steering column

jakub · Post by **jakub** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 2:37 pm

horn cable snaped, so the question is, should I try to replace it or just don't bother and install some push button elswhere ???

in other words is it safe to try remove steering wheel (might crack) also is it possible to take steering column jacket off without taking steering box out ???

John V Cliche · Post by **John V Cliche** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:34 pm

Jakub
The horn wire only goes half way down the column to the contact plate
Tha contact plate is removeable ad you should be able to "fish" a new line in
I think you will have to remove the stering wheel but by using the correct type of puller you should not damage the wheel during removal.

Hope this helps
John

rikgerards · Post by **rikgerards** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 6:59 am

Correct me if i am wrong.

But i think you can replace the cable without removing the steering wheel. Just unscrew the centre horn button. There is a spring and contact plate under need remove them to. Then you shoud see a brass contact and a insulator. on the brass plate about 4mm a cross is the end of the cable solder. The other end is as John said under a plate at the collum. may be just a half a meter wire is going through the steering collum.

Rik

jakub · Post by **jakub** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:48 am

thanks guys, through the small opening where connector is I can feel loose wires, so I need get there different way since the opening is small and not easy to get in (sounds like I-st year female student)

anyhow I figure the only way is to take steering column jacket off but can not see how it is attached to the steering box, don't see any clamps or bolts, if I remove the wheel and undo the clamp inside cabin will the jacket just slide upwards ??

awg · Post by **awg** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 7:14 am

the steering box and outer column are a one piece unit, that cannot be seperated.

on my vehicle the horn button has been replaced with an off column unit

steering boxes are a real issue in these vehicles.

I have posted on this before.

removal, dismantling and especially renewal of various parts is very problematic, unless you have a source of NOS parts.

due to the hollow construction of the inner column, which is welded to the worm, and goes all the way to the horn button, it is very prone to the ingress of moisture, corrosion or structural weakness.

this means the inner column can be ready to snap, resulting in no steering.

there is no cure but a complete replacement with new parts or engineered repairs...or if there is no-one on this learned forum was able to suggest to me what it would be.

NOS boxes are available in USA, but not here in Australia.

If and when I dismantle my steering box, I would probably get a new inner column made by an engineer and re-welded.

the inner column is thin, skin thickness about 1.5mm and how old?

unknown age, could be 64yrs.

I closely examined one from a truck i salvaged from a farm.

the steering column was corroded at the base and broken in half

I may end up importing a NOS box from Joel Gopan if he is willing

does anyone have Joels direct email address please?

any other suggestions would also be welcome

jakub · Post by **jakub** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 2:41 pm

many thanks Awg for your input, this exactly what I was asking but not anwser I am happy with, obviously it makes no sense to dismantle otherwise perfect box just to repair snapped wire,

I wonder, perhaps with some small mirror, kind of dentist type and some luck the wire can be put in place through the horn connector,

all in all this is pretty awkward design to have outer column jacket and box as one piece, much smaller vehicle like willys has it dismountable,

John V Cliche · Post by **John V Cliche** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 8:15 pm

jakub wrote:

I wonder, perhaps with some small mirror, kind of dentist type and some luck the wire can be put in place through the horn connector,

That's what I meant by "fishing" a new wire in
I've done it a few times, it's not all that bad, just a little patience
Good luck

John

jakub · Post by **jakub** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 3:21 am

John, by all means share your expirience with "fishing", for certain reason I do not have acces to my GMC right now but I am making myself ready to do a job ASAP,

by the feel of the place it seems like the wire is loose, is it welded or srewed there ???

any kind of input welcomed

awg · Post by **awg** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 5:23 am

steering wheel is not hard to get off.

I just got a piece of timber, cut out a hole the size of the outer jacket, cut it in half, and reassembled under the steer wheel with metal plates to hold the 2 halves together, then used a hammer to knock the wheel up.

you can use various pullers, but the way i did it distributes the force very evenly, and gently.

there is also a bearing a few inches into the column, it is not a very strong bearing, and wears out.

I am fairly certain you need to do a complete dismantle to replace, as the inner column prevent extraction, although you may be able to extract with 2 long metal piercing screws and a slide hammer.

my horn button was that way when i got the vehicle, so I have never tried.

my vehicle was/is also missing the horn button.

I would try to fix as detailed by other posters.

if u cant, keep everything original, and add a discreet horn button

John V Cliche · Post by **John V Cliche** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 6:11 pm

The lower end of the wire is soldered onto a ring
When you remove the "little rectangular cover"( where the external horn wire connects) you can see the solder point.but you may have to rotate the steering wheel to line it up in the opening
Unsolder the wire from the ring and splice a new piece onto it you should then be able to feed it up from the bottom ( cover opening ) to the top of the column
I have used a piece of MIG welding wire and fed it up thru ,then tied on a new line and pulled down on the MIG wire to "fish" it into place
Do you understand?
It is a tough place to solder but not impossible
You can remove the dash clamp and floor boards then remove the 4 frame mounting bolts ,this will allow the steering assembly to rotate down giving you better access to the back of the steering column
Don't forget to remove the horn button as well

An "Old Sage" told me this trick

Hope this helps
John

jakub · Post by **jakub** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 2:23 pm

Many, many thanks for your advice guys, so it went as follows, useing mirror to see from the other side I've spent like four hours trying to solder the wire, it wasn't easy but managable.

However I've ecountered problem which Awg mentioned, the steering shaft is pretty flimsy, when some wire is soldered to the ring the soldered point sometimes touches the jacket when turning wheel, especialy when stationary and moving steering wheel with some force, all in all no good.

So I've tried to solder wire to the ring not from the side but from top, couldn't make it. Finally with file I've done small groove in the ring and then solder the wire precisly into the groove so it is in line with ring surface, half a hour work and it's done.

BTW, but this is only curiosity, the ring looks like brass, the steering shaft is steel, obviously there must be some isolator in beetwen - anyone knows what is it ??

The GMC CCKW

steering column

steering column

I think you don't have to remove the steering wheel