Steering wheel shaking

[87GMQ]

So I swapped the steering wheel on my 1987 grand marquis, didnt use a puller just took the bolt off and cranked the wheel to the left then right and pulled. I put my replacement steering wheel on and took it for a spin, now the steering wheel will move up and down while driving. Yes the bolt is tight, and some how the two bolts behind the turn signal assembly got loose and I tightened them back up, however it still moves up and down while driving, never did this before. I'm wondering if i somehow damaged the column by not using a puller, any help?

[87GMQ]

These are the two bolts that somehow got loose and i tightend

[87GMQ]

Tried the old steering wheel and tightened the 4 nuts that hold the column to the dash, still does it, is it possible i moved the bearings in the column out of place? they look like they havent moved though

[gadget73]

depending on what exactly you stressed it may have made something in the tilt mechanism loose or maybe even damaged one of the bearings. Not sure honestly, I've never been deep into the column

[friskyfrankie]

Just as an aside, has anyone ever had to remove and replace that big spring that controls the pressure for the trany shifter? It is in the above photo.

[sly]

I've never had to play with that spring.
As for the steering wheel slop,
+1 tilt mechanism issues

[87GMQ]

Just as an aside, has anyone ever had to remove and replace that big spring that controls the pressure for the trany shifter? It is in the above photo.

this? http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/forum/te...er#post1225789

[friskyfrankie]

Yes, it was summarized there well! Thanks for the "heads up"!

[87GMQ]

With the steering wheel off i can grab the end where the bolt threads into the shaft and can move that up and down, not alot but there is some up and down play.


Not seeing anything to tighten for the tilt mechanism unless i'm totally missing something here, it looks and operates fine

[87GMQ]

Noticed that the whole column will move up and down when shifting from park all the way down to first gear with my foot on the brake and moving the shifter at a fast rate. Anyone else notice this on their vehicle?

Also looked again to make sure bearings are seated correctly in the column, nothing seems out of place, and the steering wheel turns lock to lock with no binding.

Never really looked at the wheel before the steering wheel swap, it might have been doing this already and i never noticed.

[sly]

Are the big mounting nuts tight? The ones holding the steering column up to the dash? Also, is that secured to the firewall as well? (4 nuts holding the entire sandwich of the brake booster, firewall, pedal bracket in place) I typically use 2-3 ugga duggas on those (probably somewhere around 60-90 ft-lbs). Don't need to totally reef on them, but good and tight is good enough.

[87GMQ]

Are the big mounting nuts tight? The ones holding the steering column up to the dash? Also, is that secured to the firewall as well? (4 nuts holding the entire sandwich of the brake booster, firewall, pedal bracket in place) I typically use 2-3 ugga duggas on those (probably somewhere around 60-90 ft-lbs). Don't need to totally reef on them, but good and tight is good enough.

Yea, all 4 are tight


I still dont know how the two bolts behind the turn signal switch got loose. All I did was pull the steering wheel off of the shaft.

[friskyfrankie]

They may have been a little loose and the motion of removing the steering wheel finished them off.

[87GMQ]

They may have been a little loose and the motion of removing the steering wheel finished them off.

Makes sense, Just wish this thing wouldnt move up and down

[friskyfrankie]

It IS aggravating!