thanks in advance, Tim

[Tim D.]

Re: 1964 upper steering column play

Here are a couple of different angles of the mystery parts that were in my disassembly bag from 20 years ago. I did not put these into the rebuilt column because the 64 assembly manual and the various vendor catalogs don't call for them. But what are they? It seems like they might take up the slack/slop/play. Tim

[Timothy B.]

Re: 1964 upper steering column play

Tim,

I have a 63 so it's different but that spring looks like it could go under the lower column bearing outside the firewall.

I can't comment on the plastic bushing except to say my brother has a 65 with provision for the wedge in the mast jacket but it's not there. Are your replacement parts reproduction??

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1964 upper steering column play

Here are a couple of different angles of the mystery parts that were in my disassembly bag from 20 years ago. I did not put these into the rebuilt column because the 64 assembly manual and the various vendor catalogs don't call for them. But what are they? It seems like they might take up the slack/slop/play. Tim

Tim -- if that coil spring has flat ends (ie. looks like it has been machined flat, not round on the final turn of each end, then (as Timothy has hinted) it goes on the bottom shaft, against the lower bearing (which is in the column seat) and the front face of the spring is held in compression by the lower column clamp. There's a dimension in the AIM for this clamp adjustment. When this spring is compressed, the effect is to pull the column forward (seating the nylon cancelling cam end firmly into the upper bearing race.

Not sure about the other part, though.

[Tim D.]

Re: 1964 upper steering column play

Tim and Wayne, thank you very much for your imput. I really appreciate your help. I have a brand new lower spring and clamp, bearing, washer, race etc. I also have it adjusted to the AIM dimenstion. Not sure, but I think the lower spring is 1-2 coils shorter than the mystery spring I have in the photo. However, the spring in the photo does have flat ends as Wayne described.

I have read and thought I followed the complete adjustment sequence in my shop manual (63 & 64 Supplement). However, I am starting to think I am doing something wrong that is keeping the upper bearing from being seated properly in the turn signal switch and therefore, allowing the slop. I am confused about how adjusting the lower spring clamp loads the upper bearing. I was reading something last night about how the hub actually helps to load the upper bearing. I'm wondering if I need to have the pinch bolt at the coupler loose while making these adjustments to obtain proper load on both bearings??? In my little pea brain, it seems to me that any time I slide the shaft and/or tube rearward that would allow the upper bearing to become unseated in the turn signal switch. Do I need to always make sure that the last movement I make is to push the shaft and or tube forward as far as possible to seat the upper bearing in the plastic turn signal switch? I really do think I have all of the parts and that they are installed correctly, but I'm somehow not adjusting it correctly to get the preload on both bearings. Any tips on sequence of adjustment? Thanks, Tim

[Dan H.]

Re: 1964 upper steering column play

Tim, I use a hose clamp below the bottom spring to 'hold' it all together while I slide the column through the firewall and into the coupler. I then move it back up enough to slip on the clamp and bolt and remove the temporary hose clamp after slipping it back into the coupler. Good luck!
Dan

[Tim D.]

Re: 1964 upper steering column play

Dan, thanks again for responding to my problem. I really appreciate your input. I am going to review the adjusting procedure and make sure I follow it step by step and see what happens. Tim

[Tim D.]

Re: 1964 upper steering column play

Well, I have identified the mystery spring in my photo. Because I was grasping at straws, just for kicks, I ordered a 63 upper bearing. It arrived today and inside of the package was the bearing, this exact spring (which is about twice as long as the lower bearing spring) and a little metal cup or race. I also ordered the 63 steering column sleeve and the 63 wedge/screw just so I could put my hands on them and check them out. Tim

[William C.]

Re: 1964 upper steering column play

You need a '64 chassis service manual (supplement to the '63 service) as the '64 up column is substantially different. Most of the difference is in the bowl area and the associated bearings at the top of the column.

[John H.]

Re: 1964 upper steering column play

perhaps I need the screw wedge that is suppossedly just for 63's or the sleeve that is listed for 63 cars. My 64 bell housing has the slot for the screw and wedge but I don't recall removing this many years ago when I disassembled the car. I have a friend that has a 64 and he has the screw wedge in his car.

Tim -

The screw and wedge for the '63 was not used in '64, although they left the provisions for it (including the screw hole) in the upper bell, making it appear that it's missing. It isn't.

[Tim D.]

Re: 1964 upper steering column play

John, thanks for clarifying that the screw and wedge were not used in 64 even though they left provisions for it in the upper bell. I was about 99% sure of that but then I had a buddy with a 64 that said his car has the screw and wedge. His car is not very correct thought so I can't rely on it. I knew it wasn't listed for 64 in my AIM and all of my parts catalogs. Tim

[Tim D.]

Re: 1964 upper steering column play

Bil, I have both the 63 shop manual and the 64 shop manual supplement. Is the 64 chassis service manual a different book? Tim

[Timothy B.]

Re: 1964 upper steering column play

Tim,

If you compare the upper bearing from 1963's column to the 64 part they are different, that 63 bearing serviced chevrolet full size cars also. I recall the spring that came with the bearing and I don't think Corvette used it in the column. If I am not correct will someone correct me..

John's right on with the wedge not being used. Are you sure the hub is sitting against the raised nubs on the mast jacket (column) and not over top. My memory recalls being able to turn the hub and it sits down further. Can you post a pic of this play at the top.

[Tim D.]

Re: 1964 upper steering column play

Hey Tim, Just so I could compare I ordered a 63 bearing and received it yesterday. I am not planning on using it, I just wanted to see how it differs from the 64 bearing. And yes, that mystery spring came with it.

Your point about the hub sitting on the raised nubs on the column....I'm not sure what nubs you are talking about, but I will tear it down and check it closely. Thanks for the tip. Does the hub actually seat the upper bearing? It seems like my upper bearing may not be staying seated as deep as possible in the turn signal switch.

I am going to post some pics. I couldn't really capture the play/movement on the camera but at least maybe someone can pic up where the problem may be. I'm going to throw in a few pics on my next post that are irrelevant but give everyone an idea of my restoration. Thanks Tim